2000
#120,330
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 133
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.05
Very Rare Last name
Michalsen
A variant spelling of the German occupational surname Michaelsen, referring to someone's relation or occupation involving archangels.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Michalsen. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Michalsen surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Michalsen in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Michalsen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.5%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Michalsen
The surname MICHALSEN is of Norwegian origin, originating from the early medieval period around the 11th-13th centuries. It is derived from the Old Norse name "Mikjáll," which is a variant of the Biblical name "Michael" meaning "who is like God." This name likely referred to a person who was devoutly religious or had some connection to the church.
The earliest known recorded instances of the MICHALSEN name can be found in the old Norwegian census records and parish registers from the 13th-14th centuries. Some of the earliest spellings include "Michælsen," "Michælssøn," and "Michælssen." These variations suggest that the name originally meant "son of Michael" or "son of Mikjáll."
One of the earliest notable individuals with this surname was Tord Michælssen, a Norwegian farmer and landowner who lived in the early 14th century. His name is recorded in the land registry records of the time, indicating that he was a person of some significance in his community.
Another historical figure with the MICHALSEN name was Olav Michælssen, a Norwegian priest and scholar who lived in the late 15th century. He is known for his work in translating and preserving ancient Norse manuscripts and texts.
In the 16th century, there was a prominent Norwegian merchant and ship owner named Hans Michælsen. He was involved in the lucrative trade routes between Norway and other European countries, and his name appears in various business records and contracts from that time.
During the 17th century, a Norwegian soldier named Jens Michælsen fought in the Thirty Years' War. He is mentioned in the military records and accounts of the war for his bravery and service.
In the 19th century, a Norwegian explorer and adventurer named Nils Michælsen embarked on several expeditions to the Arctic regions. He is known for his detailed accounts and maps of these uncharted territories, which were published in his journals and memoirs.
The MICHALSEN surname has its roots in the rugged and beautiful landscapes of Norway, where it originated as a patronymic name denoting one's lineage and connection to their ancestors. Over the centuries, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, clergy, merchants, soldiers, and explorers, each leaving their mark on the rich tapestry of Norwegian history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Michalsen
Among Census respondents with the surname Michalsen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.5%) and Hispanic (1.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Michalsen bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Michalsen surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.9% · 104
- Two or more races4.5% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino1.8% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Michalsen
Michalsen appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#132,206
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 128
-5 bearers (-3.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 11,876 places
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
-16 bearers (-12.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 15,748 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #120,330 | 133 | 0.05 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #132,206 | 128 | 0.04 | -5 bearers (-3.8%) | Down 11,876 places |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | -16 bearers (-12.5%) | Down 15,748 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Michalsen surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #132,206 | #147,954 | -11.9% |
| Count | 128 | 112 | -12.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Michalsen bearers went from 128 to 112 (-12.5% change). The surname moved down 15,748 positions in the national ranking, going from #132,206 to #147,954.
FAQ
Michalsen surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Michalsen?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Michalsen. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Michalsen?
Michalsen ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Michalsen. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Michalsen.
Has Michalsen become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Michalsen went from 128 recorded bearers to 112. That is a decrease of 16 (-12.5%). In the national ranking it fell from #132,206 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Michalsen?
Among Census respondents with the surname Michalsen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.5%) and Hispanic (1.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Michalsen in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.9% (104 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Michalsen appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.9%), Two or More Races (4.5%), Hispanic (1.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Michalsen (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Michalsen mean?
A variant spelling of the German occupational surname Michaelsen, referring to someone's relation or occupation involving archangels. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Michalsen (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Michalsen?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.