UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Gillacarmichael" meaning "servant of St. Carmichael."
In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Carmichel surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #26,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lochs, Lismore and Appin and Comrie. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Carmichel is 111 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.1%.
1881 census count
51
Ranked #26,428
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
111 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Carmichel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Carmichel surname density by area, 1861 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 | 110 | #16,093 |
| 1861 | historical | 111 | #19,429 |
| 1881 | historical | 51 | #26,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 33 | #31,681 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 4 | #33,595 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lochs, Lismore and Appin, Comrie, Tiree and Coll and Old Monkland. 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 | Lochs | Ross And Cromarty |
| 2 | Lismore and Appin | Argyll |
| 3 | Comrie | Perth |
| 4 | Tiree and Coll | Argyll |
| 5 | Old Monkland | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Carmichel 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 Carmichel, 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 Carmichel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Carmichel 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, Carmichel 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 Carmichel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Carmichel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CARMICHEL is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic words "car" meaning "twisted" and "mìcheil" meaning "loch" or "sea inlet." It is believed to have originated in the region of Argyll and Bute in western Scotland during the medieval period, likely referring to someone who lived near a winding sea loch or inlet.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name is listed as "Carmychel" in this document.
In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as "Carmichael," "Carmichaell," and "Carmychell" in records from the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands. One notable bearer of the name from this era was Sir John Carmichael (c. 1510-1600), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament.
During the 17th century, the CARMICHEL surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. In 1661, a man named James Carmichel was recorded as a landowner in County Antrim, Ireland.
Another prominent figure with the CARMICHEL surname was Gershom Carmichael (1672-1729), a Scottish philosopher and theologian who served as the first professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow.
In the 18th century, the CARMICHEL name appeared in various historical records from Scotland, including the Old Parish Registers. One individual of note was James Carmichael (1738-1806), a Scottish military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
As the CARMICHEL surname spread throughout the English-speaking world, it also developed various spellings and variants, such as "Carmichael," "Carmykel," and "Carmichal." Some notable bearers of these variants include the American author Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981) and the British actor Stacy Carmichael (born 1976).
While the CARMICHEL surname has its roots in Scotland, it has become a global name, with bearers found in various countries around the world, each carrying a connection to the historical origins and meaning of this distinctive Scottish surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Carmichel 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. Lanarkshire leads with 16 Carmichels recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.15x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 16 | 10.15x |
| Clackmannanshire | 9 | 223.33x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.86x |
| Durham | 4 | 2.76x |
| Angus | 3 | 6.64x |
| Ayrshire | 3 | 8.22x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.35x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 6.87x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.60x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.21x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.65x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Carmichels recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barony | 10 | 25.06x |
| Tillicoultry | 9 | 1000.00x |
| York St Peter Le | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Heworth | 4 | 139.86x |
| Dundee | 3 | 17.79x |
| Galston | 3 | 300.00x |
| Glasgow | 3 | 10.71x |
| Govan | 3 | 7.69x |
| Hipperholme Cum | 2 | 94.34x |
| Denton | 1 | 78.13x |
| Duirinish | 1 | 135.14x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 8.61x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 40.16x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.55x |
| West Derby | 1 | 5.91x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 14.75x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Carmichel 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 Carmichel 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 Carmichel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Assistnt (Watchmakers) | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cotton Speedtenter | 1 |
| Dyer Cleaner | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Glassworks Labr | 1 |
| Keelman | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Carmichel surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Carmichel a modern rank of #38,594.
A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Gillacarmichael" meaning "servant of St. Carmichael."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Carmichel 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.