Find out how popular the last name Melville is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Melville.

Melville, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Melville surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melville in America

Melville is the 7623rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melville surname appeared 4,355 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Melville.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melville to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Melville

The surname Melville has its origins in Normandy, France, and it is believed to have emerged around the 11th century. The name is derived from the French words "mel" meaning "hill" and "ville" meaning "town," indicating that the original bearers of this name likely resided in a town situated on a hill.

One of the earliest records of the name Melville can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Malville" and is associated with several landholders in various counties.

As the Normans expanded their influence across England and Scotland, the Melville surname spread throughout these regions. In Scotland, the name is closely tied to the historical region of Angus, where the Melvilles were prominent landowners and influential figures.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Melville was Sir Richard Melville, born around 1150, who served as a knight and courtier under King David I of Scotland. Another notable figure was Sir James Melville (1535-1617), a renowned Scottish diplomat and writer who served under Mary, Queen of Scots, and later James VI of Scotland.

In England, the Melville surname can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable bearer was Sir John Melville (1545-1629), a prominent English courtier and politician who served as a member of the Privy Council under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

The name Melville has also been associated with literary figures, such as Herman Melville (1819-1891), the American novelist and poet best known for his masterpiece "Moby-Dick." Other notable individuals include Andrew Melville (1545-1622), a Scottish scholar and theologian who played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation, and Sir James Melville (1690-1768), a Scottish historian and philosopher.

Throughout history, the Melville surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Malville, Melvill, Melvile, and Melvin, reflecting the regional differences and evolving language patterns. Place names like Melville Castle in Scotland and Melville, New York, in the United States, further highlight the widespread influence of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melville

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Melville.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Melville was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Melville has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Melville was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Melville, please contact us.

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