Carmichael
A Scottish surname taken from the place-name Carmichael in Lanarkshire, meaning “Michael’s fort” or “Michael’s castle.”
The #1,825 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 15,730 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Carmichael is a habitational surname from the parish and lands of Carmichael in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The place-name is usually explained as meaning “Michael’s caer/cathair,” from a Brittonic word for a fort or castle plus the personal name Michael. In modern terms, the literal sense is “Michael’s fort” or “Michael’s castle.”
History
The surname is strongly associated with the old Scottish family of Carmichael, seated in Lanarkshire and later raised to the peerage as the earls of Hyndford. Nineteenth-century writers treated it as a clearly local surname, and Gaelic scholars noted that the name is really Lowland rather than Gaelic in origin. It has remained especially common in Scotland and among Scottish-descended families elsewhere.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The old family of Carmichael was prominent enough that early heraldic writers used it as an example of a surname with armorial supporters tied to the name itself.
From the historical record
“CARMICHAEL 591 CARMICHAEL. ten of l*re.ston. John Canmclmel, the futlicr, his son Jolni, Wi» brotlier Archibald, James Jolinstone of Wi-straw^ and thirtv-one otiiers, were, January 8tb, 1/JGl, indicted before”
— The Scottish Nation; or, the surnames, families ... of the people of Scotland, vol. 1