MacMichael Surname

471,234th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 712 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Gibraltar

MacMichael Surname Definition:

Gaelic MacMicheil, for earlier Mac Gille Mhicheil, 'son of the servant of (S. ) Michael. ' Earlier and rarer forms with Mael- (Maol-) are also found. There were several families named Mac Gill-Mhichell in Bute at the end of the eighteenth century, and the name was not uncommon in the north, appearing in the Inverness-Dingwall Records as McGillimichall (1649), McKilmichel and McKillmichaell (1682).

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MacMichael Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States3631:998,50973,813
Canada1261:292,42527,191
England861:647,88437,755
Australia701:385,65331,598
Scotland491:109,2627,254
Gibraltar61:5,659991
South Africa21:27,088,852277,613
New Zealand11:4,528,32355,372
Zambia11:15,849,92253,989
Wales11:3,094,53244,023
Thailand11:70,638,3451,175,915
Switzerland11:8,212,915156,297
Ireland11:4,708,93929,543
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
France11:66,422,722504,397
Croatia11:4,228,60499,289
Argentina11:42,743,414282,706
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland51:885,97323,404

MacMichael (23) may also be a first name.

MacMichael Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

Gaelic MacMicheil, for earlier Mac Gille Mhicheil, 'son of the servant of (S. ) Michael. ' Earlier and rarer forms with Mael- (Maol-) are also found. There were several families named Mac Gill-Mhichell in Bute at the end of the eighteenth century, and the name was not uncommon in the north, appearing in the Inverness-Dingwall Records as McGillimichall (1649), McKilmichel and McKillmichaell (1682). Malmur Mac Gillemichel was one of the perambulators of the lands of Balfeth in Angus between 1204 and 1211 (RAA., I, p. 60). Gillecolme Makgillemichell and Kennathe Makgillemichell were charter witnesses in Lesmore, Argyllshire, 1251 (RMS., II, 3126), and Makbeth Makgilmichel was present at pleas held at Dull in 1264 (RPSA., p. 349). In the end of the thirteenth century Malcolm, earl of Lennox, transferred to Sir John of Luss the homage and service of Maldofen Macgillemychmore and his heirs (Levenax, p. 20). Celestine Macgillemichaell was a cleric of the diocese of Argyll, 1411 (Lennox, II, p. 60), and another Celestine McGilmichel witnessed an Atholl charter in 1453 (Athole, p. 707). Macgitlmichell was a crown tenant of Eddergoll, 1480 (Christie, Lairds and lands, p. 84). Muldony Makgillemichell and Finlay Makgillemichell had Crown grants of the lands of Dunallirde-Macgillemichell in Bute, 1506 (RMS., II, 2987). Meldonich Mackillimichael is in record in the same island in 1646 (Hewison, II, p. 333). John Makmychell was burgess of Prestwick, 1507 (Prestwick, p. 10). Johannes McMichell, king's tenant in Strathdee, 1527 (Grant, III, p. 70). Peter McIlmichaell appears in Ballichquhaill, 1532 (RSS., II, 1334); and Mans McGillmichell was "jugit in amerciament for the wranguse drawin of ane dowrk," 1557 (Rec. Inv., I, p. 9). Sheep were stolen from William M'Gillemithel in the regality of Spynie, 1597 (SCM., II, p. 137). John McGillemitchell in Foirtitlettir or Foirlettir was fined for resetting members of Clan Gregor, 1613 (RPC., XIV, p. 631,656), and John Mcllvichill, servant of the captain of Clanranald, committed outrage on Mr. Donald Omey in Ardnamurchane, 1624 (ibid., XIII, p. 427—8). David M'Ilvichall appears in Kingeait, parish of Comrie, 1632 (Dunblane). Ewin Bean M'Ilmichell alias M'lllenish in Ardochoyle in Dowart and Ewin M'llmichell in Ardjura were denounced rebel, 1675 (HP., I, p. 300); and Donald Mcllmichall in Appin was hanged in 1677 for theft and consulting with evil spirits (HP., III, p. 36-38). Janet nein vc Gillmichael was proclaimed a fugitive from Inverness, 1677, and in the following year Anne Ninick gillivichell swerved from the path of moral rectitude (IDR., p. 87,340). Angus McIllevitchell and Donald McIllevitchell were tenants in Borve, 1726 (HP., II, p. 317). Mary McGilmichal appears in Kilmichal, Cowal, in 1764. Of forms in Maol- (earlier Mael-) we have Dugald McMolmicheyl called McBernaurs, clerk of the diocese of Argyll, who was charged in 1433 with having unduly retained possession of the rectory of the parish church of S. Mary (Kilmory) in Arand (Arran) (Pap. Lett., VIII, p. 473). In 1430 John, son of Doueall (jonannes Dugalli) Macmaelmichaell, clerk of the diocese of Argyll, is also in record (ibid., p. 597). Gilbert McOlmichaell had sasine of lands in Bute, 1564 (ER., XIX, p. 533). Macmichael is the source of many of our Mitchells, and the Lowland territorial name Carmichael (1180 Kermichel) is often used as the English rendering of it. The McIlmichells of Lismore and Appin and the M'A'Levechels of Kintyre have changed their name to Carmichael. McGillimichaell 1649, M'Ilmichael 1577, McKillmichaell and McKilmichael 1682, Macmitchel 1661, McMitchell 1667, McMichael 1684, McMychel and McMychele 1490; M'killvichel.

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Celtic) Son of Michael, q.v.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

The son of Michael, which signifies, Who is like God?

The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames (1862) by Clifford Stanley Sims (1839-1896)

MacMichael Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name MacMichael Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname MacMichael occurs most in The United States. It may be found as a variant:. For other potential spellings of this surname click here.

How Common Is The Last Name MacMichael? popularity and diffusion

The last name MacMichael is the 471,234th most widely held surname at a global level, borne by around 1 in 10,235,317 people. This last name occurs mostly in The Americas, where 69 percent of MacMichael reside; 69 percent reside in North America and 69 percent reside in Anglo-North America. It is also the 2,239,265th most commonly occurring first name at a global level It is held by 23 people.

The last name is most frequent in The United States, where it is borne by 363 people, or 1 in 998,509. In The United States it is most numerous in: Florida, where 12 percent live, Pennsylvania, where 11 percent live and Virginia, where 10 percent live. Apart from The United States MacMichael exists in 16 countries. It is also found in Canada, where 18 percent live and England, where 12 percent live.

MacMichael Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The prevalency of MacMichael has changed over time. In Ireland the number of people carrying the MacMichael last name fell 80 percent between 1901 and 2014.

MacMichael Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those bearing the last name is chiefly Catholic (80%) in Ireland.

In The United States those holding the MacMichael surname are 11.56% more likely to be registered with the Republican Party than The US average, with 58.33% registered with the political party.

The amount MacMichael earn in different countries varies marginally. In United States they earn 6.45% less than the national average, earning $40,364 USD per year and in Canada they earn 4.03% less than the national average, earning $47,680 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
McMichael9511,485/
MacMicael955/
MacMicheal903/
Micmichael902/
Makmichael901/
McMichaeal901/
McMichaell901/
McMmichael901/
McCmichael901/
McMiachael900/
McMichaelw900/
Mcmaichael801/

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to MacMichael
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis