Find out how popular the last name MacMichael is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named MacMichael.

MacMichael, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the MacMichael surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of MacMichael in America

MacMichael is the 73215th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The MacMichael surname appeared 265 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname MacMichael.

We can also compare 2010 data for MacMichael to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name MacMichael

The surname MACMICHAEL has its origins in Scotland, specifically the Highlands and Western Isles, and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Mìcheal," meaning "one who is like God," which is a variant of the name Michael.

The name is believed to have originated as a patronymic, indicating "son of Michael." The prefix "Mac" is the Gaelic equivalent of the English "son of," so MACMICHAEL essentially means "son of Michael." The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in various Scottish records and manuscripts dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which mention a "Johannes MacMychel" in 1328. The Ragman Rolls of 1296 also include the name "Gillemychel MacMychel," indicating the presence of the surname in that era.

The MACMICHAEL clan was particularly prominent in the Western Isles of Scotland, where they held lands and played a significant role in local affairs. One notable member of the clan was Duncan MACMICHAEL, who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, a branch of the MACMICHAEL family settled in Ayrshire, where they became landowners and played a role in local politics. One prominent member of this branch was John MACMICHAEL (1720-1796), who served as a member of Parliament for Ayrshire.

Another notable figure was William MACMICHAEL (1784-1839), a Scottish poet and journalist who was born in Dumfriesshire. His works include "The Seasons" and "The Whisperer," and he was known for his contributions to the literary scene of his time.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, many MACMICHAELS emigrated from Scotland to various parts of the British Empire, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. One such individual was John MACMICHAEL (1806-1879), who was born in Scotland but later settled in Victoria, Australia, where he became a prominent pastoralist and landowner.

Overall, the surname MACMICHAEL has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles, with numerous notable bearers throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century and the Gaelic personal name "Mìcheal," reflecting the name's deep ties to Scottish culture and tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name MacMichael

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname MacMichael.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for MacMichael was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of MacMichael has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name MacMichael was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of MacMichael, please contact us.

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