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The Oxford Dictionary of Surnames has:
"Dweller at the mills", from French "moulins" (mills)
Andy ;—)
"Dweller at the mills", from French "moulins" (mills)
Andy ;—)
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Mullins is also used occasionally in Ireland as an englishing of O Maolain, though the more common English language form is Mullen.
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In Ireland, Mullen is the common form in the North and Mullins in the South.
You're correct, that it is from O Maolain which actually means something like a "rounded summit" ...which then evolved in use to something meaning "a bald spot" or a "tonsure" which was the bald spot that monks shaved on their heads. Ultimately, it came to mean "devotee to ....(often a Saint). It is common in many Irish names such as Muldoon, Muldowney, Mullally, Mulholland, and Mulhern to name but a few ...
You're correct, that it is from O Maolain which actually means something like a "rounded summit" ...which then evolved in use to something meaning "a bald spot" or a "tonsure" which was the bald spot that monks shaved on their heads. Ultimately, it came to mean "devotee to ....(often a Saint). It is common in many Irish names such as Muldoon, Muldowney, Mullally, Mulholland, and Mulhern to name but a few ...
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