Surname Mollner - Meaning and Origin
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Mollner: What does the surname Mollner mean?
The last name Mollner is of German origin. It is an occupational surname, derived from the Middle High German word molnar, meaning “miller.” In the Middle Ages, the milling of grain was essential for making bread. As a result, those with the last name Mollner probably originally worked in a mill, grinding grain into flour.
Mollner is also found in Austria and Switzerland, although there are fewer occurrences of the name in those countries. It is likely that it was brought to those countries by immigrants from Germany.
The surname Mollner has several variations, including Muhlen, Muehlen, Muhlner, Mulner, Molnar, and Mühlen. It can also be found in different spellings in other countries, such as Milnar in Poland.
Today, the last name Mollner is fairly common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is likely that those carrying the name have descended from a long line of millers, with the tradition of milling grain passed down from generation to generation.
Order DNA origin analysisMollner: Where does the name Mollner come from?
The surname Mollner is thought to have originated from Germany. It is commonly found in Germany today, with the largest populations concentrated in the following states: Bavaria, Hesse, Baden-Wurttemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Mollner is also found in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Switzerland, and Poland. Within the US, Mollner is most prevalent in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New York, and Florida. Smaller populations are found in California, Texas, Michigan, and some other states.
Notably, Mollner is one of the top names in the Icelandic nation. With only 350,000 inhabitants, it is the only country in which Mollner is one of the top ten most common names. This is likely because of the fact that German immigrants established a large number of fisheries on the island centuries ago.
Mollner is also seen in Brazil, as a result of German immigrants who fled to the country in the early 20th century. This explains why the name is sometimes combined with Portuguese derivatives such as "Mollnero" and "Mollnerto".
Overall, the surname Mollner is still in widespread use throughout the world, though it is most strongly represented in Central Europe and North America. It has also spread to many places because of European migration, making it a truly global surname.
Variations of the surname Mollner
The surname Mollner is a relatively uncommon name of German origin. It is pronounced MOOL-ner. Variants of the surname include Möllner, Möllner, Müller, Müller, Miller, Muller, Maller, Mayer, Mair, Meier and Maier. The patroynymic forms of the surname are derived from the Middle High German word “mulinari”, meaning miller or millwright.
The many variations of the surname imply that it had spread widely throughout Germany by early modern times. It could also be found in nearby countries, including in Austria as Möllner and Möller, and in Switzerland as Müller. In some cases, the spelling had been Anglicized and adapted to the local language, such as the French variants Mollier and Mouller or the Italian variant Molner.
In the United States, the Mollner surname had become rare by the mid-19th Century, but variants such as Möllner, Miller and Maller were beginning to develop independent presence in the following decades. The spelling of Mollner persisted as late as World War II, when some military documents listed people with this version of the surname.
Variants of the Mollner name can be found in other parts of the world as well, including in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and even in Portuguese-speaking countries.
The Mollner surname presents an interesting example of how surnames can change over time and how the same name can have regional, national, and even international variants.
Famous people with the name Mollner
- Klaus Mollner: German rally driver, winner of Rallye Deutschland 2011.
- Laila Mollner: Danish-Tunisian actress and comic performer
- Björn Mollner: Swedish artistic roller skater and five-time Junior World Champion.
- Jovo Mollner: Croatian investor, founder of 'Balkan Development Limited'.
- Dennis Mollner: German professional footballer, currently playing in 2. Bundesliga.
- Lukas Mollner: Austrian-born Olympic sailor.
- Émile Mollner: French scuba-diver and underwater photographer.
- Stefan Mollner: German athlete, specializing in mountain running.
- Karl Mollner: Austrian historian, author of works in the fields of zoology, biology, and botany.
- Wilhelm Mollner: Swiss playwright, most notable for his play 'Quartier Latin'.