Mullis Family History & Genealogy

Summary

Searching for my family history, I discovered Mullies was a slightly different spelling of Mullis surname in Cornwall Co. England from the sixteenth century. Further research found Mullis evolved through the medieval era from Meulles in Norman French and Molis in phonetic Latin, the language used in recording. There were two knights from Meulles in Normandy, France who fought in the battle of Hastings in 1066: Baldwin and Roger. These knights ended up with land spoils from the Norman Conquest in Devonshire and Cornwall Co. Their descendants recorded as MOLIS in Lantin, with records dating from the Conquest through the sixteenth century, Molis becoming Mules, Mullys, Mullis, and Mullies as record keeping switched to English. Those variants in English first appeared in Michaelstow and Altarnun parishes in Cornwall, and began spreading to other counties during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, e.g., the Midlands. To sum up: Mullis derived from Norman French Meulles via two knights who were from that barony/village in Normandy.

History

We don't have any information on the history of the Mullis name. Have information to share?

Name Origin

The two knights at Hastings were from Meulles, in Normandy France. The meaning of meulles was millstones alias mills. Rendered Molis in Latin, and relating to mills, any region of Europe would have that surname evolving to Mullis, as a result Mullis in found in Switzerland, Finland, Russia, Czekoslovakia, and, of course, France. In some cases Molis remain the same, another variant being Moulis.

Spellings & Pronunciations

During the course of the sixteenth century medieval Molis transformed to Mulles, Mullys, Mullis and Mullies in the parishes of Michaelstow and Altarnun in Cornwall Co. England.

Nationality & Ethnicity

We don't have any information on the nationality / ethnicity of the Mullis name. Have information to share?

Famous People named Mullis

Perhaps the most famous Mullis was Kary, Noble Laureate in Chemistryin `992 because of his work on DNA. He was born in North Carolina and earned advanced degrees in South Carolina. He died at age 74 in California.

Early Mullises

These are the earliest records we have of the Mullis family.