Miller History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was in the Scottish/English Borderlands that the Strathclyde-Briton people first used the ancient name Miller. It was a name for someone who lived in the county of Dumfries.

Early Origins of the Miller family

The surname Miller was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and GallowayCouncil Area, where the Miller family held a family seat from ancient times. One line had its ancestral seat at Dalswinton, Dumfriesshire. During the Middle Ages, occupational names were frequently recorded in Latin; thus, one who worked at a mill would have been documented under the name Milendinarius, Le Molendinator, or De Molendino. The modern spellings “Miller” and “Millar” came into general use about 1500; earlier documents usually show the name in Latin.

Early History of the Miller family

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

Miller Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Miller has been spelled Miller, Millar, Myllar, Mylar, Millare, Myllair and many more.

Miller World Ranking

In the United States, the name Miller is the 7^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,054,488 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name Miller is ranked the 18^thmost popular surname with an estimated 63,126 people with that name. [2] And in Quebec, Canada, the name Miller is the 512^nd popular surname. [3] Newfoundland, Canada ranks Miller as 49^th with 480 people. [4] France ranks Miller as 3,361^st with 2,000 – 2,500 people. [5] Australiaranks Miller as 38^th with 45,832 people. [6] New Zealand ranks Miller as 36^th with 5,567 people. [7] The United Kingdom ranks Miller as 54^th with 76,379 people. [8] Russia ranks Miller as 383^rdwith 41,539 people. [9] South Africa ranks Miller as 560^th with 12,463 people. [10]

 Migration of the Miller family to Ireland

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

 Miller migration to the United States +

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: 

Miller Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Mr. Alexander Miller who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship “Ambrose” as part of the Winthrop Fleet [11]
• Mr. Richard Miller, aged 12, from England who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship “America” arriving in June 1635 [11]
• Mr. Joseph Miller, aged 15, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship “Hopewell” [12]
• Mr. James Miller, aged 18, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship “Plain Joan” [12]
• Benjamin Miller, aged 30, who arrived in Bermuda, (Somers Islands) in 1635 aboard the ship “Truelove” [13]

Miller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Symon Miller, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [13]
• Steve Miller, who arrived in New York in 1709 [13]
• Joost Miller, who arrived in New York in 1709 [13]
• Conrad Miller, German who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship “William and Sarah” [14]
• Jurgen Miller, German who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship “James Goodwill” [14]

Miller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Alexander Craig Miller, who landed in New York in 1801 [13]
• Catharina Miller, aged 13, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 [13]
• Adam Miller, who arrived in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1809 [13]
• Ann Miller, aged 55, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 [13]
• Arthur G Miller, aged 27, who landed in Georgia in 1812 [13]

Miller Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Archie W Miller, who arrived in Mississippi in 1902 [13]
• Mr. William Miller, (b. 1864), aged 40, American slater returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship “St Louis” arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 27th March 1904 en route to Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, USA [15]

 Miller migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Miller Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Stephen Miller, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Capt. Garrett Miller U.E. (b. 1738) born in Court Matrix, County Limerick, Ireland from Camden Valley, New York, USA who settled in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec c. 1779, then Ernest Town [Ernestown], Lennox & Addington, Ontario in 1796 he served in the Royal Rangers with Colonel Peters Corps, married twice having 12 children, he died in 1823 Switzerville, Ontario [16]
• Mr. James Miller U.E. who settled in Elizabeth Town [Elizabethtown], Leeds County, Ontario c .1780 [16]
• Mr. Jane Miller U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 [16]
• Mr. John Miller U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 4 aboard the ship “HMS Clinton”, picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA [16]

Miller Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

• James Miller, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Favourite” in 1815
• Elizabeth Miller, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship “Favourite” in 1815
• John Miller, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship “Atlas” in 1815
• James Miller, aged 48, a farmer, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship “Dorothy” in 1815
• Mary Miller, aged 38, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship “Dorothy” in 1815

 Miller migration to Australia+

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

Miller Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

• Mr. William Miller, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the “Barwell” in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[17]

Miller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. John Miller, (b. 1770), aged 30, English milliner who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the “Earl Cornwallis” in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1816 [18]
• Mr. Edward Miller, (Rummens), English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the “Baring” in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia[19]
• Mr. James Miller, (Josephs), English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the “Baring” in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [19]
• Mr. John Miller, English convict who was convicted in Portsmouth, Hampshire, Englandfor 7 years, transported aboard the “Fame” on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
• Mr. George Miller, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for life, transported aboard the “Atlas” on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]

 Miller 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: 

Miller Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

• William Miller, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Blenheim” in 1840
• Maria Miller, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Blenheim” in 1840
• Robert Miller, aged 9, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Blenheim” in 1840
• Janet Miller, aged 7, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Blenheim” in 1840
• Mary Miller, aged 5, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Blenheim” in 1840

 Miller migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960’s many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [22]

Miller Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

• Mr. John Miller, (b. 1588), aged 47, British settler travelling aboard the ship “The Dorset” arriving in Barbados in September 1635 [23]
• Mr. Phillip Miller, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from Gravesend, Englandaboard the ship “Falcon” arriving in Barbados in 1636 [24]

Miller Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

• Thomas Miller, who arrived in Antigua (Antego) in 1752-1756 [13]

Contemporary Notables of the name Miller (post 1700) +

• William John Miller (1979-2023), II, was an American actor. He was recognized for his work as award-winning Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless and his dual portrayals of Jason Morgan and Drew Cain on General Hospital
• Thomas Vincent “Mike” Miller Jr. (1942-2021), known as Mike Miller, an American politician, 85th President of the Maryland Senate (1987-2020)
• Melanie Miller (1972-2022), American producer known for work on Navalny (2022) which was the winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary
• Fred David Miller (1940-2023), American NFL football defensive tackle from 1963 through 1972
• Richard Miller (1942-2022), American sculptor and visual effects artist, best known for his work on Star Trek: First Contact, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and The Rocketeer
• Jody Miller (1941-2022), born Myrna Joy Miller, an American Grammy Award winning country music singer from Phoenix, Arizona
• Mark Miller (1924-2022), born Claude Herbert Miller Jr., an American stage and television actor and writer who starred in over 30 plays and made more than forty appearances in television programs and films since 1953
• Robert Gerald “Bob” Miller (1935-2022), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers (1953–1956), Cincinnati Reds (1962) and the New York Mets (1962)
• William Benjamin “Bill” Miller Sr. (1929-2022), American politician and businessman, Chairman of the Forsyth County Republican
• Ralph English Miller Jr. (1933-2021), American alpine ski racer who competed in three events at the 1956 Winter Olympics

The Miller 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: Manent optima coelo
Motto Translation: The best things await us in heaven.