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

Millen, 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 Millen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Millen in America

Millen is the 7068th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Millen surname appeared 4,737 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Millen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Millen 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 Millen

The surname Millen has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "milne," which referred to a mill or a mill worker. This suggests that the name was likely first adopted by someone who worked at or lived near a mill.

In medieval England, mills were a vital part of the economy, and the name Millen would have been associated with those involved in the milling industry. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain Radulfus Milner is mentioned.

As time passed, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Milner, Millner, and Millener. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal inconsistencies of the time. Place names such as Milnrow in Lancashire and Milnhay in Devon may also have influenced the development of the surname.

One notable figure in history who bore the name Millen was William Millen, a 16th-century English composer and organist. He served as the organist at the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603).

In the 17th century, John Millen (1628-1701) was a prominent English merchant and philanthropist. He made his fortune through international trade and left a substantial portion of his wealth to charities and educational institutions upon his death.

Moving into the 18th century, we find James Millen (1736-1809), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He played a crucial role in several battles against the French and Spanish fleets.

In the 19th century, Sir John Millen (1856-1937) was a prominent Australian politician who served as the Premier of New South Wales from 1919 to 1920. He was known for his efforts in promoting industrial development and infrastructure projects.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Samuel Gueron Millen (1909-1997) was a prominent American architect known for his modernist designs. Some of his notable works include the Yale University Art Gallery and the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Millen throughout history, highlighting its English origins and association with various professions and accomplishments over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Millen

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

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 Millen 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 Millen 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 Millen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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