MILLAR

Millar is a surname of both English and Scottish provenance that derives from an occupational designation.

In the Middle Ages the mill occupied a central place in every settlement, grinding grain into flour for both household and commercial use. The person who operated or owned a mill was called a miller, and the surname Millar originates from the Old English mylnere, meaning “operator of the mill.” This etymology is closely related to the Middle English word milner or miller, and the Gaelic influence in Scotland is reflected in the variant spelling Millar which is traditionally favoured in that country.

Records of the name appear from the late thirteenth century. The earliest surviving reference is that of Ralph Muller, dated 1296 in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex under the reign of King Edward I. In the same period, a John le Mellere is mentioned in the Writs of Parliament around 1300, and a Reginald Miller is recorded in the 1327 subsidy rolls for Sussex. These early attestations show that the name was already established throughout England.

The spelling of the surname evolved over the centuries. In contemporary Britain it is most commonly seen as Miller, although the Scottish form Millar persists. In London church registers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, individuals such as Elisabeth Myllar and Thomas Myles were married at St. Stephen’s on Coleman Street on 25 June 1553, and Anna, daughter of George and Annae Millar, was christened at St. Ann’s, Blackfriars, on 7 April 1638.

The commercial significance of the miller is highlighted by the fact that many millers retained a proportion of the ground corn as payment. Thus the surname not only identifies an occupation but also records a vital economic role within medieval society.

During the nineteenth century, members of the Millar family did emigrate. One David Millar, together with his wife Rose, daughters Ann and Mary‑Jane, and son Robert, departed Belfast aboard the Glenmore in February 1847, bound for New York, an example of the broader pattern of famine migration from the British Isles.

Today the surname Millar continues to be relatively common in Britain, particularly in Scotland, but it is also found across the Commonwealth and the United States, preserving its historical link to one of the most essential trades of its time.

Typical given names associated with the Millar surname

Male

• Alan
• Alexander
• Andrew
• David
• Ian
• James
• John
• Robert
• Thomas
• William

Female

• Anne
• Catherine
• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Jean
• Karen
• Margaret
• Mary
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Millar in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Scotland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Famous people named Millar

• Mark Millar - Scottish comic book writer
• Christopher John Millar - Musician
• Fiona Millar - Journalist
• David Millar - Road bicycle racer
• Fergus Millar - Classical scholar (1935 to 2019)
• Robin Millar - Musician
• Syd Millar - Irish rugby union player
• Ronald Millar - Actor and writer (1919 to 1998)
• Gavin Millar - Film director
• James Millar - Ulster Defence Association member
• Paul Millar - Scottish football player
• Paul Millar - Football player football manager
• Kirk Millar - Northern Ireland football player
• Stuart Millar - Scottish football player and manager
• Mark Millar - Scottish football player
• Chris Millar - Scottish football player
• Andrew Millar - Geneticist
• Oliver Millar - Art historian (1923 to 2007)
• Jimmy Millar - Scottish football player
• Robert Millar - American soccer player (1890 to 1967)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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