Michell
An English occupational surname for a person who was a big man or the chief of a clan.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,153 Americans carry the last name Michell. That puts it at #11,605 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.92 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 108,707 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Michell surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
3.2K
1 in 108,707
Census rank
#11,605
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.7K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,705 bearers of the surname Michell in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.92 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 11605th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Michell, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.4%) and Hispanic (9.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Michell
The surname Michell has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England and Scotland. It is believed to have derived from the Old English and Old French words "Michel" and "Michiel," which were variants of the name Michael. These names were originally derived from the Hebrew name "Mikhael," meaning "who is like God."
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Michell date back to the 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers was William Michell, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1185. The surname was also recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appeared as "Michell."
During the Middle Ages, the surname Michell was primarily concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. It was also found in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various historical records, including the Chancery Rolls of 1396, where it was spelled "Mychell." The Michell family was also mentioned in the Wiltshire Visitation of 1623, which documented the lineage of noble families in the county.
One notable bearer of the surname was Sir Francis Michell (1508-1608), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a Justice of the Common Pleas and was known for his legal expertise.
Another prominent figure was John Michell (1724-1793), an English natural philosopher and geologist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the study of geology and his hypotheses about the internal structure of the Earth. Michell also made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and physics.
In the 18th century, the surname Michell was associated with the village of Micheldever in Hampshire, which derived its name from the Old English words "mycel" (great) and "yfere" (shore or bank).
Other notable individuals with the surname Michell include:
1. Walter Michell (1385-1462), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Somerset.
2. Robert Michell (1610-1677), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.
3. Joseph Michell (1757-1840), an English sculptor known for his neo-classical works.
4. John Michell (1789-1865), an English engineer and inventor who contributed to the development of the screw propeller for ships.
5. Nancy Michell (1901-1976), a British author and playwright known for her novels and plays set in rural England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Michell
Among Census respondents with the surname Michell, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.4%) and Hispanic (9.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Michell bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Michell surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White68.2%
- Black or African American17.4%
- Hispanic or Latino9.3%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.1%
- Two or more races1.7%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Michell surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,954 | #11,605 | 2.9% |
| Count | 2,397 | 2,705 | 12.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.89 | 0.92 | 3.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Michell bearers went from 2,397 to 2,705 (+12.8% change). The surname moved up 349 positions in the national ranking, going from #11,954 to #11,605.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Michell
FAQ
Michell surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Michell?
The surname Michell holds position #11,605 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 3,153 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.92 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Michell surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Michell, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.2%. The next largest groups are Black (17.4%) and Hispanic (9.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.