Contents [hide]

Muller History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Sources

Muller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany
Israel

Etymology of Muller

What does the name Muller mean?

The Muller surname is thought to have originated in Bavaria, Germany. As hereditary surnames began to be adopted in that area beginning in the 12th century, people were often identified by the kind of work they did. Muller is an occupational name for a miller, derived from the Old Germanic "Mulinari."

Early Origins of the Muller family

The surname Muller was first found in Southern Germany, where they were established in the Middle Ages. The name is the German form of the Latin name "Molinarius," "Mulinari" in Old German. The modern form of the name, Mueller, is documented early on in the chronicles of Swabia, wherein the knight Conrad von Husen is noted as having become known as Mueller for his ownership of a mill.

Early History of the Muller family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Muller research. Another 239 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1631, 1670, 1675, 1693, 1749, 1752, 1758, 1779, 1806, 1807, 1815, 1825, 1828, 1829 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Muller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Muller Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Muller include Mueller, Muller, Mueler, Muler, Miller, Moeller, Muellner, Milner, Molner and many more.

Early Notables of the Muller family

Prominent among members of the name Muller in this period include Heinrich Müller (1631-1675) was a German devotional author, Protestant author of hymns and Lutheran theologian; Adam Heinrich Mueller (1779-1829), ennobled in 1828 as Ritter von Nittersdorf, who influenced Hegel and accompanied Metternich to Paris in 1815, Johann Matthias Mueller, a general in the Austrian army, who was ennobled in 1758, Friedrich Mueller (1749-1825), known as "Maler Mueller" ("painter...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Muller Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Muller World Ranking

In the United States, the name Muller is the 1,345^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Muller is ranked the 37^th most popular surname with an estimated 46,841 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Muller is the 352^nd popular surname with an estimated 10,247 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Muller as 720^th with 992 people. 4 Netherlands ranks Muller as 98^th with 10,432 people. 5 South Africa ranks Muller as 136^th with 42,695 people. 6

Muller migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Muller or a variant listed above:

Muller Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Anneken Pietersen Muller, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1656 7

Muller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mr. Fredrich Wilhelm Muller, (d. 1751), who arrived in Georgia in 1736 aboard the ship "London Merchant" 7
Mrs. Anna Christina Muller, who arrived in Georgia in 1736 aboard the ship "London Merchant" 7
Mr. Johann Simon Muller, (1719-1737), who arrived in Georgia in 1736 aboard the ship "London Merchant" 7
Mr. Paul Johann Muller, (1721-1775), who arrived in Georgia in 1736 aboard the ship "London Merchant" 7
Miss Margaretha Muller, (1724-1773), who arrived in Georgia in 1736 aboard the ship "London Merchant" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Muller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Conrad Muller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 7
Eckard Muller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 7
Caspar Muller, aged 25, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 7
Catharina Margretha Muller, aged 13, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 7
Jacob Friederich Muller, who was naturalized in Pennsylvania in 1805
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Muller Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Abraham Muller, aged 19, who landed in America in 1909 7
Adele Muller, who landed in America in 1923 7

Muller migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Muller Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Johann Willhelm Muller, who immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1751
Barbara Muller, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Clara Muller, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Daniel Muller, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757

Muller Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Johann Muller, aged 35, German farmer who landed in Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Leibig" in 1868
Mrs. Louise Muller, aged 30, German settler who landed in Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Leibig" in 1868
Mr. Ferdinand Muller, aged 2, German settler who landed in Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Leibig" in 1868
Mr. Carl Muller, aged 33, German settler who landed in Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Leibig" in 1868

Muller migration to Australia +

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

Muller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Wilhelm Muller, aged 30, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 8
Carl Muller, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 8
Ferdinand Muller, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 8
Carl Heinrich Muller, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 8
Frederick Muller, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Victoria" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Muller (post 1700) +

Major-General Walter Joseph Muller (1895-1967), American Assistant Chief of Staff (G-4), Army Field Forces (1948) 10
Romeo Muller Jr. (1928-1992), American actor and writer, best known for his 1964 TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Steven Muller, President of Johns Hopkins University from 1972 to 1990
Richard A. Muller (b. 1944), American physicist, University of California, Berkeley
Hermann Joseph Muller (1890-1967), U.S. geneticist (Muller's ratchet) and educator
Herbert J. Muller (1905-1980), American historian, academic, government official and author
Sergeant Joseph E Muller (d. 1945), American Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1946
Hermann Joseph Müller (1890-1967), American geneticist
Margarete Müller (1931-2024), German politician
Gerhard Müller (1929-2024), German Lutheran theologian, Landesbischof of the Lutheran Church in Brunswick between 1982 and 1994, during German reunification
... (Another 36 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Muller family +

Bismarck

Willi Müller (1921-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 11
Rudolf Müller (1922-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 11
Richard Müller (1920-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 11
Oskar Müller (1920-1941), German Maschinengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 11
Peter Müller (b. 1915), German Obermaschinenmast who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck (1941) during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he survived the sinking 11
... (Another 15 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Flight 191

Mr. Fred Muller (d. 1979), American passenger from Los Angeles, California, USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 12

Hindenburg LZ-129

Mr. Richard Müller (1911-1937), German Assistant Chef from Friedrichshafen, Germany, who worked on board the Hindenburg LZ-129 and died in the Airship Fire 13

SS Atlantic

Albert Muller, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
Henry Muller, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
J. H. Muller, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

The Muller 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: Virtute ingenioque valemus
Motto Translation: We are strong because our virtue and talent

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847HermanVonBeckerath.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) VICTORIA 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Victoria.htm
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Walter Muller. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Muller/Walter_Joseph/USA.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
Hindenburg Disaster Passenger List | Airships.net. (Retrieved 2014, April 11) . Retrieved from http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/hindenburg-passenger-list/