UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic phrase meaning "son of Michael".
In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Carmicheal surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #21,211 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lismore and Appin, Hull Holy Trinity and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carmicheal is 140 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.0%.
1881 census count
88
Ranked #21,211
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1891
140 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carmicheal surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carmicheal surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 88 | #21,211 |
| 1891 | historical | 140 | #19,193 |
| 1901 | historical | 81 | #25,130 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 33 | #35,671 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 29 | #36,058 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lismore and Appin, Hull Holy Trinity, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Kilfinan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lismore and Appin | Argyll |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Kilfinan | Argyll |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carmicheal surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Carmicheal, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Carmicheal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carmicheal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Carmicheal is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Carmicheal is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carmicheal, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Carmicheal has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic words "càrn" meaning "cairn" or "rocky hill" and "Mìcheal" which is the Gaelic form of the name Michael. The name likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a rocky hill dedicated to St. Michael.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it is spelled "Carmichel." This document was a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name is also found in various Scottish charters and records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with variations such as "Carmychell," "Carmichael," and "Carmichaell."
The Carmichael family was prominent in the Scottish Borders region, where they held lands and castles. One notable figure was Sir John Carmichael (c. 1470-1543), who served as Warden of the West Marches and played a significant role in border politics during the reigns of James IV and James V of Scotland.
Another prominent member of the family was Frederick Carmichael (1738-1819), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became the 1st Baron Carmichael. He was a descendant of the Carmichaels of Eastend, a branch of the family that had settled in Lanarkshire.
In the literary world, Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912) was a Scottish folklorist and author who collected and published numerous Gaelic folk tales, songs, and proverbs. His most famous work, "Carmina Gadelica," is a compilation of Gaelic oral traditions from the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
The name Carmichael has also been associated with various places in Scotland, such as the village of Carmichael in South Lanarkshire and the Carmichael Estate in Peeblesshire. These place names likely derived from the surname, reflecting the influence and landholdings of the Carmichael family in those areas.
Throughout history, the Carmichael surname has been carried by many notable individuals, including Sir William Carmichael (1800-1867), a British diplomat and colonial administrator; Andrew Carmichael (1791-1868), a Scottish geologist and explorer; and James Carmichael (1776-1821), a Scottish horticulturist and botanist.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carmicheal surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Argyllshire leads with 33 Carmicheals recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Argyllshire | 33 | 138.13x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.29x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 3.60x |
| Midlothian | 10 | 8.70x |
| Inverness-shire | 6 | 23.41x |
| Angus | 5 | 6.29x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.58x |
| Perthshire | 4 | 10.38x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.56x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.55x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.57x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lismore Appin in Argyllshire leads with 12 Carmicheals recorded in 1881 and an index of 1500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lismore Appin | 12 | 1500.00x |
| Kilfinan | 10 | 1562.50x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 7 | 309.73x |
| Glasgow | 6 | 12.17x |
| Kildalton | 6 | 952.38x |
| North Uist | 6 | 600.00x |
| Sutton | 6 | 618.56x |
| Dundee | 5 | 16.85x |
| Barony | 4 | 5.69x |
| Kinclaven | 4 | 2352.94x |
| Ardchattan Muckairn | 3 | 508.47x |
| Drypool | 2 | 153.85x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 4.16x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 14.84x |
| St Anne Soho London | 2 | 40.82x |
| Bowmore | 1 | 181.82x |
| Edinburgh Buccleuch | 1 | 36.76x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.16x |
| Edinburgh Tolbooth | 1 | 149.25x |
| Kilchattan | 1 | 625.00x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 1 | 147.06x |
| Largs | 1 | 66.23x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.62x |
| Newbury | 1 | 48.54x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.90x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 11.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carmicheal surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Carmicheal surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Carmicheal households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Army Acoutrement Maker | 1 |
| Captain D K | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gasfitter & Plumber | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| Income From Houses | 1 |
| Labr Oil Mill | 1 |
| Sch | 1 |
| Ship Captain | 1 |
| Shoe Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Carmicheal surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Carmicheal a modern rank of #36,059.
A Scottish surname derived from a Gaelic phrase meaning "son of Michael".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carmicheal bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.