Surname Michaely - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Michaely: What does the surname Michaely mean?
The last name Michaely is an Ashkenazi Jewish surname, derived from the Hebrew given name Michael meaning “Who is like God?”. Michael is the name of one of the seven Archangels of God in Jewish faith. It is a very popular Israeli surname, and is also commonly found in the United States.
The surname Michaely is likely to have been adopted when the Ashkenazi Jews were living in either Eastern Europe or the Middle East region since the Middle Ages, as a way of honoring their historic religious past. In Jewish culture, given names often hold strong significance, so for a family to adopt the name of one of the Archangels would be a great honor.
The last name Michaely carries with it the strong religious ties that come with Jewish faith and culture. It could be a reminder for those who carry the name of the strong connection to God and faith, and of how those of Jewish origin were able to persevere against all odds. It is a reminder too that while there were difficult times in the past, those of the Ashkenazi Jewish faith were able to survive and thrive, and pass along the legacy of Michael down through the generations.
As such, the surname Michaely is deeply meaningful and symbolic to those who carry it. It is a reminder of their shared history, of a time when faith and strength were essential to survival, and of all the generations of people who came before them.
Order DNA origin analysisMichaely: Where does the name Michaely come from?
The last name Michaely is most common in Israel, appearing in the top 500 surnames. It also appears in Jewish communities in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In Israel, the surname is a variant of the Hebrew name Michael. This is one of the most popular Hebrew names and is particularly common amongst Jewish populations around the world. The Michaely surname is derived from this given name, and its root is the familiar biblical name Michael which means “Who is Like God?”
In the United States, the last name Michaely is not as common, but can still be found. In fact, according to the 2000 Census, the name ranked 2,599 in popularity in the nation. It is most commonly found in California, New York and Florida.
In the United Kingdom, there is roughly 1,000 people who carry the Michaely surname. Most are located around larger Jewish communities such as London and Manchester.
It is likely that much of the surname’s usage can be attributed to Jewish emigration from Israel into these countries over recent decades. This surname also reflects a long standing Jewish tradition of taking on the last name of the family’s patriarch, which is often derived from the Hebrew name Michaelson.
Overall, Michaely is a more common last name amongst Jews. It is thus largely concentrated in countries with a large Jewish population, though it can be found in several countries worldwide.
Variations of the surname Michaely
Michely is a relatively uncommon surname originating in France and also seen in British and Irish families with French ancestry. Variations of this surname include Michaely, Micheally, Michealle, Micelli, Michali, Michaeli, Miheli, Michaelo, Mucheli, Mikelly, Michelly, Miqueli, Miquelly, Mychelly, Michal, Mikael, Michails and Mycaelli.
The spelling Michaely was most likely derived from the Middle French name Michel; an evolutionary form of the Hebrew name Michael. The name Michael is seen in various cultures and languages and is derived from the Hebrew word mi-khā-ēl meaning "Who is Like God".
The British variant of this surname Micelli, was derived from the Middle Latin word Michellus, which was taken from the Greek name Michaelos. The Irish variant Michaeli was taken from the Gaelic name Micheil, which in turn was derived from the Hebrew Michael.
In French the spelling of Michaely is derived from the pre-1000 AD Old French form of the name Michel, which was brought to France during the Norman Conquest.
Despite the various spellings, all the above surname variants have a common origin and they are all ultimately derived from the Heavenly name of Michael or "Who is Like God".
Famous people with the name Michaely
- Emmanuel Michaely: Emmanuel Michaely (born 1890) was an Israeli lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the General Zionists from 1951 until 1955.
- Emilia Michaely: Emilia Michaely (born 1958) is an Israeli actress, poet, and visual artist. She is best known for her role as a female lead in the 1985 film, Red Earth.
- Yossi Michaely: Yossi Michaely (born 1945) is an Israeli architect, planner, and educator. He is an emeritus professor at the Technion: Israel Institute of Technology and designer of the Hapoel Jerusalem Stadium, Cohen Stadium, and many other public buildings.
- Amos Michaely: Amos Michaely (born 1978) is an Israeli singer, songwriter, and trombonist. He is a co-founder of the band Mosh Ben Ari, and has released four solo albums.
- Berry Michaely: Berry Michaely (born 1982) is an Israeli rapper, record producer, and actor. He created the hip-hop group Autostrad and his solo album Zion was the highest-selling rap album of 2006 in Israel.
- Shira Michaely-Gigi: Shira Michaely-Gigi (born 1968) is an Israeli singer, songwriter, and actress. She released her debut album Chai in 1989 and has had six top 10 singles on the Israeli music charts.
- Joseph Michaely: Joseph Michaely (born 1940) is an Israeli film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his 1977 film Habonim, which won the 1977 Israeli Film Award for Best Feature Film.
- Adina Michaely: Adina Michaely (born 1992) is an Israeli singer and actress. She competed in season 15 of The Voice Israel, finishing in third place, and has released two solo albums.