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Show ContentsMiles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Miles came to England with the ancestors of the Miles family in the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the given name Miles or Milo. 1 2 The name Miles is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Old German word mil, which meant beloved. The family name Miles was brought to England after the Norman Conquest, when William the Conqueror gave his friends and relatives most of the land formerly owned by Anglo-Saxon aristocrats. This distinguished family descended from Miles, who was the Marshall of Duke William and who held lands at Caen, Vauceles, and Venoix in Normandy. 3 The Norman conquerors imported a vast number of continental European personal names, such as the name Miles, which largely replaced traditional Old English personal names among the upper and middle classes.

Early Origins of the Miles family

The surname Miles was first found in Lincolnshire where Johannes filius Mile was listed (1150-1160.) Seventy years later, the name would be found in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1230 as Milo Noyrenuyt. 4 By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the listings in Bedfordshire were the most numerous: William filius Milon; and Milo le Messer. The same rolls listed: Peter Myles in Kent; Wychard Miles in Lincolnshire; and Margery Mylys in Cambridgeshire. 5 The Pipe Rolls of Sussex listed Nicholaus Miles in 1177 and the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire listed Nicholaus filius Miles in 1297. And then there was this interesting note confirming the relationship between Milo and Miles: "Another Ralph Miles, a fishmonger, of Bridge Ward (1292 Subsidy Rolls of London), founded a chantry for his late lord Milo, no doubt Miles de Oystergate, fishmonger." 4

Early History of the Miles family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Miles research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Miles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Miles Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Miles, Myles and others.

Early Notables of the Miles family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Miles of Hampshire

Miles World Ranking

In the United States, the name Miles is the 287th most popular surname with an estimated 94,506 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Miles is ranked the 910th most popular surname with an estimated 5,925 people with that name. 7 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Miles is the 367th popular surname with an estimated 126 people with that name. 8 Australia ranks Miles as 269th with 12,747 people. 9 New Zealand ranks Miles as 367th with 1,737 people. 10 The United Kingdom ranks Miles as 248th with 24,153 people. 11

Ireland Migration of the Miles family to Ireland

Some of the Miles family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Miles migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Miles name or one of its variants:

Miles Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henry Miles, who settled in Virginia in 1633
  • Elizabeth Miles, who settled in Virginia in 1634
  • Anthony Miles, who arrived in Virginia in 1635
  • Lewes Miles, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • Anto Miles, aged 11, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Miles Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • David Miles, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1709 12
  • Alce Miles, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1709 12
  • Daniel Miles, who landed in Virginia in 1716 12
  • Christian Miles, who arrived in America in 1760-1763 12
Miles Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Miles, who landed in New York in 1826 12
  • Edward Miles, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1828 12
  • Jonah Miles, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1832 12
  • Martin Miles, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1838 12
  • Wilhelm Miles, aged 41, who landed in Missouri in 1842 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Miles Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Thomas H. Miles, (b. 1878), aged 26, Cornish miner, from Hayle, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th October 1904 en route to Victor, Utah, USA 13
  • George Miles, who landed in Wisconsin in 1914 12

Canada Miles migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Miles Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Miles, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. Thomas Miles U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 188 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 14
  • Capt. Elijah Miles U.E. who settled in Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in DeLancey's Brigade in the 3rd Battalion 14
  • Mr. Elijah Miles U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 14
  • Mr. Samuel Miles U.E. (b. 1742) born in New Milford, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1785, he died in 1824 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Miles Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Charles Miles, aged 27 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Dominica" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 10th June 1847 15
  • Mr. Edward Miles, aged 23 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Lively" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 15
  • Mr. James Miles, aged 24 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 15
Miles Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Miss L Miles, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Australia Miles migration to Australia +

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

Miles Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Miles, (Dieper), British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. Patrick Miles, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • Mr. John Miles, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Robert Miles, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Richard Miles, English convict from Surrey, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Miles 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:

Miles Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Clement Miles, aged 21, a baker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
  • Thomas Miles, aged 22, a brickmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
  • Frederick William Miles, aged 29, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir Charles Forbes" in 1842
  • Elizabeth Miles, aged 25, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir Charles Forbes" in 1842
  • Mr. Thomas Miles, (b. 1841), aged 14, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Grasmere" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th May 1855 21
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Miles 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. 22
Miles Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Christopher Miles, who settled in Barbados in 1668
  • Hannah Miles, aged 18, who arrived in Jamaica in 1683 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Miles (post 1700) +

  • Butch Miles (1944-2023), born Charles J. Thornton, Jr., an American jazz drummer who played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Tony Bennett
  • Ronald Glen "Ron" Miles (1963-2022), American jazz trumpeter, cornetist, and composer who recorded for the labels Prolific (1986), Capri (1990), and Gramavision
  • Floyd Miles (1943-2018), American electric blues and soul blues guitarist, singer and songwriter from Daytona Beach, Florida
  • Nelson Appleton Miles (1839-1925), American Army officer who served in the American Civil War, the American Indian Wars, and the Spanish–American War, the last Commanding General of the United States Army (1895-1903)
  • Ollisteen 'Steen' Miles (1946-2017), American politician, Member of the Georgia Senate (2005-2007)
  • Carl Thomas Miles (1918-2016), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1940 season
  • Lynn Alan Miles (1943-2015), American human rights activist in Taiwan
  • Joanna Miles (b. 1940), French-born, American two-time Primetime Emmy Award winning actress
  • A.D. Miles (b. 1971), American two-time Primetime Emmy Award nominated writer and actor, known for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009), The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) and Horrible People (2008)
  • William Miles (1931-2013), American Academy Award nominated filmmaker
  • ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Vernon G Miles (b. 1906), English Chief Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Hambledon, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23
  • Mr. Ronald S Miles (b. 1899), Welsh Senior Master Com. Warrant Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23
  • Mr. Francis B Miles (b. 1901), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Barnwood, Gloucestershire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 23
HMS Royal Oak
  • Ronald S. Miles, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 24
  • Patrick Miles (d. 1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
  • Ewart Henry Miles (d. 1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
  • Arthur Miles (1921-1939), British Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
  • Alfred Walter Sydney Miles (1922-1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Frank Miles (d. 1912), aged 23, English Third Class passenger from Greenwich, London who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Oscar Wright Miles, American Seaman First Class from Arkansas, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 26

Suggested Readings for the name Miles +

  • L.D. Miles: His Ancestors and Descendants by Carol Bickel Cramer.
  • Thomas Hill and Rebecca Miles: Ancestors and Descendants by Mary Louise Donnelly.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  8. 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)
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. 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)
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. 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. 47)
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  19. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
  20. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  23. 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
  24. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  25. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  26. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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