Show ContentsMilsap Surname History

The name Milsap is thought to derive from the Middle English word "milksop," which was "a piece of bread soaked in milk." As a name, it may have evolved from a nickname for a "spiritless" man. It has also been suggested that it mays have been an occupational name for a farmer who dealt with milk products.

Early Origins of the Milsap family

The surname Milsap was first found in Buckinghamshire, England, where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor of Milksop. This name has often been maligned as referring to an effeminate person, but this is most unlikely, it is more likely from the trade-name as a farmer who dealt with milk products, i.e., the sap or sop of milk or curds and whey. The former explanation is merely an assumption by Victorian historians. The origin of this name is almost exclusively in the heart of the English farming counties of Buckingham, Oxford, and Bedfordshire.

Early History of the Milsap family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Milsap research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1300, 1572, 1620, 1637 and 1736 are included under the topic Early Milsap History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Milsap Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Milksop, Milsop, Millsop, Millsopp, Milsops, Millsops, Millsopps, Mellsop, Mellsopp, Melsops, Mellsopps, Millinchop, Millinshop, Millsap, Millsapp, Milsap, Milsapp, Milsaps and many more.

Early Notables of the Milsap family

More information is included under the topic Early Milsap Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Milsap Ranking

In the United States, the name Milsap is the 18,559th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Ireland Migration of the Milsap family to Ireland

Some of the Milsap family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Milsap family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John and Thomas Milksop who settled in Charles Town, South Carolina in 1719; another Thomas Milksop settled in Maryland in 1718.


Contemporary Notables of the name Milsap (post 1700) +

  • Ronnie Milsap (b. 1944), American country music artist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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