Moeller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
Germany

The Moeller surname is thought to have originated in Bavaria, Germany. As hereditary surnames began to be adopted in that area beginning in the 12th century, people were often identified by the kind of work they did. Moeller is an occupational name for a miller, derived from the Old Germanic "Mulinari."

Early Origins of the Moeller family

The surname Moeller was first found in Southern Germany, where they were established in the Middle Ages. The name is the German form of the Latin name "Molinarius," "Mulinari" in Old German. The modern form of the name, Mueller, is documented early on in the chronicles of Swabia, wherein the knight Conrad von Husen is noted as having become known as Mueller for his ownership of a mill.

Early History of the Moeller family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Moeller research. Another 239 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1631, 1670, 1675, 1693, 1749, 1752, 1758, 1779, 1806, 1807, 1815, 1825, 1828, 1829 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Moeller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moeller Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Moeller include Mueller, Muller, Mueler, Muler, Miller, Moeller, Muellner, Milner, Molner and many more.

Early Notables of the Moeller family

Prominent among members of the name Moeller in this period include Heinrich Müller (1631-1675) was a German devotional author, Protestant author of hymns and Lutheran theologian; Adam Heinrich Mueller (1779-1829), ennobled in 1828 as Ritter von Nittersdorf, who influenced Hegel and accompanied Metternich to Paris in 1815, Johann Matthias Mueller, a general in the Austrian army, who was ennobled in 1758, Friedrich Mueller (1749-1825), known as "Maler Mueller" ("painter...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Moeller Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Moeller Ranking

In the United States, the name Moeller is the 2,611^st most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1

Moeller migration to the United States +

Between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries, German settlers arrived in North America by the thousands. Persecution based on religion and poverty were great motivators in this large-scale migration. So too was the opportunity for tenant farmers to own their own land. Ample land and opportunity awaited the settlers who went to such states as Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, as well as Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Moeller or a variant listed above:

Moeller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hanss Heinrich Moeller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
John Henry Moeller, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
Rosina Moeller, who arrived in New York, NY in 1743 2
Martin Moeller, who arrived in New York, NY in 1782 2
Caspar Moeller, who landed in New York, NY in 1782 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moeller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

August Wilhelm Moeller, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1841 2
Mr. Wilh. Moeller, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Herschel" in 1844
Mr. David Moeller, aged 31, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1846 aboard the ship "Gerhard Hermann"
Anna Sophia Moeller, aged 38, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1849 2
Maria Moeller, who landed in New York in 1850 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Moeller 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:

Moeller Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Moeller, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Derwent" arriving in Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand on 9th December 1864 3
Mr. F. Moeller, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria aboard the ship "Derwent" arriving in Port Chalmers, South Island, New Zealand on 9th December 1864 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Moeller (post 1700) +

James Carl "Jim" Moeller (1955-2023), American politician and mental health professional, Speaker pro tempore of the Washington House of Representatives (2011-2017)
Philip Moeller (1880-1958), American stage producer and director, playwright and screenwriter
Henry K. Moeller (1849-1925), American prelate of the Catholic Church
Gustave Moeller (1881-1931), American-born artist
Joseph Douglas Moeller (b. 1943), former American pitcher in Major League Baseball
Johnny Moeller (b. 1970), American blues guitarist
Chad Edward Moeller (b. 1975), American Major League Baseball catcher
Dennis Michael Moeller (b. 1967), former American Major League Baseball pitcher
Ralf Rudolf Moeller (b. 1959), German and American actor and former competitive bodybuilder
Christian Moeller (b. 1959), German architect and artist
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Moeller 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: Virtute ingenioque valemus
Motto Translation: We are strong because our virtue and talent

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html