Find out how popular the last name McMiller is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named McMiller.

McMiller, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the McMiller surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McMiller in America

McMiller is the 15347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McMiller surname appeared 1,911 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname McMiller.

We can also compare 2010 data for McMiller to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name McMiller

The surname McMiller has its roots in Scotland, dating back to the medieval era. It is a patronymic name, meaning it was originally derived from the given name of the father or an ancestor. The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" is a Gaelic term meaning "son of," and "Miller" is an occupational surname referring to a person who operated a mill, typically a grain mill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners and nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England after the Scottish Wars of Independence. In this record, the name appears as "Millar," which was likely a precursor to the modern spelling.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was commonly found in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, and Lanarkshire. These areas were known for their numerous watermills, which were essential for processing grains and other agricultural products.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir John McMiller, a Scottish landowner and member of the nobility. He was born in 1525 and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in Scotland, advocating for religious reform and supporting the establishment of the Church of Scotland.

Another historical figure with the surname was Robert McMiller, a Scottish philosopher and educator who lived from 1690 to 1762. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment and served as a professor at the University of Glasgow, where he taught moral philosophy and logic.

In the 18th century, the name gained recognition through the work of James McMiller, a Scottish poet and writer born in 1737. He is best known for his collection of poems titled "The Seasons," which celebrated the beauty of nature and rural life in Scotland.

During the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir William McMiller, a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1810 to 1892. He amassed a considerable fortune through his successful textile manufacturing business and donated a significant portion of his wealth to establish educational institutions and support charitable causes.

The surname McMiller has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McMiller's Glen and McMiller's Burn, which were likely named after individuals or families bearing the name who lived in or owned land in those areas.

While the spelling and pronunciation of the name may have evolved over time, the surname McMiller remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and history of Scotland, reflecting the country's traditions and the importance of occupations in shaping family names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McMiller

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname McMiller.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for McMiller was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of McMiller has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name McMiller was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of McMiller, please contact us.

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