Melville is a surname and a

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

. The surname has two different origins: Scottish and

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

. In Scotland, the name is a

habitational name In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

, originally of Norman origin, derived from any of several places called Malleville in

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

. The place name Malleville is derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

elements ''malum'' ("bad") and ''villa'' ("country house"). In Ireland, the surname is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic Ó Maoilmhichíl, which means "descendant of Maoilmhichil". The Gaelic personal name Maoilmhichil means "devotee of (Saint) Michael". The surname is sometimes spelled without the terminal "e": Melvill. The given name originates from

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

and Scotland. The name is derived from the Scottish surname. Melville or Melvill may refer to:

People

Surname

* Alan Melville (1910–1983), South African cricketer *

Alan Melville (writer) Alan Melville (9 April 1910 – 24 December 1983) was an English broadcaster, writer, actor, raconteur, producer, playwright and wit. Biography Born William Melville Caverhill in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England, he was educated in hi ...

(1910–1983), English playwright and composer * Alex Melville (disambiguation) * Alexander Gordon Melville (1819–1901), Irish anatomist * Alexander Melville, 5th Earl of Leven (died 1754) * Andy Melville (born 1968), Welsh footballer * Andrew Melville of Garvock (died 1617), Scottish courtier *

Andrew Melville Andrew Melville (1 August 1545 – 1622) was a Scottish scholar, theologian, poet and religious reformer. His fame encouraged scholars from the European continent to study at Glasgow and St. Andrews. He was born at Baldovie, on 1 August 154 ...

(1545–1622), Scottish theologian * Arthur Melville (1858–1904), Scottish painter * Charles Melville (1828–1867), American sailor *

Charles Melvill Major General Charles William Melvill, (9 September 1878 – 15 September 1925) was a soldier who served with the British Army for several years before joining the New Zealand Army, New Zealand Military Forces. He participated in the World War ...

(1878–1925), British soldier with the New Zealand Military Forces *

Charles P. Melville Charles P. Melville (born 10 May 1951) is a British academic who has been Professor of Persian History at the University of Cambridge since 2008. He is the President of the British Institute of Persian Studies. He was one of the editors of ''The ...

, Professor of Persian History at Cambridge * Christian Melville (1913–1984), Scottish rugby player * Craig Melville (fl. 1990–2000s), Australian comedy director * Cyron Melville (born 1984), Danish actor and musician * Dan Melville (born 1956), American football player * David Melville (disambiguation) *

Elizabeth Melville Elizabeth Melville, Lady Culross (c.1578–c.1640) was a Scottish poet. In 1603 she became the earliest known Scottish woman writer to see her work in print, when the Edinburgh publisher Robert Charteris issued the first edition of ''Ane Godlie ...

(1578–1640), Scottish poet * Ellen Melville (1882–1946), New Zealand politician * Emelie Melville (c. 1851–1932), actress in comic opera * Esme Melville (1918–2006), Australian actor * Francis Melville (disambiguation) * Frank Melville (1903–1971), Australian football player *

Fred Melville Frederick John Melville (25 February 1882 – 12 January 1940)Schofield, Brian. ''Who Was Who in British Philately''. London: British Philatelic Trust, 2003, p.34. Online versiohere. was a British philatelist, prolific philatelic author and fo ...

(1882–1940), British philatelist * George Melville, 1st Earl of Melville (1636–1707), Scottish aristocrat and statesman * George W. Melville (1841–1912), American rear admiral, engineer, Arctic explorer and author * Gertrude Melville (1884–1959), Australian politician *

Greg Melville Greg Melville (born 1970) is a journalist and author. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1992 and Pennsylvania State University Graduate School of Communication in 1994. Writing career A former newspaper reporter, and editor at Sports Afield and ...

(born 1979), American sportswriter * Harry Melville (disambiguation), several names: :* Harry Melville (chemist) (1908–2000), British chemist and academic administrator :* Harry Melville (rugby league) (1930–1965), Australian rugby league player * Henry Melvill (1798–1871), Anglican priest * Henry Melville (1799–1873), Australian author *

Herman Melville Herman Melville ( born Melvill; August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet of the American Renaissance period. Among his best-known works are ''Moby-Dick'' (1851); ''Typee'' (1846), a rom ...

(1819–1891), American author (''Moby-Dick'') * James Cosmo Melvill (1792–1861): a British administrator who served as the last secretary of the East India Company. * James Cosmo Melvill (1845–1929): British botanist and malacologist. *

James Melville (disambiguation) James Melville or Melvill may refer to: * James Melville (Scottish minister) (1556–1614), Scottish divine and reformer * James Melville of Halhill (1535–1617), Scottish diplomat and memoir writer * James Melville (politician) (1885– ...

Jean-Pierre Melville Jean-Pierre Melville (; born Jean-Pierre Grumbach; 20 October 1917 – 2 August 1973) was a French filmmaker and actor. Among his films are ''Le Silence de la mer'' (1949), '' Bob le flambeur'' (1956), ''Le Doulos'' (1962), '' Le Samouraï'' (19 ...

(1917–1973), French film director * Jennie Melville, pen name of British crime fiction author Gwendoline Butler (1922–2013) * John Melville (disambiguation) *

Josephine Melville Josephine Crawford Melville (12 April 1961 – 20 October 2022) was a British actress, director and writer who was best known for starring in the television soap opera '' EastEnders''. Life and career Melville was born in West Ham, Essex on ...

(1961–2022), British actress, director and writer *June Melville (1915 - 1970), English actress and theatre manager * Ken Melville (born 1931), Australian football player *Kerry Melville, birth name of

Kerry Reid Kerry Melville Reid (née Melville; born 7 August 1947) is a former professional tennis player from Australia. During her 17-year career, Reid won one Grand Slam singles title and 26 other singles titles and was the runner-up in 40 singles to ...

(born 1947), Australian tennis player * Lee Melville (born 1970), Bahamian cricket player *Sir Leslie Melville (1902–2002), Australian economist * Lewis Melville, pen name of British author Lewis Saul Benjamin (1874–1932) * Marvin Melville, American skier in the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Olympics - see United States at the 1956 Winter Olympics *

Michael Linning Melville Michael Linning Melville (1805 – 22 June 1878) was a Scots Barrister, Judge and Lieutenant Governor of Sierra Leone. He was commissioned by monarch, King William IV of the United Kingdom to suppress the slave trade by force off the West Coas ...

(1805–1878), Sierra Leone politician *

Mike Melvill Michael Winston Melvill (born November 30, 1940 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a world-record-breaking pilot and one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites. Melvill piloted SpaceShip ...

, American pilot * Miranda Melville (born 1989), American racewalker * Murray Melville, Scottish curler *

Neil Melville Neil Melville is an Australian actor. He was born in Sydney, but spent most of his childhood in Apollo Bay, Victoria. In the early 1970s he was lead singer of Geelong rock band "The Iliad". Melville graduated from Adelaide's Flinders Universit ...

(fl. 1980s), Australian actor *

Nigel Melville Nigel David Melville (born 6 January 1961) is a former England national rugby union team scrum half and captain and currently serves as Director of Professional Rugby for Rugby Football Union. Melville became the youngest player to captain E ...

(born 1961), British rugby player *

Ninian Melville Ninian Melville (29 December 1843 – 26 June 1897) was an Australian politician in the late nineteenth century. Early life The son of a Scottish cabinet maker (Ninian Melville Jnr) who had been transported to Australia for stealing clothes, M ...

(1843–1897), Australian political figure * Paul Melville (1956–1978), Australian cricket player *

Pauline Melville Pauline Melville FRSL (born 1948) is an English/Guyanese-born writer and former actor of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry, who is currently based in London, England. Among awards she has received for her writing – which encompasses short ...

(born 1948), Guyanese-born British actress and writer *

Philip Melvill (East India Company officer) Philip Melvill (7 April 1762 – 27 October 1811)''Memoirs of the Late Philip Melvill, Esq. Lieut. Gov. of Pendennis Castle, Cornwall : With an Appendix Containing Extracts From His Diaries and Letters Selected by a Friend...together with Two Let ...

(1796–1882), British official in India * Robert Melville (disambiguation) * Rodney Melville (fl. 1990–2000s), American judge * Ronald Melville (botanist) (1903–1985), English botanist *

Rose Melville Rose Melville (January 30, 1867 – October 8, 1946) born Rosa Smock, was an American stage actress famous for playing one character her whole career, "Sis Hopkins". Rosa Smock was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, the youngest of four daughter of ...

(1873–1946), American actor *

Sam Melville Samuel Joseph Melville (born Samuel Joseph Grossman, 1934 – September 13, 1971), was the principal conspirator and bomb setter in the 1969 bombings of eight government and commercial office buildings in New York City. Melville cited his opposi ...

(1934–1971), American anarchist *

Sam Melville (actor) Samuel Gardner Melville (August 20, 1936 – March 9, 1989) was an American film and television actor. He appeared as a guest star on many television programs of the 1960s and 1970s. He portrayed Officer Mike Danko in four seasons of Aaron Sp ...

(1936–1989), American television actor * Scott Melville (born 1966), American tennis player * Stephen Melville (1904–1977), South African military man *

Teignmouth Melvill Teignmouth Melvill VC (8 September 1842 – 22 January 1879) was an officer in the British Army and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British ...

(1842–1879), English lieutenant and recipient of the Victoria Cross *

Thomas Melvill Thomas Melvill(e) (1726 – December 1753) was a Scottish natural philosopher, who was active in the fields of spectroscopy and astronomy. Biography The son of Helen Whytt and the Rev Andrew Melville, minister of Monimail (d. 29 July 1 ...

(1726–1753), Scottish natural philosopher * Thomas Melville (disambiguation) *

Velma Caldwell Melville Velma Caldwell Melville (, Caldwell; July 1, 1858 – August 25, 1924) was an American editor, and writer of prose and poetry from Wisconsin. She served as editor of the "Home Circle and Youths' Department" of the ''Practical Farmer'' of Philade ...

(1852–1924), American writer and poet *

Ward Melville John Ward Melville (January 5, 1887 – June 5, 1977) was an American philanthropist and businessman active in the "Three Villages" in western Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. He donated 400 acres of land and money to establish Stony Broo ...

(1887–1977), American businessman and philanthropist *

William Melville William Melville (25 April 1850 – 1 February 1918) was an Irish law enforcement officer and the first chief of the British Secret Service Bureau. Birth William Melville was born into a Roman Catholic family in Direenaclaurig Cross, Sneem, Co ...

(1850–1918), Irish law enforcement official

Given name

* Melville E. Abrams (1912–1966), American politician *

Melville Arnott Sir William Melville Arnott (14 January 1909 – 17 September 1999) was a Scottish academic. Born in Edinburgh, the son of a Scottish minister, Rev Henry Arnott, he graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1931 and was awarded his MD on ...

(1909–1999), British academic *

Melville Sewell Bagley Melville Sewell Bagley (born July 10, 1838 in Bangor, Maine – died July 14, 1880 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) was the originator of the archetypical Argentine national liqueur Hesperidina and holder of the first patent and trademark to be regist ...

(1838–1880), American-born Argentine businessman and winemaker * Melville Baker (1901–1958), American film writer * Melville W. Beardsley (1913–1998), American inventor *

Melville Reuben Bissell Melville Reuben Bissell (September 25, 1843 – March 15, 1889) was an American entrepreneur who invented the modern carpet sweeper.Baxter, Albert (1891). ''History of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan.'' Munsell The Bissell corporation is na ...

(1843–1889), American inventor and businessman *

Mel Brandt Melville Brandt (June 18, 1919 – March 14, 2008) was an actor and NBC staff announcer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Brandt joined NBC around 1948. His radio announcing credits included '' The Adventures of Frank Merriwell'', ''Author Meet ...

(1919–2008), American actor * J. Melville Broughton (1888–1949), American politician * Melville W. Brown (1887–1938), American film director *

Melville Bull Melville Bull (September 29, 1854 – July 5, 1909) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island. Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Bull attended Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire, and graduated from Harvard University in 1877. He ...

(1854–1909), US political figure * Mel Bungey (born 1934), Australian political figure * Melville Henry Cane (1879–1980), American poet and lawyer *

Melville Cook Alfred Melville Cook (18 June 1912 – 22 May 1993) was a British organist, conductor, composer and teacher. Early life and education Cook was born in Gloucester. He was a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral (1923–1928) and articled pupil th ...

(1912–1993), British musician *

Mel Cooke Melville Lance Cooke (30 May 1934 – 5 September 2013) was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand twenty three times between 1959 and 1964. Playing career Cooke was a member of the Hornby club in the Canterbury Rugby Le ...

(1934–2013), New Zealand rugby player *

Melville Cooper George Melville Cooper (15 October 1896 – 13 March 1973) was an English actor. His many notable screen roles include the High Sheriff of Nottingham in ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' (1938), Mr. Collins in ''Pride and Prejudice'' (1940) and ...

(1896–1973), British actor * Melville De Lloyd (1917–1985), Welsh rugby player * Melville Dewey (1851–1931), American library classification expert * Melville Eastham (1885–1964), American radio executive *

Melville Fuller Melville Weston Fuller (February 11, 1833 – July 4, 1910) was an American politician, attorney, and jurist who served as the eighth chief justice of the United States from 1888 until his death in 1910. Staunch conservatism marked his ...

(1833–1910), American judge * Melville Gideon (1884–1933), American musician and composer * Melville S. Green (1922–1979), American physicist *

Melville Bell Grosvenor Melville Bell Grosvenor (November 26, 1901 – April 22, 1982) was the president of the National Geographic Society and editor of '' The National Geographic Magazine'' from 1957 to 1967. He was the grandson of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Be ...

(1901–1982), American magazine editor * Melville Guest (born 1943), British diplomat and cricketer * Melville Hatch (1898–1988), American entomologist * Melville J. Herskovits (1895–1963), American anthropologist * Melville R. Hopewell (1845–1911), American politician *

Melville E. Ingalls Melville Ezra Ingalls (1842–1914), commonly abbreviated M. E. Ingalls, was a Massachusetts state legislator who went on to become president of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (the Big Four Railroad). Career Ingalls was ...

(1842–1914), American politician *

Melville Jacobs Melville Jacobs (July 3, 1902 – July 31, 1971) was an American anthropologist known for his extensive fieldwork on cultures of the Pacific Northwest. He was born in New York City. After studying with Franz Boas he became a member of the faculty ...

(1902–1971), American anthropologist * Melville James (1877–1957), Australian Anglican bishop *

Melville Jones Frank Melville Jones, CBE, was an Anglican Colonial Bishop in the first half of the 20th century. He was born in 1866, educated at the Nelson College and the University of New Zealand and ordained in 1890. After a curacy at Holy Trinity, Chelt ...

(1866–1941), Anglican bishop * Melville Clyde Kelly (1883–1935), American politician * Melville D. Landon (1839–1910), American journalist and humorist * Melville H. Long (1889–1969), American tennis player * Melville Lyons (1889–1955), New Zealand politician *

Melville Macnaghten Sir Melville Leslie Macnaghten (16 June 1853, Woodford, London −12 May 1921) was Assistant Commissioner (Crime) of the London Metropolitan Police from 1903 to 1913. A highly regarded and famously affable figure of the late Victorian and Edw ...

(1853–1921), British politician *

Melville Henry Massue Melville Amadeus Henry Douglas Heddle de La Caillemotte de Massue de Ruvigné, "9th Marquis of Ruvigny and 15th of Raineval" (25 April 1868 – 6 October 1921) was a British genealogist and author, who was twice president of the Legitimist Jacobit ...

(1868–1921), British genealogist and author *

Melville McKee Melville McKee (born 19 August 1994) is a British racing driver. He currently drives for Bamboo Engineering in the GP3 Series. His grandfather Mike was a Formula Two and 24 Hours of Le Mans racing driver. Career Karting McKee began karting at ...

(born 1994), British race car driver *

Melville de Mellow Melville de Mellow (also de Mello) (1913 - 1989) was an Indian radio broadcaster with the All India Radio. He is remembered for his high-quality reports and commentary on various events in independent India, the most notable of which was a seven ...

(1913–1989), Indian radio personality * Mel Merritt (1897–1986), American football player *

Melville Nimmer Melville Bernard Nimmer (June 6, 1923 – November 23, 1985) was an American lawyer and law professor, renowned as an expert in freedom of speech and United States copyright law. Nimmer graduated from UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Harvard Law School. He w ...

(1923–1985), American lawyer * Melville Pengelly (1901–1973), New Zealand cricket umpire *

Melvil Poupaud Melvil Poupaud (born 26 January 1973) is a French actor, author and filmmaker. Career Poupaud's first appearance was, as a child, in Raúl Ruiz's 1983 film '' City of Pirates''. He met Ruiz through his mother, Chantal Poupaud, who was a well-kn ...

(born 1973), French actor, author and filmmaker *

Melville Portal Melville Portal JP, DL (31 July 1819 – 24 January 1904) was a British Conservative Party politician from Hampshire. Career Portal was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating B.A. in 1842, and M.A. in 1844. In 1841 he was treasurer and ...

(1819–1904), British politician * Melville Davisson Post (1869–1930), American author * Melville Marks Robinson (1888–1974), Canadian athlete and sports organizer *

Melville Rogers Melville F. Rogers (January 5, 1899 – September 26, 1973) was a Canadian figure skater and figure skating judge. He competed in the disciplines of single skating, pair skating, ice dancing, and fours. He won the Canadian championship several ...

(1899–1973), Canadian figure skater *

Melville Ruick Melville Ruick (July 8, 1898 – December 24, 1972) was an American actor. Early years Ruick was born in Boise, Idaho in 1898. His father was a U.S. district attorney in Idaho, and Ruick studied law at the University of California. Milit ...

(1898–1972), American actor and musician * Melville Ryan (1933–2015), British cricket player * Melville J. Salter (1834–1896), American politician * Melville Amasa Scovell (1855–1912), American academic *

Melville Shavelson Melville Shavelson (April 1, 1917 – August 8, 2007) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He was President of the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAw) from 1969 to 1971, 1979 to 1981, and 1985 to 1987. Biog ...

(1917–2007), American film director * Melville J. Shaw (1872–1927), American Marine Corps colonel *

Melville Shyer Melville Jacob Shyer (September 28, 1895 – September 14, 1968)According to the State of California. ''California Death Index, 1940–1997''. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. Searc ...

(1895–1968), American film director * Mel Spence (1936–2012), Jamaican sprinter *

Melville Y. Stewart Melville Y. Stewart (June 19, 1935 – June 19, 2020) was an American Philosopher and Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Bethel University, Minnesota. Bibliography *''The Greater-Good Defence, An Essay on the Rationality of Faith'', author, Lond ...

(born 1935), American educator *

Melville Elijah Stone Melville Elijah Stone (August 22, 1848 – February 15, 1929) was an American newspaper publisher, the founder of the ''Chicago Daily News'', and was the general manager of the reorganized Associated Press. Biography Stone's parents were R ...

(1848–1929), American newspaper executive *

Melville Vail Melville Arthur "Sparky" Vail (July 5, 1906 in Meaford, Ontario - January 29, 1983) was a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in t ...

(1906–1983), Canadian hockey player *

Melville Waddington Lieutenant Melville Wells Waddington (21 December 1895 – 14 August 1945) was a World War I Canadian flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories. He was the first observer ace in No. 20 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps to score a vi ...

(1895–1945), Canadian pilot * Melville Wallace (1887–1943), South African sports shooter

Fictional characters

* Jackson Melville, in the television series ''

Gilmore Girls ''Gilmore Girls'' is an American Comedy drama, comedy-drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) and Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore). The show debuted on October 5, 2000, on The WB and beca ...

'' *Melville Crump,

Sid Caesar Isaac Sidney Caesar (September 8, 1922 – February 12, 2014) was an American comic actor, comedian and writer. With a career spanning 60 years, he was best known for two pioneering 1950s live television series: ''Your Show of Shows'' (1950� ...

's character in the 1963 motion picture '' It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'' * Melville - Pet of fictional character

Chuckie Finster ''Rugrats'' includes a large array of characters: family, friends, extended relatives, townspeople, and fictional characters. This is a list of characters from the Nickelodeon animated television series (original), its various movies, and the 2 ...

in the television animated series

Rugrats ''Rugrats'' is an American animated television series created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó, and Paul Germain for Nickelodeon. The show focuses on a group of toddlers; most prominently— Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, and twins Phil and Lil, a ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melville (Surname) English masculine given names English given names English-language surnames Scottish surnames Melville family

People

Surname

Given name

Fictional characters

See also

References