Meldon Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Meldon Origin:

Ireland

Origins of Meldon:

Listed with the spellings of Muldoon and Meldon, this is a famous Irish surname of royal origins. It is definitely related to the region of Ulster and especially County Fermanagh. Historically, it is said that the O’Maolduin’s (as spelled in the Gaelic) were of royal birth, being styled as the kings of Lurg in the book known as ‘The annals of Loch Ce.’ However, in about the year 1400 the tribe was destroyed in battle by the MacGuires, and while they continued to be of importance in Ulster, elsewhere in the country their power bases slightly decreased away. It seems that in Division Clare for example, the Muldoons became Malones, while in County Sligo, where they resided the barony of Tireragh, they were virtually dead by 1830. The surname has still some influence in Division Galway. The name means ‘the fortress,’ and is a limited example of an Irish surname which is domestic as most surnames acquire from the nickname of the original chief. The prefix O’ meaning ‘descendant of’ is rarely if ever appeared after the 18th century. Early recordings of the surname include Felim O’Muldoon, a commander of the United Army of Ireland in 1640. He was killed at the battle of Dungannon in 1642. A possible earlier record is that of Connor O’Muldowne in Wexford in 1551, although there is some dispute as to whether he was a Muldoon or a Muldowney. In the spelling of Meldon, this may be either Irish or occasionally English in origin. Austin Meldon of Dublin, (1843 – 1904), Director of the Royal Society of Irish Surgeons, declared descent from the Muldoons of Lurg.

Variations:

More common variations are: Mieldon, Melidon, Meldone, Meldoon, Mldon, Melidoni, Melidona, Melidone, Meldoyan, Meliodon.

Ireland:

The surname Meldon first appeared in Division Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they had been anciently seated at Enniscrone and said to be directly declined from King Niall of the Nine Hostages, Ireland’s General Commander/King who passed away in the fourth century. From his twelve sons, many tribes declined to contain as O’Caomhain who controlled the clans from the River Gleoir to the Easky, a region of land which contained the homes of about 30 tribes, including the Muldoons.

Many of the people with surname Meldon had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:

Some of the people with the name Meldon who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Sarah Meldon, who came to Baltimore in 1827.

New-Zealand:

Some of the population with the surname Meldon who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included John Meldon, Eliza M. Meldon, Mary J. Meldon, Bedelia Meldon and Kate J. Meldon, all arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Rodney” in 1875.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Meldon: United States 190; England 81; Ireland 71; Australia 54; New Zealand 9; Russia 6; Canada 4; Ukiaine 4; India 1; Spain 1.

Notable People:

Philip Meldon (1874–1942), was an Irish cricket player and soccer player.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

(confirmed to Charles Henry Meldon, Esq., of 25, Rutland Square, and of Newtown House, Blackrock, co. Dublin, M.P., and the descendants of his grandfather, Anthony Dillon Muldoon, of Fore, co. Westmeath, of Celtic origin). Motto—Pro fide et patria. Vert a dexter hand couped ar. betw. three crescents or, issuant therefrom as many estoiles of the second. Crest—A dexter hand ppr. surmounted by a crescent or. therefrom issuant an estoile ar.