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

Michels, 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 Michels surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Michels in America

Michels is the 4875th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Michels surname appeared 7,225 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Michels.

We can also compare 2010 data for Michels 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 Michels

The surname Michels is of Germanic origin, derived from the personal name Michael, which is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Mikhael, meaning "who is like God?" The name first appeared in various parts of Germany and the Netherlands during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Michels can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in various medieval records and manuscripts. One notable example is the mention of a Henricus Michels in the Annals of the Cistercian Abbey of Eberbach in Rheingau, Germany, dated around 1270.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Michels, Michelsen, and Michaelsen, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. During this period, the name was also associated with certain place names, such as Michelbach and Michelsbach, which likely influenced the surname's development.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Michels was Johann Michels, a German scholar and reformer who lived from 1510 to 1559. He was a prominent figure during the Protestant Reformation and is known for his work in translating and publishing various theological texts.

Another notable figure with the surname Michels was Willem Michels (1542-1619), a Dutch painter and engraver who was active in Antwerp during the Renaissance. His works, which included religious and mythological scenes, were widely celebrated throughout the Low Countries.

In the 17th century, the name Michels gained prominence in Germany, with several individuals bearing the surname achieving notable accomplishments. One such individual was Johann Michels (1624-1668), a German composer and organist who served at various churches in Hamburg and Lübeck.

The 18th century saw the emergence of another notable figure with the surname Michels, Johann David Michels (1738-1804), a German theologian and philosopher who was a prominent figure in the Enlightenment movement. His writings on ethics, education, and theology were widely influential during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the name Michels continued to be prominent in various fields. One notable example is the German novelist and playwright Eduard Michels (1813-1892), whose works explored themes of social and political commentary during the turbulent period of German unification.

Throughout history, the surname Michels has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the widespread distribution of the name across various regions of Europe. While the examples provided are not exhaustive, they highlight the rich history and legacy of this Germanic surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Michels

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

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

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

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