Millar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Scotland 
  Ireland 
  England 


The chronicles of the Millar family show that the name was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for a person who lived in the county of Dumfries.

Early Origins of the Millar family

The surname Millar was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where the Millar family held a family seat from ancient times. One line had its ancestral seat at Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire. During the Middle Ages, occupational names were frequently recorded in Latin; thus, one who worked at a mill would have been documented under the name Milendinarius, Le Molendinator, or De Molendino. The modern spellings "Miller" and "Millar" came into general use about 1500; earlier documents usually show the name in Latin.

Early History of the Millar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Millar research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1253, 1650 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Millar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Millar Spelling Variations

The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. Millar has been spelled Miller, Millar, Myllar, Mylar, Millare, Myllair and many more.

Early Notables of the Millar family

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

Millar World Ranking

In the United States, the name Millar is the 6,390th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Millar is ranked the 768th most popular surname with an estimated 6,966 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Millar is the 483rd popular surname with an estimated 7,858 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Millar as 171st with 3,116 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Millar as 362nd with 17,325 people. 5

Migration of the Millar family to Ireland

Some of the Millar family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Millar migration to the United States +

The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them:

Millar Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Millar Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Millar migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Millar Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Millar Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Millar migration to Australia +

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

Millar Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Millar 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:

Millar Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Millar (post 1700) +


The Millar Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Manent optima coelo
Motto Translation: The best things await us in heaven.
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