Mills Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Mills Origin:

England, Scotland

Origins of Mills:

The surname of Mills is said to have derived in the countries of Scotland and England. It is believed that the surname of Mills is of a topographical variety. A topographical surname was given to someone who lived on or near a prominent structure within the area from which the person hailed. This means that everyone within this area could distinguish the man-made or natural structure that was being used to describe a person. In this case, the surname of Mills was given to someone who lived near a mill. The surname of Mills can be derived from the Middle English words of “mille” or “milne” which can both be translated to mean “mill.” These Middle English words themselves come from the Old English Pre 7th Century word of “mylen” or “mylene” which itself comes from the Latin word “molina” which comes from the Latin word “molere” and can be translated to mean “to grind.” The “s” added at the end of this surname of Mills indicates that it is patronymic, meaning that the surname was often given to the son of the original bearer of the surname, or given to someone who was the son of someone who lived on or near a mill. Eventually, this surname became used for someone who worked in a mill. This means that the original bearer of the surname of Mills actually carried out this job. Occupational surnames were not originally hereditary surnames. They only became hereditary if the son followed in his father’s footsteps for a career; then the surname became hereditary and was used by the children and spouse of the son.

Variations:

More common variations are: Milles, Millson, Miles, Mylls, Mylles, Millis, Milles, Millas, Miells, Millus

History:

England:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Mills can be found within the country of England. One person by the name of Richard de le Melle was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of the County of Sussex in the year of 1200. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of one King John of England, who was known throughout the ages as one “The Lackland” and who ruled from the year 1199 to the year 1216. Other mentions of the surname of Mills throughout the country of England included one Richard Mille, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in the year of 1279. Those who carry the surname of Mills throughout the country of England can be found in high concentrations in the areas of Hampshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. It is also said that those who are known by the surname of Mills can be found in the southeastern coastal areas of the country of England.

Scotland:

Those who carry the surname of Mills can be found in the country of Scotland. The area with the highest concentration of those who bear the surname of Mills is in Lanarkshire County.

United States of America:

Within the United States of America, there is a population of people who are known by the surname of Mills. These people can be found within the states of California, New York, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Mills: United States 165,638; England 45,478; Ghana 29,236; Australia 20,947; Canada 17,249; South Africa 12,109; New Zealand 3,943; Scotland 3,111; Jamaica 2,838; Wales 2,720

Notable People:

Sherron Mills (1971-2016) who was a National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player from America

William Ellison Mills who was a politician from America and served as a Member of the New York State Assembly from Fulton and Hamilton counties from the year 1906 to the year 1908

William F. R. Mills who was a Republican politician from America and the mayor of Denver, Colorado from the year 1918 to the year 1919

William Joseph Mills (1849-1915) who was a politician from America and a Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the year 1881 to the year 1882 as well as a Justice from the New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court from the year 1898 to the year 1910 and who was also the Governor of the New Mexico Territory from the year 1910 to the year 1912

William Oswald Mills (1924-1973) who was a Republican politician from America and a United States Representative from the Maryland in the 1st District from the year 1971 to the year 1973 as well as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention for Maryland in the year 1972

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Bisterne, co. Hants). (Hillingdon Court, and Camelford House, Park Lane, London, bart.). Motto—Nil conscire sibi. Gyronny of six ar. and az. a millrind sa. Crest—A demi lion reguard. or, gorged with a collar gemel az. betw. the paws a millrind sa.
2) (Casnalbery, co. Hertford, and co. Bedford; granted Nov. 1613). Barry of ten ar. and vert, over all six escutcheons gu. three, two, and one. Crest—A wing barry of ten ar. and vert.
3) (Knightington, co. Berks). Erm. a millrind sa. a chief or. Crest—A lion ramp, or, holding in the mouth a sinister hand gu.
4) (Lexden Park, Colchester, co. Essex ; granted 4 Jan. 1800). Az. a cross pattte betw. four mullets or, each charged with a pellet. Crest—A hurt charged with an estoile or.
5) (co. Essex). Gyronny of eight ar. and az. a millrind sa. Crest—A demi lion ramp. reguard. or, holding betw. the paws a millrind sa.
6) (Harscomb, co. Gloucester, and Croydon, co. Surrey). (Clermont Lodge, co. Norfolk). Motto—Deo adjuvante. (Saxham Hall, co. Suffolk). Motto—Confido. Erm. a millrind sa. Crest—A lion ramp. or.
7) Same Arms. Crest—A demi lion ramp. or, holding in the paws a millrind sa.
8) (Bitterne, co. Hants, temp. Queen Elizabeth). Paly of six ar. and sa. over all on a fesse gu. three mullets or. Crest—On a mural coronet gu. an escallop ar.
9) (Tolmers, co. Herts). Motto—Deo adjuvante. Erm. a millrind sa., quartering 1st, ar. six lions, three, two, and one sa.; 2nd, az. a mullet pierced ar.; 3rd, per chev. or and az. three mullets counterchanged. Crest—A lion ramp. or.
10) (Norton Court, co. Kent). Erm. a millrind sa. on a chief az. two marlions’ wings or. Crest—On a chapeau gu. turned up erm. a millrind sa. betw. two marlions’ wings of the second.
11) (co. Middlesex). Motto—Honor virtutis pretium. Erm. a millrind sa. Crest—On a ducal coronet a lion ramp. gu.
12) (London; descended from co. Cornwall). Az. a millrind in fesse or. Crest—A paschal lamb pass. ar. unguled or, bearing on the dexter shoulder a banner of St. George double pennoned.
13) (co. Suffolk). Paly of six ar. and sa. Crest—A demi bear ramp. sa. muzzled, collared, and chained or.
14) (Reg. Ulster’s Office). Az. two swans in pale ar. betw. as many flaunches erm.
15) Az. a cross pattee pierced betw. two mullets pierced or. Crest—On a hurt an estoile pierced or.
16) Erm. a millrind sa. pierced of the field. Crest—On a ducal coronet or, a lion ramp. gu.
17) Ar. a bend betv. two lions’ beads erased sa.