Millhouse is an English surname of topographic origin. It derives from a combination of the Old English mylen (mill) and hūs (house), referring to someone who lived in a house near or at a mill, or who worked in a mill. The name can also be interpreted as indicating a house that functioned as a mill, common in places where milling was a central industry.As a surname, Millhouse belongs to the class of habitational names, which identify a person by their place of residence or occupation. Similar names include Millman and Miller, which also reference milling.According to the 2010 United States Census, Millhouse is the 17,331st most common surname in the country, with 1,631 bearers. It is most prevalent among White individuals (70.57%) and Black or African American individuals (23.85%).One notable bearer is Millhouse (singer) (born 1965), an American singer and rapper known for covers of popular songs with altered lyrics. The name is also well known from the TV character Millhouse Van Houten on The Simpsons, a consistent element of modern pop culture.EtymologyThe word "mill" comes from Latin mola (millstone) through Old English mylen. Mills were vital to medieval communities, grinding grain into flour. The suffix "-house" indicates an attached dwelling, so a "millhouse" was part of a mill complex. The name thus connotes a direct link to the milling trade.Variants of the surname include Millhous and Milhouse, with the latter being a common simplification. In some cases, it may have been Americanized from a similar-sounding immigrant name.The surname is found predominantly in English-speaking regions, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States. Historically, millers held an important social position due to their role in food production, which contributed to the varied occupational surnames related to milling)