miller

Miller is a surname and, less commonly, a given name. It derives from the occupation of a miller, a person who operated or owned a grain mill. The term originates in Old English mylnere and has cognate forms in many languages, most notably the German Müller. The surname appeared in medieval England and spread to other English-speaking regions through migration and colonization.

Today Miller is one of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand it is widely found, often ranking high among the list of common surnames. The name is also used as a given name on occasion.

Notable people with the surname include Arthur Miller (1915–2005), the American playwright known for The Crucible and Death of a Salesman; Henry Miller (1891–1980), the American writer celebrated for Tropic of Cancer; and Glenn Miller (1904–1944), the American jazz trombonist and bandleader who led the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Numerous other individuals across politics, science, sports, and the arts bear the name.

In addition to people, Miller appears in place names, company names, and fictional works. There are towns named Miller in several U.S. states and other countries, reflecting the name’s broad geographical and cultural reach.