Of territorial origin from the lands and barony of Carmichael in the parish of the same name, Lanarkshire. The lands were long in possession of the family the first of whom in record appears to have been Robert de Carmitely (evidently an error in spelling) who resigned all claim to the patronage of the church of Glegern (now Cleghorn), c. 1220, and about 1250 had a right of lordship in the land of Cleghorn (Dryhurth, p. 171). William de Creimechel witnessed a charter by Nessus de Lundors c. 1225 (LSC., p. 51). William de Carmichael is mentioned in a charter of the lands of Poufeigh c. 1350 (OPS., I, p. 151), and Sir John de Carmychell had a charter of the lands of Carmychell between 1374 and 1384 from William, earl of Douglas (Douglas book, III, p. 398). John Carmichael of that Ilk is found on an Inquest in 1406 (Memorie of the Somervilles, I, p. 152), and William de Carmychale, dominus ejusdem, appears as witness to a charter granting Thomas de Wardelaw a tenement in St. Andrews, 1410 (RPSA., p. 427). William de Carmychel de eodem was one of an inquest at Lanark 1432 (RAA., II, 65), George Carmichael, 'thesaurer' of Glasgow in 1475, was elected bishop late in 1482, but died the following year without having been confirmed (Dowden, p. 330), John of Carmichel was an Edinburgh councillor in 1518 (EBR., p. 174), and John Carmychall was younger or that Ilk, 1575 (RHM., I, 83). John Kirkmichael or Carmichael, who escaped the carnage of Verneuil (1424), was at the death of Guy de Pruneley, bishop of Orleans, appointed by the French king to that see in recognition of the great services rendered by Scots in France (Foibes-Leith, Scots men-at-arms in France, I, p. 35). He is known in French ecclesiastical history as Jean de St. Michel. In 1429 he founded in his cathedral church a Messe ecossaise, still maintained, for his countrymen slain at Verneuil, and in the same year he was one of the officiating prelates at the sacre of Charles VII at Rheims (SHSM., II, p. 55). The surname is still a common one in Lanarkshire. Carmechele 1517, Carmichaill 1672, Carmichel 1470, Carmichell 1494, Carmigell 1646, Carmighell 1590, Cayrmichell and Cayrmichel 1474, Carmychel 1485, Kermychell 1497. Carmichael is used as a 'translation' or equivalent of Macgillemichael which "used to be common in Lismore. But many of the tribe have assumed Carmichael in its place-probably under the impression that they were accommodating themselves to a higher civilisation" (HP., IV, p. 176).

The Carmichaels are a sept of the Scottish clan Stewart, now numerous in north-east Ulster.

(Scot.) 1 Friend of (St.) Michael [Gaelic Cara Michil: v. Michael.

2 belonging to Carmichael, 12th cent. Kermichael = Michael’s Stronghold; v. Michael.

[Welsh caer, a stronghold, fort]

This is a sept of the Scottish clan Stewart.

SIF 29*

“Dear to Michael” in Medieval Latin (Carus).

(Scottish) One who came from Carmichael (castle of St. Michael), in Lanarkshire.

An ancient barony and parish in co. Lanark, possessed by the family in the XII. cent., and probably even earlier. From thence the family of C. of Carspherne, in the stewartry of Kircudbright, are presumed to have sprung. For the genealogy of the latter family, see Knowles's Gen. of Coulthart.

Local: from the barony of Carmichael in Lanarkshire. The family are descended from William de Carmichael, temp. David Bruce. Sir John Carmichael of Carmichael accompanied Archibald Earl of Douglas to the assistance of Charles VI of France; he distinguished himself in the battle of Beauge by dismounting the Duke of Clarence, the English general, in doing which he broke his lance, and thus originated the crest of the family.

Local. Assumed from the lands and barony of Carmichael, in the shire of Lanark. The castle or stronghold of Michael, from caer, a castle or fortified place.

A location name in Lanark.

Carmichael is the name of a very ancient Lanarkshire family, and of a parish in that county.