Surname Mlinar - Meaning and Origin
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Mlinar: What does the surname Mlinar mean?
The last name Mlinar is of Slavic origin. It is derived from the word "mlin," which means "mill" in South Slavic languages such as Serbo-Croatian, Slovene, and Macedonian. The surname is thought to have initially been given to mill workers or owners.
The literal meaning of the surname refers to a physical location, such as an old-fashioned mill, however, over time it has also been used to describe a person's family name or ancestry. In some cases, the surname can also refer to a profession. For example, a millwright was a worker who specialized in building, repairing, and maintaining mills.
Regardless of its exact origin, the surname Mlinar carries an aura of tradition and strength. The term “mill” is derived from the Old English “myln”, which denotes a particular method of grinding and pounding grain with a heavy wheel and stone. Many of the structures associated with these ancient ways of grinding grain have endured for hundreds of years and have come to stand as symbols of the Slavic peoples’ enduring history and faith.
The surname Mlinar is most commonly found in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. In many of these countries, the mill has traditionally been an essential part of the culture and economy, providing the power needed to grind grain, feed animals, and make all manner of useful products. As such, the name Mlinar may well have come to represent not only the physical structures of old, but the perseverance and work ethic of those people associated with them.
Order DNA origin analysisMlinar: Where does the name Mlinar come from?
The last name Mlinar is most commonly found in Slovenia, Croatia, and other countries with a strong Slavic heritage. Many Mlinar’s have family origins in these countries, many of them from the region of Prekmurje.
In Slovenia, the surname Mlinar is the 25th most common family name. In Croatia, it is the 50th most common family name. It is also common in the Czech Republic, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Austria.
In the United States, the Mlinar surname is particularly common among immigrants from Slovenia, Croatia, and other surrounding Slavic countries. Census records show that the Mlinar surname first appeared in the US when Josef Mlinar and his daughter Mary immigrated from the region of Prekmurje in the 1880s. The US population of Mlinar’s has since grown exponentially, with over 1900 individuals recorded in the 2020 US census with the name Mlinar.
Within the US, the largest concentrations of people with the Mlinar surname are in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan, and California. Many descendants of previous immigrants are found in the larger urban cities, especially those with significant Slavic populations like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Detroit.
Overall, the surname Mlinar is a relatively common family name in many countries, most notably those within the Slavic region.
Variations of the surname Mlinar
The surname Mlinar has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common of these is the form Mlinaric, which is the Croatian form of the surname. Other related surnames include Millner, Mehlner, Milliner, Millaner, Milnar, Muller, and Melnar. For Spanish-speaking countries, the surname is often spelled Mlinar, with two “L”s, while for Czech and Slovak speakers the surname is often spelled Mlynar.
The surname Mlinar originated in the region of former Yugoslavia, which is today made up of Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, and Slovenia. The derivation of the name is from the Croatian word "mlin", which means mill in English. This is likely a reference to someone who used to work in a mill or who owned a mill during the early years of the region's history.
The Mlinar family is believed to be of Croatian ancestry. They are an old, respected family and have held a place of honor in their communities since their earliest origins in the region. The oldest recorded Mlinar in the region is from the 18th century and was named Petar Józef Mlinar. Today, the surname has spread across the world, though the greatest concentrations of Mlinars can still be found in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.
Famous people with the name Mlinar
- Alen Mlinar: Slovenian trumpeter and composer
- Lea Mlinar: Slovenian rower and world champion
- Mike Mlinar: Austrian basketball player
- David Mlinar: former professional football (soccer) player
- Miha Mlinar: Slovenian basketball player
- Ante Mlinar: Croatian basketball player
- Zvonko Mlinar: former Croatian footballer
- Goran Mlinar: Croatian basketball coach
- Josip Mlinar: former Slovenian professional football player and manager
- Mirko Mlinar: Slovenian judoka, European and World Championships medallist