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

Mikkelsen, 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 Mikkelsen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mikkelsen in America

Mikkelsen is the 14006th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mikkelsen surname appeared 2,150 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Mikkelsen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mikkelsen 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 Mikkelsen

The surname Mikkelsen originates from Denmark and likely dates back to the 12th or 13th century. It is a patronymic name, meaning it was originally formed by adding the suffix "-sen" to the first name "Mikkel," which is the Danish form of the name Michael. The name Mikkel itself is derived from the Hebrew name "Mikhael," meaning "who is like God."

In its earliest forms, the name may have been spelled in various ways, such as Michelsen, Michilsen, or Mickelsen, reflecting regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions over time. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Jutland and Zealand, where the name was most prevalent in its early history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mikkelsen can be found in the census records of the Danish island of Funen from the late 15th century, where a man named Jens Mikkelsen is listed as a landowner. Additionally, the name appears in several medieval Danish legal documents and church records from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Notable individuals with the surname Mikkelsen throughout history include:

1. Ejnar Mikkelsen (1880-1971), a Danish polar explorer and author who led several expeditions to Greenland and the Arctic regions in the early 20th century.

2. Asger Mikkelsen (1909-1988), a Danish actor and film director known for his work in the mid-20th century Danish film industry.

3. Mads Mikkelsen (born 1965), a renowned Danish actor known for his roles in films such as "Casino Royale," "Hannibal," and "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

4. Jens Mikkelsen (c. 1452-1520), a Danish clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Viborg from 1498 until his death.

5. Kristen Mikkelsen (1760-1842), a Norwegian-born American pioneer and explorer who was one of the first European settlers in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.

While the surname Mikkelsen has its roots in Denmark, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and settlement in new territories. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the Danish language and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mikkelsen

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

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

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

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