This very unsual surname is usually English, but almost certainly is of pre 10th century Norman-French origins. Recorded in a wide range of spellings including Malbon, Mallabon, Mallabone, Mallebone, and Mallabund, it is believed to derive from the French surname Malblanc, which entered England sometime after the 12th century. Translating literally as "dirty white", this is, or rather was, a medieval nickname for a person with a sallow complexion, one who looked in poor physical appearance, or perhaps given the robust humour of the period, the complete reverse. It is said that a family called Malblanc were landowners in the county of Cheshire from about the year 1100, and that Ellen de Malblanc was the second wife of Sir Robert de Stokeport in 1268. The first recording of the surname in what might be losely termed the modern spelling, is that of William Malbon of East Cheshire in the year 1479, whilst William Mallbon, given as being a yeoman of Great Budworth, had his will recorded at Chester, in 1582. Later examples include Joseph Malbone of Prestbury, Cheshire, in 1634, and Robert Mallebone, who was buried at St James Clerkenwell, in the city of London, in 1625.

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