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

Michaela, 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 Michaela surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Michaela in America

Michaela is the 84631st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Michaela surname appeared 206 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Michaela.

The history of the last name Michaela

The surname Michaela is of Italian origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is primarily found in Italy, especially in regions such as Lombardy and Tuscany. The name Michaela derives from the given name Michele (Michael in English), which has Hebrew origins meaning "Who is like God?". This was a common Christian name in medieval Europe, often bestowed upon children in honor of the archangel Michael.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Michaela appear in various Italian civil records from the 14th and 15th centuries. One of the oldest references can be traced back to a manuscript from 1361 in the Archive of Florence, where a Pietro Michaela is mentioned as a prominent merchant. This indicates that the family was established and likely prosperous.

Another significant figure is Giovanni Michaela, a well-known painter from Milan born in 1481 and active in the early 16th century. His artworks, though few have survived, were noted for their detailed religious iconography and have been referenced in historical art catalogues.

In the 17th century, the name Michaela appears in Venice's records. A notable individual from this period is Alessandro Michaela, an influential Venetian senator born in 1623. He played a substantial role in the politics of the Republic of Venice and has been mentioned in various political documents of that era.

The name continued to gain prominence into the 18th century, with Francesco Michaela, a renowned composer from Rome, born in 1749. His contributions to Baroque music have been documented in musical histories and archives, showcasing the spread of the surname beyond administrative records and into the cultural fabric of Italy.

The late 19th century saw another Michaela, this time a pioneering scientist, Lucia Michaela, born in 1857 in Florence. She made substantial contributions to early botanical studies and her papers are preserved in several academic institutions, highlighting the intellectual legacy carried by the surname.

Overall, the surname Michaela has deep historical roots and has been borne by notable figures across various centuries, contributing to fields as diverse as commerce, politics, art, music, and science. The consistent appearance of the name in historical records underscores its enduring presence in Italian history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Michaela

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Michaela 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.

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 Michaela was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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