NameCensus.

UK surname

Michaelson

Son of Michael, an English patronymic surname derived from the given name Michael.

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Michaelson surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, North East Lincolnshire and Basildon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Michaelson is 186 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 326.2%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

2009

186 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Michaelson had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Michaelson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Michaelson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Michaelson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Michaelson over time

The 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 12 #31,134
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 137 #19,032
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 165 #19,861
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 180 #19,454
2000 modern 168 #20,252
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 177 #19,759
2003 modern 166 #20,320
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 186 #19,946
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 173 #21,172
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Michaelsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff St John and St Mary and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, North East Lincolnshire, Basildon and Epping Forest. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 008 Camden
2 North East Lincolnshire 006 North East Lincolnshire
3 Basildon 017 Basildon
4 Epping Forest 010 Epping Forest
5 Camden 014 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Michaelson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Michaelson surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Michaelson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Michaelson, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Michaelson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Michaelson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Michaelson is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Michaelson is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Michaelson falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Michaelson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Michaelson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Michaelson

The surname Michaelson is a patronymic name that originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the given name Michael, which has Hebrew origins and means "who is like God." The suffix "-son" denotes "son of," indicating that the name was initially used to identify the son of someone named Michael.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Michaelson can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Michaelissone," a variant spelling that reflects the evolving nature of surnames during that time.

In the 13th century, the name Michaelson was associated with various locations in England, particularly in areas with a strong Anglo-Saxon influence. For instance, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mention individuals with the name residing in counties such as Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

Notable individuals bearing the Michaelson surname throughout history include:

1. Sir John Michaelson (c. 1480 - 1551), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. 2. William Michaelson (1623 - 1689), a prominent English Puritan minister and author of several religious works. 3. Mary Michaelson (1747 - 1825), a Scottish poet and writer known for her lyrical compositions celebrating the Scottish landscape. 4. James Michaelson (1802 - 1873), a British explorer and surveyor who conducted pioneering expeditions in central Africa and mapped vast regions. 5. Elizabeth Michaelson (1854 - 1927), an American educator and activist who advocated for women's rights and played a significant role in establishing educational opportunities for women in the late 19th century.

The Michaelson surname has also been associated with various place names throughout its history. For example, the village of Michaelston-le-Pit in Gloucestershire, England, was formerly known as "Michaelestonge" in medieval records, reflecting the influence of the name in that region.

As with many surnames, the spelling of Michaelson has evolved over time, with variations such as Michelson, Michelsen, and Michaelsen appearing in different geographical regions and historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Michaelson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Michaelson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 10 Michaelsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 10 2.44x
Yorkshire 8 1.97x
Lanarkshire 7 5.28x
Lancashire 7 1.44x
Brecknockshire 6 73.26x
Kent 3 2.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Michaelsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.37x.

Place Total Index
Govan 7 21.37x
Linthorpe 7 289.26x
Llanelly 6 612.24x
Whitechapel London 6 148.51x
Manchester 3 13.72x
Minster In Sheppey 3 129.31x
Spitalfields London 3 97.40x
Lancaster 2 69.20x
Wigan 2 29.46x
Cotton 1 1111.11x
Mile End Old Town 1 15.46x
Roundhay 1 909.09x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Michaelson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Rebecca 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Betsy 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Helena 1
Jane 1
Janetta 1
Julia 1
Mary 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Michaelson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Angus 2
Abraham 1
Asher 1
Assur 1
Benjmin 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Eleazar 1
Henry 1
Herman 1
Hymran 1
Isaac 1
Issachar 1
Julius 1
Lewis 1
Morris 1

Top occupations

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 Michaelson households.

FAQ

Michaelson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Michaelson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Michaelson surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Michaelson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Michaelson a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Michaelson surname mean?

Son of Michael, an English patronymic surname derived from the given name Michael.

What does the Michaelson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Michaelson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.