Muller
What is the origin of the last name Muller?
Meaning and origin
The last name "Muller" originates from Germany and is derived from the occupational term "müller," meaning miller in English. This surname was commonly adopted during the Middle Ages by individuals involved in operating grain mills, reflecting the importance of milling in medieval society. The name "Muller" later spread across Europe and became anglicized as Miller in English-speaking countries.
The longer story
The last name Muller has German origins and is derived from the Latin word "molinarius", meaning miller. As a occupational surname, it was given to individuals who worked as millers or operated mills.
The name first appeared in Germany in the 12th century and quickly spread across the country. Variations of the name include Müller, Muller, Mueller, Moller, and Möller.
Throughout history, the occupation of miller was important and held in high regard. Mills played a crucial role in the production of flour, a staple of the daily diet. As a result, individuals carrying the surname Muller often enjoyed a certain level of prestige within their communities.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,293
Muller was the 1,293rd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 27,216 people, about 8.8 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Muller
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Muller is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.