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

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies South Africa

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Mullins History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Belgium
England
France
Ireland

Etymology of Mullins

What does the name Mullins mean?

Today's Irish surnames are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Mullins originally appeared in Gaelic as either Ó Meallain, Ó Maolain or Mac Maolain. The first surname is derived from the word meall, which means pleasant. The second and third surnames are derived from maol, which means bald.

Early Origins of the Mullins family

The surname Mullins was first found in the province of Connacht (Irish: Connachta, (land of the) descendants of Conn) where the Mullen, Mullin and Mullan spellings were popular. They were descended from the Kings of Connacht and are of the same basic stock as the O'Concannons. Branches were also found in Cork, Limerick, and Clare where the Mullane and Mullins spellings were the most frequent. Some were found north in Ulster and Tyrone and Derry. 1 This latter group is difficult to trace as the Scottish MacMullen or McMullen settled there during Cromwell's Plantation of Ulster.

Early History of the Mullins family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mullins research. Another 53 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1660, 1720 and 1729 are included under the topic Early Mullins History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mullins Spelling Variations

People who were accounted for by scribes and church officials often had their name recorded many different ways because pronunciation was the only guide those scribes and church officials had to go by. This resulted in the problem of one person's name being recorded under several different variations, creating the illusion of more than one person. Among the many spelling variations of the surname Mullins that are preserved in archival documents are Mullan, Mullen, Mullin, Mullens, Mullins, O'Mullen, O'Mullan, O'Mullin, McMullen and many more.

Early Notables of the Mullins family

Notable among the family name at this time was Allan Mullen, M.D., (born c. 1660), one of the most eminent Irish anatomists; Dr. James Mullen, self educated doctor; Rev. John McMullen, Bishop...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mullins Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mullins World Ranking

In the United States, the name Mullins is the 330^th most popular surname with an estimated 82,071 people with that name. 2 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Mullins is ranked the 283^rd most popular surname with an estimated 158 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Mullins is the 832^nd popular surname with an estimated 4,721 people with that name. 4

Mullins migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Mullins to North America:

Mullins Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mrs. Alice Mullins, (d. 1621), (nee Atwood), who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the ship "Mayflower"
Mr. Joseph Mullins, (1606-1621), who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the ship "Mayflower"
William Mullins, (1572-1621), who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the "Mayflower", shoemaker 5
Priscilla Mullins, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the ship "Mayflower", married in 1621 to become Priscilla Alden
James Mullins, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mullins Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Mullins, aged 26, who landed in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1803 5
Michael Mullins, aged 18, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1824 5
John, Patrick and Timothy Mullins, who settled in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860

Mullins migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Mullins Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Matthew Mullins, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1752

Mullins Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Ellen Mullins, aged 6 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 6
Mr. John Mullins who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but he died on board 6
Miss. Julia Mullins, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 6
Mrs. Mary Mullins, aged 50 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Saguenay" departing 5th June 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 22th August 1847 but she died on board 6
Mrs. Mary Mullins, aged 29 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 6

Mullins migration to Australia +

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

Mullins Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Mullins, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Mr. Robert Mullins, (b. 1801), aged 19, Irish shoe maker who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Dorothy" on 5th May 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he was executed in 1833 8
Mr. John Mullins, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 8th April 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Charles Mullins, English convict from Somerset, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on October 22nd, 1824, settling in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Patrick Mullins, (b. 1807), aged 35, Irish groom who was convicted in Chennai (Madras), India for life for desertion from the army, transported aboard the "Flora" in 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died 1831 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mullins 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:

Mullins Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Mullins, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Bandicoot" arriving in New Zealand in 1846 12
Mr. John Mullins, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th March 1852 12
Mary Mullins, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Golconda" in 1859
Mr. Thomas Mullins, (b. 1831), aged 32, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 12
Mrs. Mary A. Mullins, (b. 1833), aged 30, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th February 1864 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mullins migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 13

Mullins Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

George Mullins, who settled in Barbados in 1685

Contemporary Notables of the name Mullins (post 1700) +

Dennis Patrick Mullins (1938-2017), American insurance salesman and politician, Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia
Devin Mullins (b. 1985), Bahamas professional tennis player, bronze medalist at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
Matt Mullins (b. 1980), American actor, known for his work on Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight (2008-2010)
Major-General Charles Love Jr. Mullins (1892-1976), American Deputy Commanding General 2nd Army (1948-1949) 14
Melinda Mullins (b. 1958), American theater and film actress
Eustace Mullins (b. 1923), American political writer
Aimee Mullins (b. 1976), American athlete, actress, and fashion model
Patrick Mullins (b. 1989), also known as PW Mullins, an Irish amateur National Hunt jockey and assistant trainer from County Carlow, winner of the Grand National in 2025
Brian Mullins (1954-2022), Irish Gaelic football manager and player who played football with his local club St Vincent's and was a senior member of the Dublin county team from 1974 until 1985
Aimee Mullins (b. 1975), Irish actress, known for her work on Young Ones (2014), Cremaster 3 (2002) and Rob the Mob (2014)
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Mullins family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Steven W Mullins (1964-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Des Moines, Iowa, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 15

Empress of Ireland

Miss Eileen Mullins (1905-1914), English First Class Passenger from London, England, United Kingdom who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16
Mrs. Kate Emily Mullins (1875-1914), née Piercy English First Class Passenger from London, England, United Kingdom who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 16
Mr. Albert Edward Mullins (1872-1914), English First Class Passenger from Wimborne, Dorset, England, United Kingdom travelling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Annie Mullins (1852-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
Mrs. Delilah Mullins (1891-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17

HMS Cornwall

Stanley William Mullins (d. 1942), British Musician aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 18

HMS Hood

Mr. Edgar W F Mullins (b. 1922), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Tisbury, Wiltshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 90)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dorothy
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1824 with 9 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1824
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/flora
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Charles Mullins. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Mullins/Charles_Love_Jr./USA.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm