Surname Millar - Meaning and Origin
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read moreMillar: What does the surname Millar mean?
The surname Millar (also known as Miller) is of Scottish and northern Irish origin. It is typically an occupational name, coming from the profession of a miller or mill worker. The English version "Miller" is derived from the Middle English "mille" or "milne" designating a mill and the agent suffix "-er", meaning "one who does or works with." In the process of milling, grains are ground into flour, which was a common profession in medieval times. The surname with its variations ranks among the top hundred most common surnames in the UK, indicating a large geographical spread possibly caused by a commonality in occupation across regions. So, the surname Millar signifies a person's ancient profession, serving as an historic representation of the family's lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisMillar: Where does the name Millar come from?
The surname Millar originated in Scotland, where it was first used in the early Middle Ages. The name is derived from the occupation of a "miller" or a person who operated a mill for grinding grain. The original spelling in Scotland was “Miller” but the pronunciation was similar to “Millar,” hence leading to evolution in the spelling. Many Scottish surnames originated as a way of identifying people by their trade or profession, and Millar was no different.
Today, it is widely spread not only in Scotland but also in other English-speaking countries including USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Northern Ireland due to immigration of Scottish people to these countries throughout history. However, in terms of density, the greatest number of people with the surname Millar still live in Scotland. Regardless of geographic specifics, the name Millar is not uncommon across the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Millar
The surname Millar has various spellings, variants, and associated surnames. It's derived from the occupation of a miller, a person who operated a mill for grinding grain. Variants for Millar typically revolve around the phonetic pronunciation of the word, such as: Miller, Millar, Miler, Myllar, Myler.
In different countries and regions, the name may have been modified or translated leading to other associated surnames. For example, in Germany they use the name Müller, while in France its counterpart is Meunier. In Italy, it is Molinari or Mulinaro. Miller in Dutch is Molenaar, in Polish it's Młynarz, in Spanish it's Molinero, and in Russian it's Melnikov.
There are also versions of surnames that include specifics about the original mill, such as Windmiller (windmill operator) or Sawmiller (sawmill operator). Other versions can derive from a mill's location, such as Millward or Millbourne.
Like any surname, the spelling, pronunciation, and exact form can have likely shifted over centuries and in different regional dialects, leading to the multitude of variations we see today.
Famous people with the name Millar
- Mark Millar: Mark Millar is a Scottish comic book writer, known for his work on Marvel titles like The Ultimates, Wolverine, Old Man Logan, and Civil War: and for his creator-owned works National Comics Jupiter’s Legacy and Millarworld franchises.
- Ignatius Millar: Ignatius Millar (1719–1795) was an Ulster Presbyterian minister and the author of a number of works about local history, culture and religion.
- John Millar: John Millar (1735–1801) was a Scottish philosopher, historian and jurist. His most famous work was The History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic (1771).
- George Millar: George Millar (1915–2009) was an Irish adventurer, traveler and writer. He wrote several books about his travels, including An Uneasy Equilibrium (1974).
- Ruth Millar: Ruth Millar (born 1951) is a Scottish playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her works The Removal Men (1985) and Not for Glaswegians Only (1985).
- Murray Millar: Murray Millar (born 1954) is a Canadian former politician, businessman and lawyer who served as a Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario and was the leader of the official opposition from 2007 to 2009.
- Lorna Millar: Lorna Millar (born 1967) is a Scottish radio playwright. She has had a number of plays broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland, many of which are adaptations of classic stories.
- Doug Millar: Doug Millar (born 1973) is an American entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder and current chief executive of LearnVest, a financial planning and investment company.