Surname Milt - Meaning and Origin
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Milt: What does the surname Milt mean?
The last name Milt is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is believed to derive from the ancient word "Milt," which means "mild." This lends itself to two possible meanings, either that the original bearer of the name was someone of a gentle or mild disposition, or it could simply refer to the physical trait of having light-coloured eyes.
The Anglo-Saxon period was a period of great social changes in England, and many English surnames were created from this period. Surnames began to be used to distinguish people from one another, and the Milt surname likely arose from this shift.
The Milt surname is found commonly throughout Britain, generally spread evenly throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Today, the Milt name is likely most well-known for its association with the Milt family, which is an historically prominent family in the United States. The most notable member of the Milt family is Herbert Milt, who was an American politician and army veteran of World War II.
In summary, the last name Milt is likely derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Milt," meaning "mild," and is found throughout Britain. Despite the distribution being evenly spread, the Milt family is the most well known of any groups connected with the surname Milt, with Herbert Milt being a notable figure of the family.
Order DNA origin analysisMilt: Where does the name Milt come from?
The last name Milt is common today mainly in the United States and Canada. The name Milt arrived in America with German and Swiss immigrants in the 1700s and 1800s, and it is particularly associated with the Midwestern United States. Specifically, Milt family names are most common in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana.
More recently, searches of ancestry records have revealed small yet noteworthy numbers of people with Milt surnames in other states, including California, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Texas. In Canada, the Milt surname is reportedly found in good numbers in Ontario and Quebec.
Though the last name has had many permutations over the years – including "Miltz," "Milner," “Mitts” and others – it is usually associated with German roots. In fact, in German the word ‘milt’ means ‘protective’ or ‘fierce.’
Due to frequent name changes over time, it’s hard to trace exact family histories of the generations with this name; however, it’s still a great way to connect with distant or long-lost relatives. For those interested, sites like ancestry.com can be a great place to start searching.
Variations of the surname Milt
The surname Milt can have a variety of different spellings, depending on the language. Some of the most common are Melt, Millt, Mylte, Mylt, Meltz, Muelte, Molt, Muelt, Muelth, and Mwellt. In terms of variants and surnames of the same origin, some of the most common include Milte, Mylte, Multer, M circumstances, muelth, Molter, Multero, Milter, and Meltey.
Milt is generally believed to be of Germanic origin. Some sources suggest that it is derived from an Old German word which means ‘talkative,’ while others trace it back to a Middle High German word which means ‘to melt’. It is possible that the name comes from an occupational name, given to someone who worked with metals or was a metal smith.
In some cases, the name Milt has been Anglicized from the German Mellich, Millich, or Möllick, all of which likely derive from an older Proto-Germanic root which means ‘to talk’ or ‘to gossip’. This is strengthened by the suggestion that in some circumstances, the name Milt was given to a pastor or minister.
Other variants of the name Milt have been found in other languages and cultures. In Dutch, for example, the surname could be spelled Mijlt, Mijlts, Miltz, or Mijltz. In Finland, the name has sometimes been rendered as Miltta, and there is a Finnish surname Miltänen. In Estonia, the name has been recorded as Miltse as well.
The family name Milt is quite common throughout Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and other countries. However, it is most common in South Tyrol in Italy, where it is often spelled Milz.
Famous people with the name Milt
- John Milt: John Milt was a prominent African-American civil rights activist and minister from Savannah, Georgia. Milt served in various roles in the African-American civil rights movement from the 1940s to the 1970s, including as a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
- Joey Milt: Joey Milt is a professional rodeo cowboy from Arizona who competes in bull riding, calf roping, and team roping events. He is a multiple-time rodeo qualifier and winner of awards in all three events.
- John Miltonsmith: John Miltonsmith is an American entrepreneur and investor. He is the founder and CEO of EnerAdvance, a venture capital firm making investments in energy, agriculture, and technology startups.
- Mark Milt: Mark Milt is an American award-winning composer and music producer. He has composed music for films, television shows, commercials, and video games.
- Ernie Milt: Ernie Milt is an American professional golfer and European Tour veteran. He has won several tournaments throughout his career, including the 1994 Estoril Open and the 1993 GLC Senior British Open.
- Rebecca Milt: Rebecca Milt is an American author and illustrator. She is the author of the fantasy novel series ‘The Endings’ and has illustrated several children’s books.
- Frank Milt: Frank Milt was an American professional basketball player who played for four different teams throughout his career. He was a two-time All-Star selection who also played in the 1979-80 NBA Finals.