Melford Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

The Anglo-Saxon name Melford comes from when the family lived in one of the many settlements called Milford in Derbyshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire, or in the place called Long Melford in the division of Suffolk.  The surname Melford belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which acquired from pre- existing names for towns, hamlets, churches, or farmsteads.  Before English spelling regulated a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became organised into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the educated people. The variations of the surname Melford include Milforde, Milford, Millford, Millforde, Melford and much more. More common variations are: Mellford, Meliford, Meulford, Mlford, Milford, Mulford, Molford, Malford, Melfort, Melfred.

The surname Melford first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very early times, as Lords of the estate of Milford, in the diocese of York.  It did not appear in the Domesday Book in 1080, and it must be assumed that the manor emerged about the 12th or 13th century. Some of the people with the name Melford who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Thomas Melford, who arrived in Virginia in the year 1664. Some of the people with the surname Melford who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Casper Melford, who arrived in Pennsylvania in the year 1762.  John Melford, who landed in Pennsylvania in the year 1762.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Ar. a fesse betw. three mullets sa.