The name Muller is of German origin and is one of the most common surnames in Germany and Switzerland. It comes from the German word "Mühle," meaning mill, and "Müller," meaning miller. Historically, it referred to a person who operated or owned a mill—a crucial occupation in medieval and early modern society, where milling grain into flour was vital for food production. A notable bearer of the surname Muller is the German footballer Gerd Muller, born in 1945, who won a World Cup winner's medal as part of the 1974 West German winning team.