Surname Mellenby - Meaning and Origin

Mellenby: What does the surname Mellenby mean?

The last name Mellenby is a Norse-Viking origin name, deriving from the Old Norse names 'Mellandi' and 'Biorn'. The name can be translated to mean 'leader of the bear'.

The Norse-Vikings were known for their seafaring and exploration so it is likely that the initial ancestors of today's Mellenby family were sea-faring traders and adventurers. Today, the Mellenbys have spread out around the world from their initial point of origin in Northern Europe, making their home in many countries around the world.

As the name connotes, the Mellenbys were often viewed as strong, reliable and dependable leaders. Their families often saw generations of Mellenbys serving in leadership roles, oftentimes taking charge in difficult situations or advocating for the good of the community.

The Mellenby family remains a strong, proud family to this day, still bearing the legacy of their ancestors. Everyone who inherits the Mellenby name takes with them the values of strength, courage and leadership, and a proud history of exploration and standing up for the common good.

Mellenby: Where does the name Mellenby come from?

The last name Mellenby is most commonly found in Nordic and Scandinavian countries such as Denmark, Norway and Sweden, as well as Iceland. It is a patronymic name derived from a Nordic personal name, usually containing the suffix "-en" or "-in".

The highest concentration of Mellenby's is reported in Sweden, where the name originated. According to the 1990 Swedish Population Register, there were 91 individuals with the Mellenby surname living in Sweden. Denmark also has a significant number of Mellenby's, with 35 reported in the telephone directory in 1990. Norway has a considerably smaller amount, with between 8 to 15 reported in the 1990 Norwegian Population Register.

In the United States, the first recorded Mellenby family came over during the immigration wave of the late 1880s. The Mellenby surname is now found in a number of states, including New York, California and Oregon, among others.

Canada, too, is a popular destination for descendants of the Mellenby family. In particular, many have emigrated to British Columbia over the past few decades, with over two dozen Mellenby's registered in the province.

The Mellenby surname is not found in other parts of the world, but many of its descendants carry different variations of its spelling, from Mallenby to Malinby. So while the name Mellenby may not remain in its original spelling, its Nordic heritage will continue to live on.

Variations of the surname Mellenby

The origin of the surname Mellenby is believed to have been derived from the Old Norse given name which was ‘Mellanby’ or ‘mellandi’ meaning ‘middle settlement’. The name is known to be derived from Northern England and Scotland.

The surnames that are derived from the same origin are Melby, Mellany, Mellynby, Mellynbe, Mellynbee, Mailenby, Maleby, Mallenby and Malleny.

The variant spellings for the same surname are Mallanby, Mallinby, Mallonby, Malanby, Malenby, Mallanny, Mallynby, Malynby, Mailanny, Malanny, Maleanny, Malenbee, Mallynbee, Mallynby, Mailinby, Malinby, Mallenbee and Mallenby.

The surnames derived from another variant spelling of the same origin are, Mellingby, Mellinby, Mellenbee, Mellenby, Mallenbee, Maltingby, Meltingby and Mallinbee.

Many spellings of the same name may have the same origin and yet have evolved differently over the centuries. It is these differences in spelling and pronunciation that have caused generations of the same family to have different surnames. Over time, the spelling of a name can also change through misspelling or the adoption of a newer version of a name, causing the surname to be spelled in a variety of ways.

Famous people with the name Mellenby

• Kristofer Mellenby, a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender.
• Symptoms Mellenby, a Swedish-American director.
• Anders Mellenby, an Swedish motion picture producer.
• Kaj Mellenby, a Swedish film director.
• Thérèse Mellenby, a Swedish-American painter.
• Maud Henning-Mellenby, a Swedish sculptor.
• Priit Mellenby, an Estonian writer and journalist.
• Björn Mellenby, a Swedish-American film editor.
• Tyyni Honkala-Mellenby, a Finnish actress.
• Rut Mellenby, a Swedish-American film production supervisor.
• Pär Mellenby, a Swedish actor and singer.
• Jack Mellenby, an American actor.
• Lennart Mellenby, a Swedish professor of geology.
• Evy Charlotte Mellenby, a Swedish anesthesiologist.
• Rolf Mellenby, a Swedish physician and medical researcher.
• Wilhelmina Celine Mellenby, a Swedish professional Golfer.
• Venla Mellenby, a Finnish actress.
• Pär Mattias Mellenby, a Swedish actor.
• Birgitta Mellenby, a Swedish nurse.
• Cecilia Mellenby, a Swedish actress.

Other surnames

MellenMellenthienMellenthinMellentienMellentin