Millers

Millers are people who operate mills, facilities that use natural energy to process materials, most commonly grinding cereal grains into flour. The primary function of a miller has historically been to select grain, set grind levels, operate and maintain milling equipment, and ensure product quality. In many small communities, the miller also charged a fee for grinding, a toll that contributed to local commerce and food supply.

Mills and their operators have varied by technology. Traditional examples include watermills, which use flowing water to drive the mill wheel; windmills, powered by wind; and more industrial systems driven by steam or electricity. Gristmills are specifically designed to grind grain into flour, while other types of mills have been used for processing oilseeds, sugar, or other commodities. Milling technology evolved from hand and animal power to mechanized systems, enabling greater output and standardization of products.

Historically, millers occupied an important local role. Mills were often sited near rivers or along trade routes, and millers could influence regional food supply, prices, and toll rights. Regulations or licenses sometimes governed milling operations, and disputes over grain quality or tolls were not uncommon in medieval and early modern economies.

Millers as a surname: Millers is an English-language surname derived from the occupation name Miller. It can appear as a family name in various countries and may reflect ancestry linked to a miller or to a lineage adopting the occupational name.