This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Melson family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Melson Family History

Melson Surname Meaning

English (mainly Lincolnshire): patronymic from the Middle English male personal name Mile Miles (see Miles) or metronymic from the Middle English female personal name Mill (see Mill) + -son.

Perhaps occasionally a metronymic from a Middle English survival of the Old English female personal name Milde (‘mild, meek, gentle’) + -son.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Melson family from?

You can see how Melson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Melson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Melson families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 90 Melson families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Melson's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Melson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Melson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Melson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Melson. 40% of Melson men worked as a Bricklayer and 80% of Melson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Melson were Milk Roundsman and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Melson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Bricklayer
    40%
  • Railway Clerk
    20%
  • Farmer
    20%
  • Milk Roundsman
    20%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    80%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Melson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Melson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Melson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Melson

Passenger Lists

There are 23,000 immigration records available for the last name Melson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Melson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 6,000 military records available for the last name Melson. For the veterans among your Melson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Melson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Melson family history

Discover More

What is the average Melson lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Melson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1988. The average life expectancy for Melson in 1944 was 23, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Melson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Melson ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Melson family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial