| ![Show Contents]() Melsam History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of MelsamWhat does the name Melsam mean? Melsam is an ancient name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of emigration that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name comes from the popular Norman given name Miles. Early Origins of the Melsam familyThe surname Melsam was first found in Shropshire, at Milson, a parish, in the union of Cleobury-Mortimer, part of the Overs Hunderd which dates back to the Domesday Book where is was listed as Mulstone. At that time, there was a manor, and land for 6 ploughs. It was held by Osbern fitzRichard at that time. 1 The village had 160 inhabitants in 1848 and the local church was dedicated to St. George. The name was probably derived from the Old English personal name + "tun" 2 and literally means "farmstead of a man called Myndel or Miles. Today there is also a Milson Island in New South Wales, Australia and has been established for over 100 years. Milsons Point near Sydney, Australia was named after James Milson (1785-1872), from Lincolnshire one of the earliest settlers. In New Zealand, Milson is a suburb of Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui. Early History of the Melsam familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Melsam research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1309, 1327, 1379 and 1524 are included under the topic Early Melsam History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Melsam Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Milson, Millson, Milison, Millison, Millyson, Milyson, Myllison, Mylison, Myleson, Mylleson, Mylson, Milsom, Mylsom, Milsolm, Millsolm, Melsam, Melsan, Melson, Melsom, Milsson, Melsome and many more. Early Notables of the Melsam familyMore information is included under the topic Early Melsam Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Melsam familyTo escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Melsam or a variant listed above: Sander Milleson, who arrived in Boston in 1651; Gresian Milson settled in Carolina in 1724; John Mil(l)son settled in New York in 1795; Thomas Milson settled in Allegheny in 1868..
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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