NameCensus.

UK surname

Michel

A French occupational surname referring to one who is like God or godly.

In the 1881 census there were 187 people recorded with the Michel surname, ranking it #13,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 650, ranked #8,181, up from #13,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Anne Soho, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Michel is 650 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 247.6%.

1881 census count

187

Ranked #13,407

Modern count

650

2016, ranked #8,181

Peak year

2016

650 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Michel had 187 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016, ranked #8,181.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 380 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Michel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Michel surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Michel 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 223 #9,562
1861 historical 380 #6,726
1881 historical 187 #13,407
1891 historical 291 #11,388
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 288 #11,757
1997 modern 481 #9,584
1998 modern 528 #9,211
1999 modern 520 #9,379
2000 modern 529 #9,233
2001 modern 519 #9,204
2002 modern 572 #8,723
2003 modern 558 #8,740
2004 modern 539 #8,991
2005 modern 545 #8,842
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 576 #8,619
2008 modern 587 #8,562
2009 modern 605 #8,544
2010 modern 637 #8,371
2011 modern 648 #8,171
2012 modern 623 #8,342
2013 modern 634 #8,367
2014 modern 647 #8,289
2015 modern 648 #8,217
2016 modern 650 #8,181

Geography

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Where Michels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Anne Soho, London parishes, St Pancras and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Leeds. 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 St Anne Soho London (Central Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 004 Westminster
2 Westminster 005 Westminster
3 Kensington and Chelsea 001 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Westminster 006 Westminster
5 Leeds 016 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Michel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Michel

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Michel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Michel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Michel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Michel is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Michel falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Michel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Michel

The surname Michel has its origins in France, where it emerged as a patronymic name derived from the personal name Michel, the French form of the Hebrew name Michael, meaning "who is like God?". The name was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of France, including Normandy and Brittany.

Michel is believed to have been introduced to France during the early medieval period, potentially as early as the 8th or 9th century, through the influence of the cult of St. Michael the Archangel. The name gained popularity throughout the Middle Ages and was commonly used across various social strata.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Michel can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their estates commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Michel in the county of Somerset, England.

In the 12th century, the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Henry II, which were financial records of the English Exchequer. These rolls mention individuals such as Rogerus Michel and Willelmus Michel, providing evidence of the surname's usage during that time period.

Notable individuals with the surname Michel include Jean Michel (1435-1501), a French composer and singer who served as the court composer to King Louis XI. Another notable figure was Virgil Michel (1530-1596), a French jurist and legal scholar who authored several influential works on civil law.

In the 17th century, François Michel (1624-1693), a French humanist and scholar, gained recognition for his contributions to literature and his role as a librarian at the Bibliothèque du Roi in Paris.

During the 18th century, the name was associated with several prominent figures, such as Jacques-Étienne Michel (1748-1804), a French architect who designed notable buildings in Paris, including the Chapelle Expiatoire.

In the 19th century, Émile Michel (1828-1909), a French historian and archaeologist, made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek art and architecture. His works on the Parthenon and the Acropolis of Athens are considered seminal texts in the field.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Michel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Michel 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 73 Michels recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.91x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 73 2.91x
Channel Islands 70 94.24x
Lancashire 9 0.30x
Hampshire 8 1.56x
Monmouthshire 8 4.41x
Northamptonshire 8 3.39x
Gloucestershire 6 1.22x
Yorkshire 6 0.24x
Angus 5 2.15x
Dorset 5 3.04x
Midlothian 5 1.49x
Surrey 5 0.41x
Norfolk 4 1.04x
Northumberland 4 1.07x
Staffordshire 4 0.47x
Stirlingshire 4 4.33x
Cheshire 3 0.54x
Devon 3 0.57x
Glamorgan 3 0.69x
Sussex 3 0.71x
Clackmannanshire 2 9.66x
Durham 2 0.27x
Hertfordshire 2 1.16x
Kent 2 0.23x
Lanarkshire 2 0.25x
Somerset 2 0.50x
Warwickshire 2 0.32x
Bedfordshire 1 0.77x
Berkshire 1 0.53x
Cardiganshire 1 1.64x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.95x
Flintshire 1 1.48x
Isle of Man 1 2.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Peter in Channel Islands leads with 28 Michels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1308.41x.

Place Total Index
St Peter 28 1308.41x
St Helier 15 62.03x
St Marylebone London 12 8.97x
Kensington London 10 7.18x
St Peter Port 10 72.78x
Paddington London 9 9.76x
St Pancras London 9 4.46x
Northampton St Sepulchre 8 66.67x
Westminster St James 7 27.16x
Chelsea London 6 7.94x
Hackney London 6 4.27x
St Brelade 6 314.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 3.70x
Llanishen 5 2380.95x
Logie Pert 5 581.40x
Oswaldtwistle 5 47.57x
Falkirk 4 18.48x
Heaton 4 322.58x
Leeds 4 2.85x
Southampton St Mary 4 12.38x
Spitalfields London 4 21.21x
St Owen 4 205.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 6.48x
Dewlish 3 750.00x
Southwark Christchurch 3 25.53x
St Anne Soho London 3 20.95x
St Mellons 3 588.24x
Westbury On Trym 3 18.01x
Barony 2 0.97x
Bishopwearmouth 2 3.12x
Cardiff St Mary 2 8.32x
Chardstock 2 175.44x
Chester Holy Trinity 2 77.22x
Clackmannan 2 51.15x
Ealing 2 8.93x
Grouville 2 96.62x
Holdenhurst 2 14.84x
Langley 2 769.23x
St Martin 2 43.96x
St Saviour 2 48.66x
Toxteth Park 2 1.99x
Watford 2 14.93x
Wombourn 2 127.39x
Aldershot 1 5.81x
Beckenham 1 8.94x
Bedminster 1 2.64x
Birmingham 1 0.47x
Blunham 1 113.64x
Brighton 1 1.17x
Camberwell 1 0.62x
Clase 1 6.16x
East Coker 1 113.64x
Edgbaston 1 5.10x
Great Bircham 1 250.00x
Hampstead London 1 2.56x
Hartland 1 61.73x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.58x
Hutton Bushell 1 232.56x
Leek Lowe 1 8.88x
Liverpool 1 0.55x
Llandyfriog 1 147.06x
Llanfihangel Ar Arth 1 59.52x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.53x
Mold 1 16.37x
New Shoreham 1 39.53x
New Windsor 1 15.80x
Onchan 1 7.46x
Portsea 1 0.99x
Shoreditch London 1 0.92x
Sidmouth 1 33.44x
Sprowston 1 58.82x
St Giles In Fields 1 11.56x
St Luke London 1 2.49x
St Sampson 1 29.85x
Sutton At Hone 1 56.50x
Sutton In Macclesfield 1 17.42x
Uttoxeter 1 23.09x
West Dean 1 158.73x
Witney 1 38.61x
Yarcombe 1 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 10
Mary 7
Eliza 6
Louisa 5
Charlotte 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Louise 3
Marie 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Martha 2
Melie 2
Pauline 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Allen 1
Antoinette 1
Arthemise 1
Beatrice 1
Bella 1
Bessie 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elise 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Francoise 1
Jeanne 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Juleta 1
Julia 1
Justine 1
Ludovicia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margrate 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
James 6
Thomas 5
William 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Henry 4
Philip 4
Edward 3
Eugene 3
Francis 3
Francois 3
Frederick 3
George 3
Joseph 3
Adrien 2
Amice 2
Auguste 2
Edwin 2
Paul 2
Anselon 1
Anthony 1
Benjamin 1
C. 1
Cecil 1
Charle 1
Clement 1
David 1
E. 1
Ebenezer 1
Edouard 1
Emmanuel 1
Fermin 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Herman 1
Hy. 1
Iven 1
Jean 1
Jules 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Maurice 1
Michel 1
Montague 1
Nicolas 1
Ormerod 1

FAQ

Michel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Michel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 187 people were recorded with the Michel surname. That placed it at #13,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Michel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016. That gives Michel a modern rank of #8,181.

What does the Michel surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to one who is like God or godly.

What does the Michel map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Michel 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.