Melia (surname)

The surname Melia is of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Maolmhuaidh, meaning "descendant of Maolmhuaidh." The personal name Maolmhuaidh is composed of the elements maol meaning "chief" or "tonsured one" and mhuaidh, the genitive of muadh meaning "noble" or "gentle."

Variations of the surname include Meelia, Mealiffe, Mealey, and Melay.

The surname is most common in County Offaly and County Galway in Ireland. Emigration from Ireland, particularly during the Great Famine, led to the dispersal of the surname to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.