Surname Mühlen - Meaning and Origin
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Mühlen: What does the surname Mühlen mean?
The last name Mühlen is of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin, deriving from a nickname for someone who worked with or near a mill, derived from German mühle, “mill”. The name likely became established in Germany during the Middle Ages, when people often adopted last names derived from their occupation. Such occupational surnames were more commonplace in Germany than in other European countries.
In some instances, the Mühlen name may ultimately have been derived from a place name, such as a town, region, village, manor or farmstead, in which case the bearer would have been known by the name of the place where they resided. It is possible that the Mühlen surname may also have been derived from a German personal name such as Mathilda (literally “mighty battle maid”) or Magdalena (woman of Magdala).
People with the last name Mühlen can be found throughout German-speaking countries, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland. During the 19th century, when records began to be kept, many Mühlen families immigrated to the United States. Today, the last name Mühlen is most commonly found in the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, Brazil, Australia, India, and South Africa.
Order DNA origin analysisMühlen: Where does the name Mühlen come from?
The last name Mühlen is predominantly seen today in the regions of Germany and northern Europe. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century in Germany and was quite common in the Lower Saxony region. It is now most frequently found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
The name Mühlen is derived from German words meaning "mill" or "millwork". As such, it is likely to have been originally given to those who worked in these areas such as millers, millwrights and millworkers. Over time, Mühlen has become adopted as either a surname or a given name.
The prevalence of the name is demonstrated by its wide usage in Germany today. For example, the current mayor of Hamburg, Germany, is Peter Mühlen, and the former German minister for the environment, Jürgen Trittin, has the Mühlen surname.
In recent years, routine migrations have seen the name Mühlen move into other countries. It is likely, therefore, that the Mühlen surname is now found to some degree in most European countries and, due to global mobility, this name can now be found across the world. USA public records and online directories have revealed several people with the Mühlen name in parts of Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.
Today, the surname Mühlen is strong in northern Europe, particularly in Germany where it still retains considerable significance in various local regions.
Variations of the surname Mühlen
Mühlen is a German surname, which is derived from the German word ‘mühle’, meaning ‘mill’. This surname has various variant spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Muehl, Mueller, Muellermeister, Mohlen, Müller, Müllinger, Miller, Mill, Millen, Millener, Muller, Mulle, Mulleman, Mollen, Mulhan and Muehle.
The surname Mühlen or Müller is the most common form in Germany and is believed to have emerged in the medieval ages. It was given to either allotment holders, millers or members of the Müller families who owned or worked in a mill. The Muehl, Muellermeister and Mullemann forms were derived from the surname Müller, where ‘meister’ refers to a master and ‘mann’ is a German term for ‘man’. Interestingly, Muellermeister was used for the master miller or the owner of the mill. While the surname Mueller was used for the miller who operated the mill, the Muehl or Muehle form referred to the mill itself.
The Miller and Millen variants of Mühlen were derived from the English version of the German surname. The term ‘Mill’ is derived from the Old English term ‘mylen’, which also means ‘mill’. Similarly, the Mullen, Mulhan and Mongen versions originated in Ireland and the British Isles.
In short, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the German surname Mühlen are Muehl, Muellermeister, Mullemann, Mueller, Müllinger, Miller, Mill, Millen, Millener, Muller, Mulle, Mulleman, Mollen, Mulhan, Muehle, Mullen, Mulhan and Mongen, all of which have different origins and link to the German word ‘mühle’, meaning ‘mill’.
Famous people with the name Mühlen
- Johannes von Mühlen: Johannes von Mühlen, also known as the father of German photography, was a pioneer in astrophotography and medical photography. He was born on 30 April 1817 in Eutin, Germany, and died on 12 June 1871 in Würzburg.
- Frederik Mühlen: Frederik Mühlen was a German painter and sculptor born in 1859 and died in 1934. He was known for his figurative sculptures and landscapes.
- Martin Mühlen: Martin Mühlen was a German-Spanish theologian and priest from 1394 to 1454. He was best known for his work on theology and philosophy.
- Ernesto Mühlen: Ernesto Mühlen was a Cuban Socialist politician and international activist who served as a member of the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Party from 2008 until his death in 2012.
- Wilhelm Mühlen: Wilhelm Mühlen was a German architect, engineer and civil servant from 1803 to 1888. He was best known for creating numerous public and residential buildings in Berlin.
- August von Mühlen: August von Mühlen, a German geologist, was born in 1818 and died in 1894. He was best known for having written geological descriptions of entire districts and provinces of Prussia.
- Clara Mühlen: Clara Mühlen was a Swiss architect who was known for designing numerous traditional Swiss chalets as well as modern structures. She was born in 1893 and died in 1968.
- Edmund von Mühlen: Edmund von Mühlen was a German architect who specialized in the field of church architecture. He was born in 1852 and died in 1909.