Miller of the occupational origin may also be translated from many cognate surnames from other European languages,[5][6] such as Mueller, Müller, Mühler, Moller, Möller, Møller, Myller, and others.

The standard modern word represents the northern Middle English term, an agent derivative of mille 'mill', reinforced by Old Norse mylnari (see Milner).

In southern, western, and central England, Millward (literally, 'mill keeper') was the usual term.

[8] In 2020, Miller was the 24th most common surname on the birth, death and marriage registers in Scotland; Millar is 75th.

[4] In 2007, about 1 in every 25 Americans were named Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones, Miller or Davis.