Show ContentsMillican History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Millican

What does the name Millican mean?

The name Millican was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Millican family lived in Wigtown, a former royal burgh in the Machars of Galloway in the south west of Scotland. This burgh is first mentioned in an indenture of 1292, and the fact that the sheriffdom was in existence at the time of the Largs campaign of 1263 suggests that the burgh may also have been recognized as such during the reign of Alexander III.

Early Origins of the Millican family

The surname Millican was first found in Wigtownshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Bhaile na h-Uige), formerly a county in southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Millican family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Millican research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1526, 1612 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Millican History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Millican Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Millican has appeared as Milligan, Millicen, Millicken, Milliken, Milligan and many more.

Early Notables of the Millican family

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

Millican Ranking

In the United States, the name Millican is the 8,629th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Millican family to Ireland

Some of the Millican 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.


Millican 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:

Millican Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Millican, British settler travelling from London via Cape ports aboard the ship "Pembroke Castle" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 5th November 1889 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Millican (post 1700) +

  • Charles N. Millican (1916-2010), founding President of the University of Central Florida
  • Daniel Millican (b. 1965), American writer/director
  • James Millican (1911-1955), American actor who appeared in over 200 film
  • Marc J. Millican, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from Alaska, 2004 3
  • James H. Millican Jr., American politician, Mayor of Palatka, Florida, 1948, 1953-54 3
  • Harold A. Millican, American politician, Candidate for Michigan superintendent of public instruction, 1911 3
  • Frank Millican, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Louisiana, 1972 3
  • Earnest Millican Jr. (b. 1923), American politician, Mayor of Euless, Texas, 1957-61 3
  • A. C. Millican, American politician, Mayor of Marysville, Washington, 1928-29 3
  • Peter Millican (b. 1958), English Professor of Philosophy at Hertford College, Oxford University
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Millican 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: Regarde Bien
Motto Translation: Attend well.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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