The Maelor is an area of Wales, lying in the county borough of Wrexham. It originated as a commote of the Kingdom of Powys, focused on Bangor-Is-y-Coed.

The Maelor was first divided from the rest of Wales by the construction of Offa's Dyke in the eighth century, but was reclaimed by Wales during the reign of Stephen of England. In around 1202, the Maelor was first divided into two halves, separated by the River Dee, when it was split between two Welsh lords.

In 1282 - 1283, Edward I of England conquered the area east of the River Dee, which became known as the English Maelor (Welsh: Maelor Saesneg). The western area remained Welsh and became the Welsh Maelor (Welsh: Maelor Gymraeg).

In 1397, under Richard II of England, the English Maelor was merged with the County Palatine of Chester to form the Principality of Chester. With the creation of the Kingdom of England and Wales in 1536, the county of Denbighshire was created, containing the Welsh Maelor, while the English Maelor became an outlier of Flintshire, administered from Overton. The English Maelor was also known as Flintshire Detached, and sometimes simply as the Maelor.

In 1974, both halves of the Maelor became part of the Wrexham Maelor district, which in 1996 became part of the county borough of Wrexham.