Show ContentsMill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Mill

What does the name Mill mean?

The Mill surname is derived from the Old English word "mylen," and the Middle English "mille, or milne," all of which meant "mill." Thus the name was probably originally taken on by someone who owned or lived near a mill.

Early Origins of the Mill family

The surname Mill was first found in Hampshire, where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Mill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mill research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1445, 1483, 1499, 1510, 1567, 1600, 1645, 1707 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Mill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mill Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mills, Mylles, Meiles and others.

Early Notables of the Mill family

Notable among the family at this time was

Mill Ranking

In the United States, the name Mill is the 16,068th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Mill family to Ireland

Some of the Mill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Mill migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mill Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Mill, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • John Mill, who settled in Virginia in 1637
  • Lewis Mill, who settled in Virginia in 1642
  • Cornelius Mill, who settled in Virginia in 1652
  • Edward Mill, who settled in Virginia in 1654
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Mill Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Mill, who settled in Virginia in 1704
  • Jurg Mill, aged 35, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
  • James Mill, who settled in Virginia in 1741
  • James Mill, who landed in Maryland in 1747 2
  • George Mill, who landed in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1748 2
Mill Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jacob Mill, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1837 2
  • David Mill, who arrived in New York, NY in 1840 2
  • Mrs. Louisa Mill, (b. 1818), aged 33, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30th April 1851 3
  • Miss Mary Jane Mill, (b. 1850), aged 6 months, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30th April 1851 3
  • Mr. James Mill, (b. 1848), aged 3, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30th April 1851 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mill migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mill Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Mill, (Wallace), Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Miss Susanna Mill, (Susan), Scottish laundress who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Atwick" on 28 September 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1849 5
  • Mr. William Mill, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Thomas Mill, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Bruce" in 1846 7
  • Miss. Jean Mill (Adam), British Convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 9th March 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mill migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mill Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • George G. Mill, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1858
  • Helen Mill, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1858
  • James Mill, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1858
  • William Mill, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1858
  • George Mill, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1858
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mill (post 1700) +

  • Henry S. Mill, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Pennsylvania State Senate 10th District, 1910 9
  • Hugh Robert Mill (1861-1950), Scottish geographer and meteorologist, eponym of the Mill Glacier, Antarctica
  • James Mill (1773-1836), Scottish historian, economist, political theorist, and philosopher, father of John Stuart Mill
  • Frank Mill (b. 1958), German footballer
  • John Stuart Mill FRSE (1806-1873), English philosopher, political economist and civil servant, often referred to as "the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century"

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Richard Mill, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 10
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Kenneth Clifford Mill, "Keith" British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, but later died as a prisoner of war in 1943 11


The Mill Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Ex industria
Motto Translation: Through industry.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
  5. Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atwick
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY BRUCE 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846LadyBruce.htm
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1847
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  11. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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