Map of England showing where the Mellor arms are recorded
The Mellor arms were recorded in Derby, c. 1620.
Derbyshire had lead mines in its hills and good grazing in its valleys. Both made steady money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names into the heraldic records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Mellor arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Derby.
Origin & History of the Mellor Family in England
The surname Mellor is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people based on where they lived. It is derived from the Old English words "mylen," meaning mill, and "ore," meaning a bank or slope. This suggests that the first families to use the name likely lived near a mill located on a hillside or riverbank. By the early 17th century, the Mellor family was well-established in the town of Derby. Records confirm their presence there by 1620, where they were active members of the local community. During this period, families with this name were often involved in trades related to the growing industries of the region, helping to build the foundations of the town's long-standing economic history.
Mellor Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Melior
Latin term meaning better or superior.
This name
MellorDerived from a place name in Derbyshire referring to a bare or exposed hill.
also spelled
Meller
Mellour
Related arms
Mellervariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Derbyshire Record Office, Derby St Alkmund Parish Registers, D2375
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martletA younger son, who must win his own land
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
