I felt compelled to undertake the challenge. I share my findings with each of you, my beloved family. It is my hope that this research will be expanded upon by other members of this line, and their findings shared with relatives.
You will find the Mullis Coat-of-Arms in the introductory pages. My father had this done by Mrs. Robert H. Ayers of Athens, Georgia, many years ago. I do not know what branch of the family it is from which she descended, but I do appreciate her contribution to our family history.
In a letter enclosed with the Coat-of-Arms from Mrs. Ayers, the symbols and colors were explained. MULLIS: From the Lyon Register, Irish, Swiss, German spelling of the name. The blue background with five bells in gold. Crest: A bell as in the shield. Colors: Blue represents truth and loyalty; Gold represents stainless honour; Silver represents purity and constancy; and Red represents military fortitude.
The name, MULLIS, was first recorded around 1200. It is apparently Swiss in origin, although there have been many changes in the spelling over the years as a result of the different conquering countries who were in power at different times. The particular area in which the name MULLIS was found first recorded was in the FLUMS area of Switzerland. Some of the families still use the double “S” in spelling the name. Other interpretations have been: MUELLER, MULLIES, MULLICE, MALLIS, MEULES, MULLACE, MULLINS, etc.
MRS. MABEL MULLIS MATTHEWS, with whom my father corresponded for many years, added the following information:
The MULLIS people have practiced many trades, including farming, bell-making, merchants, and millers. The brothers, Hans, Claus, Peter, Marx, and Conrad MULLIS, all lived on the mountain slopes above FLUMS. They paid one half barrel of wheat to the “Castle of Sangains” for the use of a grain mill in FLUMS, which belonged to the royalty who owned the castle. This information was first recorded in 1482, at the “Castle of Sangains” in FLUMS.
I have received the book by William Arthur Mullies, PhD., a professor in Kansas, who has done extensive research for many years on the MULLIS family. He has a different version of the Coat-of-Arms. His book, A Documented History of the English-Speaking Mullis Family, may be ordered directly from:
Art Mullies
2327 W. 48th Street
Shawnee Mission
Kansas 66205-1910
I found this book fascinating as it goes in depth into our ancestors in England and up to their migration to the United States. In it is found:
CALVIN, JAMES, and HOLDEN MULLIS relocated from Switzerland to England to the DEVONSHIRE or CORNWELL area. MULLIS is recorded in DEVON and CORNWELL from 1086 to Parish Record Keeping, 1525. Some of the names listed were: MOLIS, MEULIS, MEULES, MOLES, MULES, and MULYS. The names JOHN, JAMES, STEPHEN, RICHARD, THOMAS, and ROGER were very common in these records. Lands held in CORNWELL in 1428-31, were still held by the MULLIS/MULLIES families and they resided in the manor houses on these lands in the 17th century.
Art Mullies’ research is extensive. If you are interested in delving further into this family history, I would suggest you write to him and order a copy of his book. His findings seem to uphold our information concerning the first MULLIS to arrive in America.
To my daughter, Deborah Denise Allen Palmer, without whom this project would not have gotten off the ground. For the MANY hours you spent in getting all of this together for our Web Page...thank you!
Geraldine M. Allen, 2002
Please note that in the following geneology, our branch of the family is in GREEN as you travel through the history of the Mullis Clan.
© 2002-2009
cimbri@citcom.net
© 2002-2009
BAJA49@comporium.net
