THE DISTINGUISHED SURNAME OF MELLETTTHE DISTINGUISHED SURNAME OF MELLETT
The chronicles of England show the early records of the name Mellett to be 
derived from the Norman race. The name appears in England from about 1066 A.D., 
and its history is interwoven within the majestic tapestry which contains the 
history of Britain.
Professional researchers used such ancient manuscripts as the Domesday Book 
(compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls, the Wace poem, 
the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise 
Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, and local parish and church 
records to establish that the first record of the name Mellett was found in 
Suffolk where they were seated as Lords of the Manor of Cidestan. William 
Mallett was one of the greatest landowners in England, having 221 manors in 
Suffolk alone. He was ancestor of the Mallets of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, 
and those now resident in Jersey. William Mallet was descended from Gerard, a 
Viking prince and companion of Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy, about 950. 
They held the castle of Graville near Havre. Maternally, William Mallet was a 
Saxon, descended from the Earls of Mercia, and more distantly related to Morcar 
and Edwin, Earls of Northumberland, William Mallet was at the Battle of 
Hastings, and was instructed by William the Conqueror to take care of the slain 
King Harold's body. In 1068, he proceeded north with William and led in the 
reduction of the cities of Nottingham and York.
Your name, Mellett, occurred in many references, but from time to time, 
spellings included Mallet, Mallett, Mallit, Mallitt, Malott, Mallot, Mallott, 
and many others. Scribes recorded and spelled the name as it sounded. It wasn't 
unlikely that a person would be born with one spelling, married with another, 
and buried with a headstone which showed another spelling. 
The Normans were commonly believed to be of French origin but, more accurately, 
they were Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland 
about the year 870 A.D., under their King, Stirgud the Stout. Later, under their 
Earl, Thorfinn Rollo, they invaded France about 910 A.D. The French King, 
Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and 
granted northern France to Rollo. Duke William who invaded and defeated England 
in 1066, was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.
The surname Mellett emerged as a notable family in the county of Suffolk where 
they were anciently seated. William Mallet died at the taking of the Domesday 
Book in 1086. His son, Robert, was Great Lord of Chamberlain of England who died 
at the Battle of Tinchbray. Meanwhile in the west of England, they settled at 
Wilbury House in Wiltshire, Ash in Devon, and Enmore in Somerset. The Ash branch 
was descended from Sir Baldwin Malet of Enmore. Sir Thomas Mallet was one of the 
Knights of Nottingham in 1290. He was seated at Willoughby in that shire. In 
Jersey, they were settled in the parish of Grouville, obviously bearing a 
relationship to the original holdings of the family name. Reverend John Mallet 
was rector of the parish in the 19th century. The present family seats are at 
Curry Mallet, Wittersham House, Ash in Devon and Jersey. Outstanding amongst the 
family at this time was William Mallet of Graville.
The surname Mellett contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of 
England or Scotland. During the 12th century many of these Norman families moved 
north to Scotland. Later, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was 
ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and 
Parliament fought for supremacy. The unrest caused many to think of distant 
lands.
In Ireland, settlers became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland". They 
"undertook" to keep the Protestant faith, occupying the lands of the Irish. 
There is no record of this distinguished family migrating to Ireland, but this 
does not preclude the possibility of individual migration.
In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the family 
name Mellett, or variable spellings of that same family name included John 
Mallet who settled in the Barbados in 1670; Estienne Mallet settled in Virginia 
in 1714; Jean Mallet settled in Louisiana in 1719; William Mallett settled in 
Virginia in 1635; the family also settled in New York and Pennsylvania. From the 
port of arrival, settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the American 
War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward 
into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.
Meanwhile, the family name was highly regarded in the social stream. There were 
many notables of this name, Mellett Hooper Pelgue Mallet, Commodore P & OSN 
company, retired, Melbourne, Austrailia; Sir William Ivo Mallet, G.B.E., 
K.C.M.G., H.M. Ambassador, Belgrade, retired, Switzerland; Francis Anthony 
Mallett, Chief Executive, South Yorkshire; Ven. Archdeacon Peter Mallet, Q.H.C.; 
Deane Waldo Malott, President Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
Research has determined the Coat of Arms next described to be the most ancient 
recorded for the family surname Mellett.
Coat of Arms: Periwinkle blue background, 3 scalloped shells, 2 on top, l 
centered beneath, knight's armor helmet sits atop. Motto: Ma force d'en haut. 
The Hall of Names, Inc., Bermuda, Royal Naval Dockyard
 
(back)