Map of England showing where the Mills arms are recorded
The Mills arms were recorded in Hertford, c. 1613.
Hertfordshire lay just north of London and filled with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate within a day's ride was the usual next step, and an estate brought arms with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Mills arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Hertford.
Origin & History of the Mills Family in England
The surname Mills is an occupational name that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It was used to identify individuals who lived near or worked at a grain mill, which was a vital center of community life in early English villages. Because milling was a necessary trade in almost every town, the name developed independently in many different regions rather than originating from a single ancestor. By the early seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the market town of Hertford. Records confirm that members of the Mills family were living and working in this area by 1613, likely contributing to the local economy through trade or agriculture. Over time, the name became firmly rooted in the region, reflecting the family's long history of integration into the social and professional fabric of the English countryside.
Mills Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Mylne
A building equipped with machinery for grinding grain into flour.
This name
MillsAn occupational surname for someone who lived near or worked at a mill.
also spelled
Mylls
Milles
Mylles
Mille
Related arms
Millessame arms
Mellishsimilar arms
Millevariant spelling
Myllesvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies, Hertford St Andrew Parish Registers, 1613
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
