MICHELSON Origin of surname
MICHELSON
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
The surname Michelson, meaning "son of Michel", is a Yiddish and German form derived from the biblical Michael or Michal. Michael was one of four archangels who surrounded the throne of God. The name means "who is like God" or "Godly". Many Jewish and non-Jewish personal and surnames are based on Michael, among them the German Michel/Michl (frequently used to symbolize the typical German), the French and Italian Michele, the Russian Mikhail, the Hungarian Mihaly and the Romanian Mihai(l). Diminutives, abbreviations and patronymic suffixes (indicating descent in the male line) in all these languages have formed a considerable number of variants, some of which are related to the Hebrew Jehiel, meaning "hail God" (I Chronicles 23), and Michal, the name of the younger daughter of Saul and first wife of King David (I Samuel 14). In some cases this family name can be associated with house-signs picturing a "mouse" (in German, Maus) or "titmouse" (in German, Meise), particularly frequent in Germany during the Middle Ages. Meisel can be derived from a medieval house-sign, as for example in the Jewish quarter (Judengasse) of medieval Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where each house had a sign, usually an animal or a flower. With time, many of the signs became fixed hereditary family names.
Diminutives of Michael/Michal in various spellings, ranging from Meisel and Maisel to Meysel and Meusel, and could have produced the forms Miss and Miess. As a Jewish family name, Michael is recorded in 1212 in Wuerzburg in Germany, Michaelis in 1261 in Mainz (Germany), Michahel in 1334 in Strasbourg (France), Mikiel in 1337 in the Hainot (France), Michelin in 1392 in Colmar (France), Michaellis in 1400 in France, Meisel in 1477 in Prague (Bohemia), Michel in 1550 in Hessen (Germany). Mischelis (1678), Michelis and Michelupp (1720), Miess and Miss (1721), Mischke (1731) and Machelopp (1745) are documented in the lists of visitors who attended the Leipzig fairs in Germany. Misch, Maechel and Meischel are recorded in 18th century Alsace.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Michelson include the German-born American physicist, Albert Abraham Michelson (1852-1931), who was awarded the 1907 Nobel Prize in physics; the 20th century Latvian-born American physician and anthropologist, Nicholas Michelson; and the 20th century Latvian-born English business executive, Herman Elchanan Michelson.
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname derived from a male ancestor's personal name, in this case of biblical origin.
The surname Michelson, meaning "son of Michel", is a Yiddish and German form derived from the biblical Michael or Michal. Michael was one of four archangels who surrounded the throne of God. The name means "who is like God" or "Godly". Many Jewish and non-Jewish personal and surnames are based on Michael, among them the German Michel/Michl (frequently used to symbolize the typical German), the French and Italian Michele, the Russian Mikhail, the Hungarian Mihaly and the Romanian Mihai(l). Diminutives, abbreviations and patronymic suffixes (indicating descent in the male line) in all these languages have formed a considerable number of variants, some of which are related to the Hebrew Jehiel, meaning "hail God" (I Chronicles 23), and Michal, the name of the younger daughter of Saul and first wife of King David (I Samuel 14). In some cases this family name can be associated with house-signs picturing a "mouse" (in German, Maus) or "titmouse" (in German, Meise), particularly frequent in Germany during the Middle Ages. Meisel can be derived from a medieval house-sign, as for example in the Jewish quarter (Judengasse) of medieval Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where each house had a sign, usually an animal or a flower. With time, many of the signs became fixed hereditary family names.
Diminutives of Michael/Michal in various spellings, ranging from Meisel and Maisel to Meysel and Meusel, and could have produced the forms Miss and Miess. As a Jewish family name, Michael is recorded in 1212 in Wuerzburg in Germany, Michaelis in 1261 in Mainz (Germany), Michahel in 1334 in Strasbourg (France), Mikiel in 1337 in the Hainot (France), Michelin in 1392 in Colmar (France), Michaellis in 1400 in France, Meisel in 1477 in Prague (Bohemia), Michel in 1550 in Hessen (Germany). Mischelis (1678), Michelis and Michelupp (1720), Miess and Miss (1721), Mischke (1731) and Machelopp (1745) are documented in the lists of visitors who attended the Leipzig fairs in Germany. Misch, Maechel and Meischel are recorded in 18th century Alsace.
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Michelson include the German-born American physicist, Albert Abraham Michelson (1852-1931), who was awarded the 1907 Nobel Prize in physics; the 20th century Latvian-born American physician and anthropologist, Nicholas Michelson; and the 20th century Latvian-born English business executive, Herman Elchanan Michelson.