Millnar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The Anglo-Saxon name Millnar comes from when its first bearer worked as a person who was a milner or more commonly know as a miller. The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name myln which meant mill. 1

"The surname is most common in the north and eastern counties, where Scandinavian influence was strong." 2

Early Origins of the Millnar family

The surname Millnar was first found in the West Riding of Yorkshire at Appleton-Roebuck and Nun-Appleton, a township, in the parish of Bolton-Percy, W. division of Ainsty wapentake. "This place comprises by computation 2800 acres, chiefly the property of the Milner family, whose splendid mansion, Nun-Appleton Hall, stands in an extensive and finely wooded park, near the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Wharfe: the house was built by Thomas, Lord Fairfax, on the site of a Cistercian priory for nuns, founded by Alice de St. Quintin at the commencement of the thirteenth century." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls had only one listing for the family, Robert le Melner in Derbyshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had two listings, the latter an occupational entry: Robertus Mylner; and Henricus Tele, milner. 4

The Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire included John le Mulnare in 1275 and later, Robert le Milner was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1297. 2

In Scotland, entries were quite a bit later as "Andrew Mylnar leased part of the Grange of Abirbothry, 1454 and Paton Mylner, [was] tenant of Westhorn of Grange of Kerso, in 1478." 5

Early History of the Millnar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Millnar research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1570, 1628, 1702, 1723, 1730, 1760, 1789, 1827, 1841, 1887 and 1897 are included under the topic Early Millnar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Millnar Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Millnar include Milner, Milnor and others.

Early Notables of the Millnar family

Distinguished members of the family include John Milner (1628-1702), an English clergyman, known as a nonjuring minister, scholar and opponent of John Locke. James Milner, 9th Seigneur of Sark (died 1730) bought the fief of Sark from John Johnson in 1723 for £5,000, and was Seigneur of Sark until 1730. Thomas Mulliner (c. 1545-1570), was the Oxford organist who compiled the commonplace Mulliner Book. Arthur Mulliner was the twentieth century name of a coachbuilding business founded in Northampton in 1760 which remained in family ownership. Henry Mulliner...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Millnar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Millnar family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Millnar or a variant listed above: Joseph, Daniel, Anne, Sarah, and Ralph Milner all arrived in Philadelphia in 1683; Michael Milner arrived in New England in 1635; Samuel Milner settled in Virginia in 1635.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)