Millard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the name Millard dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from a member of the family who worked as a miller or the keeper of a mill. The surname Millard is derived from the Old English word mylenweard. This name is common in the southern and western counties; elsewhere, the form Milner predominates. The “mill-ward” was the keeper of the mill having derived from the Middle English words “melle, mulle, and mulne.” [1] [2]

Early Origins of the Millard family

The surname Millard was first found in Derbyshire 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 Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Millard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Millard research.

Millard Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Millard has undergone many spelling variations, including Milward, Milwood and others.

Millard World Ranking

In the United States, the name Millard is the 2,690^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [3] However, in France, the name Millard is ranked the 3,333^rdmost popular surname with an estimated 2,000 – 2,500 people with that name. [4] And in Australia, the name Millard is the 757^th popular surname with an estimated 5,169 people with that name. [5] The United Kingdom ranks Millard as 940^th with 7,380 people. [6]

 Migration of the Millard family to Ireland

Some of the Millard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Millard migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Millard were among those contributors: 

Millard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Richard Millard, who arrived in Virginia in 1638 [7]
• Symond Millard, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 [7]

Millard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Margaret Millard, who landed in Virginia in 1714 [7]
• Joseph Dominick Millard, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1796 [7]

Millard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Robert F Millard, who landed in Texas in 1835 [7]
• James Millard, who landed in New York, NY in 1846 [7]
• William Millard, who arrived in Virginia in 1884 [7]

 Millard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Millard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Private. Isaiah Millard U.E. (b. 1750) born in New York, USA from Susquehanna River, New York, USA who settled in Stamford Township [Niagara Falls], Ontario c. 1784 he served in Butlers Rangers, son of Thomas Sr. Millard, married to Beulah having 9 children, he died in 1795 [8]
• Mr. Jesse Millard U.E. who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Ontario c. 1786 he served in Butlers Rangers and 84th Regiment, son of Thomas Sr. Millard, married with four children [8]
• Mr. Thomas Millard Jr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1786 he served in Butlers Rangers, son of Thomas Sr. Millard [8]
• Private. Thomas Millard Sr., U.E. (b. 1728) born in East Haddam, Connecticut, USA fromSusquehanna River, New York, USA who settled in Stamford Township [Niagara Falls], Ontario c. 1786 he served in Butlers Rangers, married to Mary Fuller having 10 children, he died before 1797 [8]
• Sgt. Thomas Millard U.E., (Millar) who settled in Home District, [Niagara], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York [8]

Millard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• Thomas Millard, who landed in Canada in 1828
• John Millard, who arrived in Canada in 1836

 Millard migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: 

Millard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Miss Judith Millard, English convict who was convicted in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Broxbournebury” in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [9]
• Mr. Richard Millard, (b. 1791), aged 24, English ploughman who was convicted in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years for felony, transported aboard the “Fanny” on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1818 [10]
• Mr. Samuel Millard, English convict who was convicted in Shrophsire, (Salop), England for 14 years, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
• Francis Millard, English convict from Southampton, who was transported aboard the “Albion” on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen’s Land, Australia [12]
• Thomas Millard, English convict from Gloucester, who was transported aboard the “Andromeda” on October 16, 1826, settling in Van Diemen’s Land, Australia [13]

 Millard 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: 

Millard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• Henry Millard, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship “Mandarin” in 1841
• Thomas Millard, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship “Mandarin” in 1841
• Samuel Millard, aged 16, a carpenter, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bombay” in 1842 [14]
• M. A. Millard, aged 19, a cook, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Queen Bee” in 1872
• Albert Millard, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bebington” in 1876.

Contemporary Notables of the name Millard (post 1700) +

• Thomas Franklin Fairfax Millard (1868-1942), American journalist, newspaper editor, founder of the China Weekly Review
• David Ralph Millard Jr. (1919-2011), American plastic surgeon, known for his ground breaking advances in cleft lip and palate surgeries
• Mike Millard (d. 1990), American music bootlegger, known for his bootlegs of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones
• Joseph Hopkins Millard (1836-1922), American politician, United States Senator from Nebraska (1901-1907), Mayor of Omaha (1872-1873)
• Henry Millard (1796-1844), American businessman, military officer, and public servant who founded the city of Beaumont, Texas, in 1835 and fought in the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836 during the Texas Revolution
• Charles E.F. Millard, American politician, former Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
• Burton Millard (1828-1862), American politician and machinist who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1859
• Bryan Millard (b. 1960), American former college and professional football player who played professionally from 1983 to 1991
• Keith Millard (b. 1962), former American football defensive tackle
• Spencer Gurdon Millard (1856-1895), American Republican politician [15]