According to The Surnames of Ireland by Edward MacLysaght (Sixth Edition published 1985 in Dublin), the Melican surname derives from the Gaelic Ó Maoileacháin and is a surname found in the west of County Clare, Ireland. A survey of County Clare church records from the 1800s has identified Melicans living in 11 of County Clare's 47 parishes. These parishes include: Carrigaholt, Clondegad/Kilchreest, Cratloe, Ennis, Kildysart, Killaloe, Kilmihil, Kilrush, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Quin-Clooney and Tulla.