Show ContentsMullinix History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Mullinix

What does the name Mullinix mean?

Today's generation of the Mullinix family bears a name that was brought to England by the migration wave that was started by the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Mullinix family lived in Lancashire. The name however, is a reference to the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Molineaux-Sur-Seine, near Rouen, in Normandy.

Early Origins of the Mullinix family

The surname Mullinix was first found in Lancashire as "an ancient Norman family, who have been possessed of the manor of Sefton, in this county, from the period of the Conquest, or very soon afterwards: it was held as a knight's fee, as of the Castle of Lancaster." 1 William de Molines was the first recorded ancestor. "Previously to the Conquest, 'Sextune,' one of the original parishes of Lancashire, was held by five thanes. The family of Molyneux or Molines subsequently settled here. William des Molines, so named from Moulines, a town of Bourbonnois, in France, is mentioned in the Norman Chronicles as a man of noble origin, held in high esteem by the Duke William, afterwards William I. of England. In the roll of Battle Abbey, his name stands the eighteenth in order; and soon after the Conquest, he acquired, by gift of Roger de Poictou, the lordships of Sefton, Thornton, and Kerden, of which he made Sefton his chief seat. " 2

We now wish to draw the reader's attention to the township of Netherton in the parish of Sefton. "Sir William Molyneux, who received the honour of knighthood in the 46th of Henry III., gave by a deed without date, to William, son of his brother Roger, certain lands in Netherton, to hold by knight's service and the yearly rent of one halfpenny; and Sir William, a member of the same family, gave lands in Netherton to his son, John, about the reign of Richard II. The township is still the property of the family of Molyneux." 2

Over in Kirby more records of the family were found. "Adam de Molynes, lord of Sefton, in the reign of William II. married Annotta, heiress of Benedict, son of Roger Gernet; and this place has ever since remained in the family of Molyneux, of Sefton." 2

The parish of Altcar in Lancashire has an interesting feature of the family's history. "Little Altcar is a hamlet adjacent to Formby; and Altcar Hall is an ordinary farmhouse, over the door of which were formerly the arms of the noble family of Molyneux." 2

"Croxteth Hall, [in West Derby, Lancashire] formerly called Barret's Hall, the chief seat of the earl of Sefton, is situated in this township on the borders of Croxteth Park, from which it takes its name. The Molyneux family acquired it in Henry VI's reign, when Sir Richard Molyneux was steward of the manor, and about 1540 was one of the chief residences of the Molyneux family." 3

Early History of the Mullinix family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mullinix research. Another 90 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1594, 1598, 1616, 1620, 1624, 1636, 1651, 1654, 1656, 1685, 1693, 1696, 1698, 1699, 1702 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Mullinix History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mullinix Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Mullinix include Molinieux, Molinaux, Molineaux, Molineux, Molinex and many more.

Early Notables of the Mullinix family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Thomas Molyneux of Horton; Emery Molyneux (d. 1598), English Elizabethan maker of globes, mathematical instruments and ordnance; Richard Molyneux, 1st Viscount Molyneux (1594-1636); Richard Molyneux, 2nd Viscount...
Another 36 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mullinix Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mullinix Ranking

In the United States, the name Mullinix is the 16,057th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Mullinix family to Ireland

Some of the Mullinix 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.


Mullinix migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Mullinixs to arrive on North American shores:

Mullinix Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Florence Mullinix, who arrived in New York in 1910 aboard the ship "Regina d'Italia" from Napoli, Italy 5
  • Annie Mullinix, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1911 aboard the ship "Lusitania" from Queenstown, Ireland 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Mullinix (post 1700) +

  • Siri Lynn Mullinix (b. 1978), American soccer goalkeeper


  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. 'Townships: Scarisbrick', in A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 3, ed. William Farrer and J Brownbill (London, 1907), pp. 265-276. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol3/pp265-276 [accessed 21 January 2017].
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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