Show ContentsMillais History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Millais

What does the name Millais mean?

The name Millais is derived from the French word "mill" + the suffix "et", "ot" + "ay" and is properly pronounced "Mill" + the long vowel "a."

Early Origins of the Millais family

The surname Millais was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France where the family has been traced from ancient times.

The family branched into Ile-de-France, Bourgogne, Dauphiné, Lorraine, Savoie, and they became the Barons of Challes and Barons of Faverges. Among the most recognized were: Theodore Millet, Colonel, who was named Knight of the Empire in 1810, then Baron of the Empire in 1813; Jean-François Millet (1814-1875), who was a talented painter, designer, and engraver. Today, parts of France are proud to be associated with such a dedicated family.

Early History of the Millais family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Millais research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1450, 1539, 1572, 1582, 1642, 1679, 1686, 1708 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Millais History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Millais Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Millet, Milliet, Millez, Millais, Millay, Millets, Milet, Milez, Milais, Milets, Milay, de Millet and many more.

Early Notables of the Millais family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Theodore Millet, Colonel, Knight of the Empire; Francisque Millet (1642-1679), also known as Jean-François Milée or Millet I, a...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Millais Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Millais migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Millais Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Basil Millais, who arrived in Texas in 1909 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Millais (post 1700) +

  • Sir Ralph Regnault Millais (1905-1992), 5th Baronet of Palace Gate and St Quen, English peer
  • Sir Geoffroy Richard Everett Millais (b. 1941), 6th Baronet of Palace Gate and St Quen, English peer
  • Sir Geoffroy William Millais (1863-1941), 4th Baronet of Palace Gate and St Quen, English peer
  • Sir John Everett Millais (1888-1920), 3rd Baronet of Palace Gate and St Quen, English peer
  • Raoul Millais (1901-1999), 2nd Baronet of Palace Gate and St Quen, British portrait painter, equestrian artist and sportsman
  • Ivy Millais (1883-1969), British actress who had a notable career in silent film
  • Hugh Millais (1929-2009), British author and actor, best known for his film collaborations with director Robert Altman
  • Sir John Everett Millais (1829-1896), 1st Baronet, British painter and illustrator, one of founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
  • Perrine Millais Moncrieff CBE (1893-1979), New Zealand author, conservationist and amateur ornithologist


  1. 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)


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