Vermeulen is a Dutch toponymic or occupational surname. It means "from the mill" in Dutch, referring to someone who lived near or worked at a windmill or watermill. The name is a contraction of the longer surname Etymology The surname Vermeulen is derived from the Dutch phrase "van der Meulen," which literally means "from the mill." Over time, this phrase was shortened and merged into the single form "Vermeulen." The root word "molen" (mill) reflects the frequent use of mills in the Dutch landscape, both for grinding grain and for industrial purposes such as sawing wood or drainage. This surname is comparable to English surnames like