Show ContentsMillmay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Millmay reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Millmay family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Millmay family lived in Essex. The name, however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Mildme, France.

Early Origins of the Millmay family

The surname Millmay was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Mulsho. This family were anciently the Earls and Barons Fitzwalter seated at Moulsham Hall in that County. They were originally from a place in France of the name Mildme. One branch of the family was found at Little Baddow in Cheshire. "The church [of Little Baddow] is an ancient edifice, with a tower at the west end, and consists of a nave and chancel, in which latter is a stately monument of marble to [Sir] Henry Mildmay (1619-1692), of Graces." 1

Early History of the Millmay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Millmay research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1593, 1596, 1619, 1621, 1626, 1640, 1654, 1656, 1659, 1660, 1664, 1669, 1676, 1692, 1871 and 1913 are included under the topic Early Millmay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Millmay 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 Mildme, Mildmay, Mildmy, Mildmee, Millmay, Mildmar, Miltmay, Meldmay, Mieldmay and many more.

Early Notables of the Millmay family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Henry Mildmay (ca. 1593-1664), Master of the Jewel Office, an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1659, a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War, one of the Regicides of...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Millmay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Millmay family

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 Millmay name or one of its variants: Edward Milday settled in Virginia in 1650; Thomas Mildmay arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1852.



The Millmay 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: Alla ta hara
Motto Translation: God my help.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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