Mills Family Crest and Surname Origin
A short guide to the Mills surname: its meaning, its roots in England & Scotland, and its heraldry.
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Origin of the Mills name
Mills is a topographic name for someone who lived by the mills, from Middle English mille, "mill". The water mill or windmill was the centre of village life, where the lord's tenants were obliged to grind their corn. In some families Mills is a patronymic from Mill, a short form of Miles. The name is common throughout England and in Scotland.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Mills name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Mills name in England & Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Mills family history
The researched Mills pack traces meaning, early bearers and migration routes, and includes a personalized Mills coat of arms.
Mills name FAQ
What does the Mills name mean?
Dweller by the mills. Common variants include Mill, Milles, Mylls.
Where does the Mills surname come from?
It originates in England & Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Mills coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Mills crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Mills coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).