Moolenaar

Moolenaar is a Dutch surname that originated as an occupational name. It derives from Molenaar, meaning miller, and originally referred to someone who operated a mill. The spelling variant Moolenaar reflects regional pronunciation or transliteration differences within the Netherlands and among Dutch-speaking communities abroad. The name is most commonly found in the Netherlands and among Dutch diaspora communities, including those in North America and Australia.

Notable individuals with the surname include Bram Moolenaar, a Dutch software programmer best known as the author of Vim, a widely used modal text editor first released in 1991.

Related surnames include Molenaar and Molenaer, which share the same root meaning and reflect similar occupational origins in Dutch naming traditions.