Contents [hide]

Michell History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Michell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The distinguished surname Michell is one of the many names that first came to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is derived from the given name "Michel," meaning "who is like God." 1 One source notes of another possible origin: "Anglo-Saxon mycel, great, or mickle, would be a tolerably satisfactory etymon, and this may in some instances be the origin of the surname; but I think in most cases it is derived from Michael, a very popular baptismal name in many countries, through its French form, Michel." 2

Early Origins of the Michell family

The surname Michell was first found in many places throughout ancient Britain. As if to underscore this claim, the following entries were found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: Hugh filius Micahel in Lincolnshire; Roger Michel in Norfolk; and as a forename, Mikael de Brackele in London. Years later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed the following: Johannes Michelson; Thomas Michilson and Adam Michelson. 3

Michele Michael was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327. Michel de Whepstede was recorded in Punchbeck, Suffolk in 1327. The Curia Regis Rolls for Northumberland listed Gilbert Michel in 1205, while the same rolls for Somerset recorded Robert Michel in Somerset in 1219. 4

"In 1198 Michael de Middelton' held a quarter of a carucate in Middleton, Wiltshire by service of keeping the king's wolf-hounds (Fees). About 1219 William Michel received per day for keeping two wolf-hounds and in 1236 Richard Michel held a cotset in Middleton for a similar service. The relationship between the three men is not stated but it appears a reasonable assumption that they were of the same family and that Michaelde Middleton had two sons who derived their surname Michel from their father's Christian name." 4

The name was "distributed over England, but far more frequent in the south. Its home, par excellence, is in the county of Cornwall, where in nearly half the instances it is written Michell, though the pronunciation is the same. Its other homes are in Sussex, Wilts, and in the West Riding. Its prevalence in Cornwall is due to the fact that several parishes and places in the county bear the name of St. Michael in one form or another." 5

In Devon, Thomas Mitchell was Warden of St Mary's College, Ottery St Mary in 1511.

Early History of the Michell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Michell research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1068, 1320, 1344, 1384, 1438, 1586, 1624, 1635, 1647, 1649, 1650, 1661, 1662, 1668, 1672, 1696, 1740, 1745, 1816 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Michell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Michell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Mitchell, Michel, Michell, Mitchill, Mychell, Mitcham and many more.

Early Notables of the Michell family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Jonathan Mitchel (1624?-1668), New England divine, born in Halifax, Yorkshire, about 1624, was son of Matthew Mitchel. He accompanied his parents to America in 1635, graduated at Harvard in 1647, and on 24 June 1649 preached at Hartford, Connecticut, with such acceptance that he was invited to succeed Thomas Hooker (1586-1647). This offer he declined. In May 1650 he was elected fellow of Harvard, and appears to have acted as tutor. In June 1661 he was one of the committee appointed to defend the privileges of the colony, then...
Another 97 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Michell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Michell Ranking

In the United States, the name Michell is the 7,388^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Michell family to Ireland

Some of the Michell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 137 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Michell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Michell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Francis Michell, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" arriving in Virginia in 1607 7
Mary Michell, who landed in Virginia in 1620-1621 8
Frances Michell, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 8
Joanna Michell, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 8
Edward Michell, who landed in New England in 1638 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Michell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anne Michell, who landed in Virginia in 1701 8
Valantine Michell, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 8
Frederick Michell, aged 17, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 8
Andries Michell, who landed in New York in 1748 8
Barnard Michell, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 8

Michell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Michell, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 8
Mr. Elias Michell, (b. 1807), aged 33, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 9
Mrs. Elizabeth Michell, (b. 1803), aged 48, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30 April 1851 9
Miss Eliza Michell, (b. 1829), aged 22, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30 April 1851 9
Miss Jane Michell, (b. 1834), aged 17, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Mountaineer" arriving in the United States on 30 April 1851 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Michell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Thomas P. Michell, (b. 1867), aged 36, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th October 1903 en route to Rico, Colorado, USA 10
Mr. William Michell, (b. 1877), aged 26, Cornish joiner, from St Ives, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 15th August 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 10

Michell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Michell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Michell, who arrived in Glenelg Roads aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1838 11
Mr. Benjamin Michell (Mitchell), (b. 1818), aged 22 born in Truro, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 30th June 1840, sentenced for 10 years for housebreaking, transported aboard the ship "David Clarke" in 1841 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 12
Mr. Benjamin Michell, (b. 1818), aged 22, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 30th June 1841, sentenced for 10 years for housebreaking, transported aboard the ship "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 13
Mr. Benjamin Michell, Cornish convict who was convicted in Cornwall, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "David Clarke" on 3rd June 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
Martha Michell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hooghly" in 1846 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Michell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Michell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Mary Michell, (b.1852), aged 20, Cornish settler departing on 31st May 1872 aboard the ship "City of Auckland" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd September 1872 16
Mr. Richard B. Michell, (b.1852), aged 20, Cornish carpenter departing on 31st May 1872 aboard the ship "City of Auckland" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 3rd September 1872 16
Richard B. Michell, aged 20, a carpenter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872
Mary A. Michell, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872
Girando Michell, aged 30, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oxford" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Michell (post 1700) +

John Michell (1724-1793), English geologist
Roger Michell (1956-2021), British theatre, television and film director, best known for directing films such as Notting Hill and Venus, as well as the 1995 made-for-television film Persuasion
Keith Joseph Michell (1926-2015), Australian actor, best known for his television and film portrayals of King Henry VIII of England
Richard Michell Upjohn FAIA (1828-1903), American architect, co-founder and president of the American Institute of Architects

Citations +

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838PestonjeeBomanjee.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-clarke
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HOOGHLY 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Hooghly.htm
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf