Michener
A French surname derived from the word "michonnier", meaning a miller or maker of bread.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,057 Americans carry the last name Michener. That puts it at #16,305 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 166,628 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Michener 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
2.1K
1 in 166,628
Census rank
#16,305
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,768 bearers of the surname Michener in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16305th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Michener, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.4%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Michener
The surname MICHENER is of English origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old English words "mycelhere," meaning "great army," and is believed to have originally referred to a professional soldier or military leader.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of Warwickshire, England, where it appears as "Michener" and "Mitchener" in the late 1500s. It is likely that the name arose as a descriptive nickname for someone who was associated with the military or had a reputation for bravery or strength in battle.
In the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, where it was sometimes spelled "Mitchiner" or "Mitchiner." The variations in spelling were common at the time, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Michener, who was born in Warwickshire in 1585 and served as a soldier in the English Civil War. Another notable MICHENER was Sir Edward Michener, a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 17th century.
In the 18th century, the MICHENER name began to appear in North America, as some members of the family immigrated to the colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of Jacob Michener, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1718 and became a prominent Quaker leader and landowner.
Among the most famous individuals with the MICHENER surname is James A. Michener, the celebrated American author who wrote numerous best-selling novels, including "Tales of the South Pacific," "Hawaii," and "Chesapeake." Michener was born in 1907 and died in 1997, and his works were known for their extensive historical research and epic scope.
Other notable MICHENERs include Roland Michener, who served as Governor General of Canada from 1967 to 1974, and Earl C. Michener, an American politician and jurist who served as the 44th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan from 1939 to 1943.
Overall, the surname MICHENER has a rich history that spans multiple centuries and continents, and it continues to be a respected name in various fields, from literature and politics to law and military service.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Michener
Among Census respondents with the surname Michener, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.4%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Michener 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 Michener surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.8%
- Two or more races2.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Unknown or suppressed0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Michener 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 | #15,280 | #16,305 | -6.7% |
| Count | 1,766 | 1,768 | 0.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.65 | 0.60 | -7.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Michener bearers went from 1,766 to 1,768 (+0.1% change). The surname moved down 1,025 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,280 to #16,305.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Michener
FAQ
Michener surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Michener?
The surname Michener holds position #16,305 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,057 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Michener surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Michener, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.4%) and Hispanic (2.4%). 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.