Michel Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Michel mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Michel name
Michel is the French form of Michael, from the Hebrew Mikha'el, "who is like God?". Devotion to the archangel Saint Michael, centred on the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, made it one of the most loved baptismal names of medieval France. As a surname taken from a father's name, it is among the most common in France and also frequent in Germany.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Michel name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Michel name in France. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Germany, Switzerland and Belgium; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Michel name FAQ
What does the Michel name mean?
"Who is like God?" (Hebrew). Common variants include Michaud, Michelet, Michon, Michael.
Where does the Michel surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium.
Is there a Michel coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Michel crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Michel coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Albert Dauzat, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France (Larousse); Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille (Perrin, 1991).