Surname Mellies - Meaning and Origin
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Mellies: What does the surname Mellies mean?
The last name Mellies is an occupational surname which has traditionally been associated with milling and grinding grain. The name has a Germanic origin with the word "mahl" meaning "to grind". This emphasizes the importance of milling and grinding grains, which was a crucial aspect of daily life during the Middle Ages in Europe. The related Dutch and German word "mellies" would have also been used throughout the region.
The surname itself would have been derived from those workers who specialized in grinding grain. This meant the men of the family would have been the ones responsible for carrying out the labor-intensive tasks of milling and grinding grain, which is why the name became so closely associated with the profession.
Milling and grinding grain was a vital part of daily life, essential to providing a steady food supply for local communities. Over time, it would have become a highly-recognized and respected skill. Therefore, those who were involved in this particular industry would have been rewarded with better status in the community.
The Mellies may have been a tightly knit family, who passed down the knowledge of milling and grinding grain from one generation to the next. It is possible that the Mellies were the driving force behind the production of certain types of grain for their local area.
Today, the Mellies surname is a reminder of the importance of milling and grinding grain in times gone by. It is a testament to the skill and dedication of those who carried out the task, providing essential food for their families and communities.
Order DNA origin analysisMellies: Where does the name Mellies come from?
The last name Mellies is most common in Germany today. According to the website Forebears, it is ranked 5,517th for surname frequency world-wide and within Germany, it is ranked 976th for surname distribution. The regional distributions are quite interesting, with the vast majority of Mellies’s living in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in Northern Germany, followed by the North Rhine-Westphalia region in the west and Hesse in the South.
Aside from Germany, the surname Mellies has significant presence in the United States as well. Though statistics vary slightly depending on the source, many estimates place it as 5,122th most common in the U.S. Again regional distribution varies depending on the source, but generally the states with the largest populations of Mellies tend to be California, Michigan, and Texas in that order.
The Mellies surname can be traced back to the 1800’s when it first started to appear in local records such as censuses and church rolls. It is believed to be an occupational surname, as most of the records with the Mellies surname during this time period were located in areas of the western German states that were rich in fishing or trade.
Today, the Mellies surname is not the most common in any region but it does have a very significant presence in many places around the world, particularly in Germany and the United States.
Variations of the surname Mellies
Mellies is an uncommon Germanic surname, predominantly found in the Northern Rhineland region of Germany, which can trace its origins to the Middle Ages. Variants of the name include Mellis, Melles, Melliss and Melless. It can also be seen spelt as Meiles, Mileis, Milo, Milow and Mils.
The spelling of the surname can often depend on where in Germany it was found, with varying spellings being used regionally.
In addition to the spelling variations for the surname, there can be many different surnames that have the same origin as Mellies. One of the more widely-used variants is Melleser, which is found in Germanic-speaking nations such as Austria and Switzerland. Another variant is of Dutch origin and can be seen spelt as Molles, Meolles or Mollis.
Mellies and its various forms can also be found in France, primarily in the Alsace region, where the French pronunciation of the surname is Molier. The Irish variant of the surname, which is very rare, is Meli.
The Danish variants of the surname include Meilisch, Mejlsgaard, Melkild and Milskov. Additionally, other Scandinavian variants include Mellin, Mellingen and Melliksen.
Finally, Mellies has been anglicized in the United States and the United Kingdom, becoming Milles, Mills and Milliss.
Famous people with the name Mellies
- Adele Mellies: Adele Mellies is an American actress best known for her roles in movies like Step Up 3D, The Good Life and The Big Sick.
- Albert von Mellies: Albert von Mellies was a German politician who was a member of the Reichstag from 1893 to 1903.
- Arthur G. Mellies: Arthur G. Mellies was an American businessman and politician who served as a US Representative from Iowa from 1905 to 1913.
- August Mellies: August Mellies was a German sculptor, best known for his works in the Baroque style that were widely admired by those in the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches.
- Erika Mellies: Erika Mellies is a German actress, best known for her appearances in films such as The Reader, Monsoon Wedding, and Trigonometry.
- Johann Mellies: Johann Mellies was a German-Dutch organist and composer in the late Baroque period.
- John Mellies: John Mellies is a Canadian-American actor, best known for his roles in films like Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King.
- Lars Mellies: Lars Mellies is a German comedian, best known for his stand-up comedy performances and YouTube videos.
- Roy Mellies: Roy Mellies was an American football player, best known for his time with the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos in the 1960s.
- Wilhelm von Mellies: Wilhelm von Mellies was a German doctor and politician who served as the mayor of Dortmund from 1872 to 1880.