Surname Micklethwaite - Meaning and Origin

Micklethwaite: What does the surname Micklethwaite mean?

The last name Micklethwaite is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. The name Micklethwaite is an occupational surname meaning 'the son or descendant of the one who sold beer'. The occupation of selling beer was an important one in medieval England, and the surname likely originated in the Middle Ages.

The word Micklethwaite is derived from the Old English personal name Michela, which in turn, is derived from the Latin name Michael. The last element of the compound, “thwaite”, is also an old English term meaning “meadow”, or “clearing in a forest”. In context, the name subsequently translates to “Michael’s meadow” or “Michael’s clearing in the forest”.

The surname Micklethwaite is found primarily in the North of England, particularly the historic county of County Durham and Northumbria. Today, the top five countries where the name can be found are England, Australia, the United States, Scotland, and Canada.

The Micklethwaite surname has been recorded in various forms over the centuries, including Micklethwaite, M'Micklethwaite, Michletwaite, Michelthwaite, Mickelthwaite, Micletwaite, Miclatwaite, and Mykelthwaite.

People with the Micklethwaite surname can be found to have had various occupations—from farmers, to shopkeepers, to brewers—whether or not they were related, or they shared the same last name. Regardless, the name Micklethwaite is an interesting and proud Anglo-Saxon surname with a long and varied past.

Micklethwaite: Where does the name Micklethwaite come from?

The last name Micklethwaite is most common today in the United Kingdom, where it is estimated to be the 103rd-most common surname in the country. This surname originated in Yorkshire in Northern England and derives from the pre-7th century Olde English personal name “Micel” and the Olde Norse “thveit”, meaning a clearing in a wood. It is likely that the name was borne by someone who lived in such a clearing.

Micklethwaite is still a relatively common name in Yorkshire, ranking as the 40th-most common name in Yorkshire in 2017. It is also found scattered around other parts of England, particularly the northern areas, but it is uncommon in other areas of the United Kingdom. In Scotland, it is estimated to be the 930th-most common surname, and in Wales, it is the 975th-most common name.

As for other countries, Micklethwaite is not considered a particularly common name. In Ireland, it ranks as the 1321st-most common surname, and in the United States, it is much less common, and it is estimated that only around 34,000 people in the US bear the Micklethwaite name.

Variations of the surname Micklethwaite

The surname Micklethwaite can be spelled in several ways, however all of them have the same origin. The Micklethwaite spelling is the most common but there are several other versions of the name. These include: Mickelthwait, Mackelthwait, Michaelthwait, Michelthwaite, Mickelthwate, Mickalethwait, Mucklethwait, Michelthwaite, Mackelthwaite, Meckeletalewaite and even Mackelethwaite.

The Micklethwaite surname originates from a place name which was in the old parish of Keighley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The place name is derived from the Old English words for ‘Middel’ or ‘middle’ and ‘lēah’, which meant a ‘wood clearing’. As such, the Micklethwaite name means ‘middle wood clearing’.

The name may also have been brought to other parts of the United Kingdom through individuals who moved from Yorkshire. People with the Micklethwaite surname have been recorded in various locations across the country, including London, Derbyshire and Lancashire.

The Micklethwaite surname has also, in rare cases, been modified to become the surname Mackelthwaite. This is thought to have arisen because of the association between the Micklethwaite name and the Old English words for ‘Middle Wood’.

Over time the Micklethwaite surname has undergone many variations in spelling, as it has been adapted and changed to reflect the varying dialects and pronunciations by different speakers. Despite this, the origin remains the same - the Micklethwaite name translates as ‘Middle Wood Clearance’ and has its roots in Yorkshire.

Famous people with the name Micklethwaite

• Paul Micklethwaite: an English footballer who played for Blackpool from 1922 until 1926
• Karen Micklethwaite: a British poet and children's author
• Michael Micklethwaite: an English actor best known for his role as Dr. John Rush in ITV's Torchwood
• Paddy Micklethwaite: a singer-songwriter from Sheffield, England
• Keith Micklethwaite: an English actor and director who made numerous films in the 1970s
• James Micklethwaite: a British-American actor best known for his roles in The Maze Runner and Ready Player One
• Brian Micklethwaite: a former British fumble champion
• Max Micklethwaite: a British rock musician who was a founding member of the band The Jam
• Liz Micklethwaite: a British costume designer who has worked on several movies and TV series
• Raymond Micklethwaite: a former British newspaper editor who served as vice-chairman of the Press Council

Other surnames

Micklethwait