NameCensus.
Uncommon Last name

Mueller

A German occupational surname referring to a miller, derived from the Middle High German word "mülnære" or "müller."

According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 74,583 Americans carry the last name Mueller. That puts it at #523 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 21.76 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 4,596 residents).

This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mueller surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.

Bearers in the US

75K

1 in 4,596

Census rank

#523

2010 decennial data

Per 100,000

21.8

Frequency rate

Recorded bearers

64K

uncommon in the US

Popularity narrative

The Census Bureau recorded 64,191 bearers of the surname Mueller in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 21.76 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 523rd position in the national surname ranking.

Among Census respondents with the surname Mueller, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).

Origin

Meaning and origin of Mueller

The surname Mueller is of German origin, derived from the occupational term "Müller," which means "miller" in English. This name can be traced back to the Middle Ages in German-speaking regions of Europe.

Mueller is one of the most common surnames in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, reflecting the importance of the milling trade in those areas. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, appearing in historical records and documents from various German towns and cities.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Mueller was Konrad Mueller, a German monk and theologian who lived from 1325 to 1407. He was an influential thinker during the late medieval period and authored several works on religious philosophy.

Another significant bearer of the Mueller name was Johannes Mueller, a renowned German astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1436 to 1476. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is credited with developing the first modern celestial globe.

During the Renaissance period, a famous painter named Adam Mueller, also known as Adam Elsheimer, gained recognition for his pioneering work in the development of the German Baroque style. He was born in 1578 and died in 1620.

In the 19th century, Johann Mueller, a German botanist and explorer, made important contributions to the study of plant life in Australia. He was born in 1801 and lived until 1858, publishing numerous works on the flora of the Australian continent.

Another notable figure with the Mueller surname was Friedrich Mueller, a German philosopher and educator who lived from 1834 to 1898. He was a prominent figure in the field of education and advocated for reforms in the German educational system.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Mueller, which has its roots in the medieval German occupation of milling grain.

Demographics

Ancestry and ethnicity for Mueller

Among Census respondents with the surname Mueller, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.1%).

The bar chart below shows how Mueller bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.

Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mueller surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.

  • White95.7%
  • Hispanic or Latino2.0%
  • Two or more races1.1%
  • Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
  • Black or African American0.3%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native0.2%

Year on year

2000 vs 2010 Census

How has the Mueller surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.

Census year comparison

20002010
Bearer countPer 100,000 residents200020102000201064,30564,19123.821.8
Metric 2000 2010 Change
Rank #467 #523 -12.0%
Count 64,305 64,191 -0.2%
Per 100K 23.84 21.76 -8.7%

Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mueller bearers went from 64,305 to 64,191 (-0.2% change). The surname moved down 56 positions in the national ranking, going from #467 to #523.

Notable bearers

Famous people with the surname Mueller

FAQ

Mueller surname: questions and answers

How common is the last name Mueller?

The surname Mueller holds position #523 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 74,583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 21.76 per 100,000 Americans.

What is the ethnic background of the Mueller surname?

Among Census respondents with the surname Mueller, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.0%) and Two or More Races (1.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.

Where does this surname data come from?

All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.

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There are 75K people

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Mueller

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