Show ContentsMellyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish surnames are all based on the Gaelic language native to Ireland. The original Gaelic form of the name Mellyn is Ó Meallain, which is derived from the word meall, which means pleasant.

Early Origins of the Mellyn family

The surname Mellyn was first found in County Tyrone (Irish:Tír Eoghain), the ancient territory of the O'Neills, now in the Province of Ulster, central Northern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Mellyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mellyn research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mellyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mellyn Spelling Variations

Irish names were rarely spelled consistently in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations of the name Mellyn dating from that time include Mallon, O'Mallon, O'Malin, O'Mellan, Malin, Mellan and many more.

Early Notables of the Mellyn family

More information is included under the topic Early Mellyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mellyn family

A massive amount of Ireland's native population left the island in the 19th century for North America and Australia in hopes of finding more opportunities and an escape from discrimination and oppression. A great portion of these migrants arrived on the eastern shores of the North American continent. Although they were generally poor and destitute, and, therefore, again discriminated against, these Irish people were heartily welcomed for the hard labor involved in the construction of railroads, canals, roadways, and buildings. Many others were put to work in the newly established factories or agricultural projects that were so essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest nations in the world. The Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s initiated the largest wave of Iris immigration. Early North American immigration and passenger lists have revealed a number of people bearing the name Mellyn or a variant listed above: Edward, James, Patrick, William Malin, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860; Michael, and Richard Mallen arrived in Philadelphia in 1834.


Contemporary Notables of the name Mellyn (post 1700) +

  • Kevin Lawrence Mellyn, American co-inventor of the Electronic multiparty accounts receivable and accounts payable system for JP Morgan Chase Bank in 2000
  • Kara Mellyn, American actress and producer, known for The Guards Themselves (2015), Goliad Uprising (2012) and Monster Tails (2015)
  • S. J. Mellyn, American head coach of the Fordham Rams men's basketball team (1902-1903)


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