Müllerin

Müllerin is a German term that can refer to the feminine form of the occupational surname Müller, which means miller. As a noun, die Müllerin denotes a female miller—someone who operates or works in a mill. The masculine form Müller is far more common today, but Müllerin appears in historical texts and in literary contexts.

In culture, Die schöne Müllerin is a well-known title in classical music. It is a song cycle for voice and piano composed by Franz Schubert in 1823, based on poems by Wilhelm Müller. The cycle’s title translates to The Lovely Miller’s Daughter, with Müllerin indicating the miller’s daughter. The work is a cornerstone of the Romantic Lied repertoire and explores themes of love, nature, and longing.

Usage as a surname is rare today. While Müller is the dominant German surname, Müllerin may appear as a historical or feminized form in older records or in limited contemporary use, but it is not common as a standard surname.

Etymologically, Müllerin is formed from Mühle (mill) plus the agent suffix -er, with the feminine ending -in used to mark a female counterpart. The term highlights the gendered nature of occupational language in German and appears prominently in literature and music through Die schöne Müllerin.