Micheaux last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Micheaux

A French surname derived from the diminutive of Michel, meaning "little Michael".

Micheaux, 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 Micheaux surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Micheaux in America

Micheaux is the 93125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Micheaux surname appeared 197 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 Micheaux.

We can also compare 2010 data for Micheaux 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 93125 96033 -3.07%
Count 197 176 11.26%
Proportion per 100k 0.07 0.07 0.00%

The history of the last name Micheaux

The surname MICHEAUX is of French origin, originating in the region of Normandy during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "michel," which means "who is like God?" or "resembling God." This name was likely given to a devout individual or someone of great esteem and virtue.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname MICHEAUX can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. It listed landowners and their properties, including a certain Robertus Micheaux, who held lands in Hertfordshire.

During the 13th century, the name appears in various records and manuscripts across Normandy and Northern France. Notable examples include Jacques Micheaux, a merchant from Rouen in 1245, and Jehan Micheaux, a knight who fought in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

As the Normans expanded their influence across Europe, the name MICHEAUX spread to other regions. In England, one of the earliest recorded instances was William Micheaux, who was born in 1320 in the village of Micheaux, which took its name from the family.

Over the centuries, the surname MICHEAUX has undergone various spelling variations, including Michaux, Michau, and Micheal. These variations can be found in historical records across Europe, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname MICHEAUX are:

  1. André Michaux (1746-1802), a French botanist and explorer who extensively studied the flora of North America.
  2. François André Michaux (1770-1855), a French botanist and son of André Michaux, who continued his father's work in the United States.
  3. Oscar Micheaux (1884-1951), an African-American author, filmmaker, and producer known for his influential work in the early 20th century.
  4. Henri Michaux (1899-1984), a Belgian poet, writer, and painter, considered one of the leading figures in modern European literature.
  5. Claude Michaux (1938-2022), a Belgian professional road cyclist who won numerous prestigious races, including the Tour de France in 1968.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the surname MICHEAUX, reflecting its rich history and enduring legacy across various fields and cultures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Micheaux

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

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 Micheaux was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 15.74% 31
Non-Hispanic Black Only 75.13% 148
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 5.58% 11
Hispanic Origin 3.55% 7

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 Micheaux has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 15.74% 11.93% 27.54%
Black 75.13% 81.82% -8.53%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.00% (S)% (S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 5.58% 4.55% 20.34%
Hispanic 3.55% (S)% (S)%

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Micheaux last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/micheaux-surname-popularity/.

"Micheaux last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/micheaux-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Micheaux last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/micheaux-surname-popularity/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.