Surname Michelsen - Meaning and Origin
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Michelsen: What does the surname Michelsen mean?
The last name Michelsen is of Scandinavian and German origin. It is a patronymic surname meaning “son of Michael”. This surname is most commonly found in Norway, Denmark, and Germany, though it is also found all across Scandinavia and the English-speaking world.
The personal name from which the last name Michelsen derives is derived from the Hebrew name ‘Mikha’el’, which means “who is like God”. It is a common surname in many cultures, but it has become particularly well-known in Scandinavia due to its association with several famous people, including the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and the Danish physicist Niels Bohr.
People with the last name Michelsen commonly have strong family ties and are frequently found living in the same geographical areas. This commonality has been attributed to the strong cultural and religious tradition of families in this region, as well as to the historical migratory patterns of humans in northern Europe.
The Michelsen family has a proud heritage of strength and perseverance, which is reflected in their name. It is a reminder of their ancestors’ courage to explore and experiment, as well as an encouragement for its members to continue to strive to reach their goals.
Order DNA origin analysisMichelsen: Where does the name Michelsen come from?
The last name Michelsen is most commonly found today in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark and Norway. In Denmark, it is among the top 50 last names, according to data from the Danish National Church Census. In Norway, it is among the top 50 most common last names in the country. Beyond these two countries, the surname is also found in Germany, the United States, Australia, and other countries with immigration from Scandinavia.
In Denmark, the frequency of the last name Michelsen is particularly concentrated in the eastern parts of the country. It is also common in the towns of Randers and Randers Municipality in central Jutland. In Norway, it is mainly found in the southeastern regions of the country, such as Oslo, Vestfold, Buskerud, and Telemark.
In the United States, the last name generally originates from Scandinavian immigrants who arrived in the late 19th and 20th centuries. It can be found mainly in states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota which had large Scandinavian immigrant populations. In Australia, it is most common in Adelaide, especially in the suburbs that today have a large Scandinavian population.
Variations of the surname Michelsen
The surname Michelsen is a patronymic, meaning it originates from a father's given name. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin associated with this surname would include Michelson, Micheelson, Mikkelson, Michelsson, and Mikkelsen. Additionally, it may be found as part of a compound surname such as Larsen-Michelsen, Johannesen-Michelsen or Stenje-Michelsen.
The origin of this surname can be traced back to the Scandinavian language, with its element “Michel” having varied spellings such as Mikkel, Mykel, Meckail, and Mickael, among others. This could explain why other variants and forms can be found for the Michelsen surname, as each may be attributed to a different spelling or pronunciation of the original moniker.
In some cases, the surname Michelsen has been found as Michalens, Mikolens, and Michaelsen. Additionally, it could be found as Miehlsen in Germany, as well as Michellsen, Meikleson, and Myckelsson.
The first recorded use of this surname dates back to the 1500s in Northern Germany, with the earliest recorded family line being from Denmark. A Johannes Michelsen was the first recorded to name himself with the moniker, later seen in a land census. Today, this surname is most common in the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, along with Germany and the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Michelsen
- Heidi Michelsen: Norwegian cross-country skier, 27-time national champion in various sprint, middle and long-distance events at various championships.
- Theodore A. Michelsen: American businessman, real estate executive and philanthropist who was one of the wealthiest persons in the state of Minnesota in his time.
- Lawrence Otto Michelsen: American vaudeville choreographer and producer who created or co-created more than 100 Broadway shows.
- Christian Micheelsen: retired Danish football player who played for the Danish national team and was a part of the squad that won Euro 92.
- Ib Michelsen: Danish furniture designer and manufacturer who worked mainly in the 1930s and 1940s.
- Tiina Michelsen: Danish marathon runner and duathlon world champion, who won silver at the World Championships in road running in 1985.
- Ida Emma Augusta Michelsen: Danish actress, best known for her stage roles in The Baroness and the Barber in 1876 and Savoyard at Odeon Theatre in 1879.
- Martin Michelsen: Danish artist who is credited with inspiring the genre of Scandinavian modernism.
- Robert Michelsen: pioneering German photographer and contemporary of the better-known Alfred Stieglitz.
- Vincent Michelsen: Danish singer, songwriter, chess grandmaster and actor who was the lead singer of Danish band Alphabeat.