Show ContentsMils History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Mils is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mils family lived at or near a mill having derived from the Old English word mylen, which meant mill. [1] [2]

Early Origins of the Mils family

The surname Mils was first found in Hampshire. However, one branch of the family was found at Barford in Warwickshire since early times. " Under the chancel [in the church of Barford] is a vault for the family of Mills, to members of whom are five urns on pedestals in the chancel wall." [3]

"This name is mostly confined to the southern half of England. Its chief homes are in Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hants, and Warwickshire. It is rare or infrequent in the south - west of England, where, in Cornwall and Devon, its place is to some extent supplied by Mill." [4]

Some of the first records of the family include: Margery Mylys who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1273; [5] and John Myls was listed in London in 1336. [6]

Early History of the Mils family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mils research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1593, 1604, 1621, 1645, 1659, 1660, 1676, 1683, 1695, 1707, 1736, 1776, 1788, 1804, 1809, 1811, 1817, 1826, 1833 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Mils History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mils Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Mils are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Mils include Mills, Mylles, Meiles and others.

Early Notables of the Mils family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Myles, English politician, Member of Parliament for Coventry in 1593; John Mylles (c. 1604-1676), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Oxford University in 1659 and 1660; John Myles (Miles), (c. 1621-1683), Welsh-born cleric who upon the Restoration left Wales for the Plymouth colony in the 1660s, founder of Swansea, Massachusetts; and John Mill (c. 1645-1707), an English theologian from Shap in Westmorland, best known for his Greek New Testament.Alfred Mills (1776-1833), the English draughtsman was a skilful designer of illustrations to small books of juvenile instruction, such as 'Pictures of Roman...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mils Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Mils family to Ireland

Some of the Mils family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mils family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Mils, or a variant listed above: Cornelius Mill settled in Virginia in 1652; along with Edward in 1654; James in 1741; John in 1637; Lewis in 1642; Mary in 1704; Thomas in 1635; William in 1663. They also settled in Barbados, Philadelphia, Charletown.



The Mils 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: Honor virtutis pretium
Motto Translation: Honour is the reward of virtue.


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  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. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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