This unusual surname is an English West Country variant of the original Welsh-Breton personal name "Merlin", associated with King Arthur and the Round Table, circa 560 A.D. Merlin is more normally found today as Marvin, Merfyn, Mervin, Mirfin, Murfin and Mervyn, all serving as both personal and surnames in modern times, whilst Mifflin is also recorded as Miffling, Miflin, Mifling and Mufflin. The first recording appears to be in the Herefordshire region, although by the mid 17th Century it was also recorded in London. The epicentre of the name would seem to be the villages of Hatfield and Stoke Prior, Hereford. John Mifflin married Elizabeth Pillinee at Hatfield on November 1st 1874. Earlier in London, Eliza Mifflin married Richard Brookes at St. James' Church, Duke's Place, on December 18th 1666, whilst on November 1st 1747, Adam Muffling (as spelt) was christened at St. George's church, Stepney. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Rose Mifflin, which was dated October 10th 1606, marriage to James Price, at Leominster Church, Herefordshire, during the reign of King James 1st of England and V1 of Scotland, 1603 - 1625. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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