Surname distribution and origin notes
Melis Surname in Italy
By current distribution, Melis is very common in Italy. It is held by 11,696 people across 747 Italian towns. The top towns are Cagliari (1,251), Selargius (392), Quartu Sant'Elena (340). The strongest regional presence is in Sardegna, Piemonte, Lombardia.
Origin notes
Origin and meaning
The surname Melis is typical of southern Sardinia and originates from a Sardinian word meaning honey. It is derived from the Latin mel, mellis, or the Greek meli, reflecting a connection to this product. Melis ranks among the most widespread surnames on the island, found in 232 of Sardinia's 377 municipalities, predominantly in the south-central area. Related forms such as Mele and Meli share the same etymological root. Mele is more common in the central-northern part of Sardinia and is historically attested since the Middle Ages, with notable signatories of the Peace of Eleanor in 1388. Historically, Melis is less frequently recorded than Mele, which appears in earlier documents such as the 13th-century Condaghe of Santa Maria di Bonarcado.
Surname map
Distribution in Italy
Highest presence: Cagliari
Melis Surname Distribution Map in Italy
This map shows the areas of Italy where the Melis surname is more or less present. Warmer colors indicate stronger presence, while cooler colors indicate lighter presence.
Italian towns with the highest presence
| Town | Province | Region | People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cagliari | Cagliari | Sardegna | 1,251people |
| Selargius | Cagliari | Sardegna | 392people |
| Quartu Sant'Elena | Cagliari | Sardegna | 340people |
| Iglesias | 301people | ||
| Rome | Rome | Lazio | 241people |
| Sassari | Sassari | Sardegna | 236people |
| Turin | Turin | Piemonte | 233people |
| Assemini | Cagliari | Sardegna | 209people |
| Capoterra | Cagliari | Sardegna | 174people |
| Carbonia | 163people |
