The Millholland Family Chapter 1 The Origins of the Millholland Name

Our family name Millholland is a variation of the surname Mulholland which is supposed to have been derived from the Scottish Maclallan or as some authorities give it the Celtic O’Mailchallain.

The Mulholland’s, according to Irish records, are known as Ui Mail Challain, the official guardians of the relic, St. Patrick’s Bell. The first known holder of the office is Cathalan U Mael Challainn whose name is inscribed on the shrine made between 1091 and 1104 for the bell.

Irish surnames are formed from the Christian name of an ancestor and came in to use in the ninth century. U Mael Challainn first appears in the year 1012, therefore the ancestor from which our ancient name derives had to have lived between 850 AD and 1012 AD.

Mael Callainn literally means, devotee of the calends – the first day of the month and is an unusual name. According to several Irish genealogical records spanning the years between 1000 AD to 1636 AD confirm how rare a name it is.