Mitchell History

From the Hebrew name Michael through the softened French form Michel. Michael was a very common baptismal name in many countries, and its introduction into Scotland was probably due to French influence. Robert Michael de Hyrmanston was a charter witness in 1438. John Michell had a remission granted him in 1489 for his part in holding Dumbarton Castle against the king and John Mitsell held a land in Glasgow in 1496. Andro Mitschell, cagger in Carnwath, Lanarkshire is listed in the Court Book of Barony of Carnwath in 1554. John Mytschell was a resident in Langside in 1555 and Thomas Michell had a charter of eight parts of the lands of Muirtoune in 1611. Brodie refers to David Mitchell, bishop of Aberdeen, as "the Bishop, Michel of Aberdeen", and early instances of Mitchell for Michael as forename are Mitchell M Brair in Galloway, 1490, and Mitchell Marjoriebankis in 1572. Michell is the regular spelling of the name in the Compt Book of David Wedderburne of Dundee. In Orkney Michael as a forename is pronounced Mitchell, and S. Michael’s Church in Harray is locally "St. Mtchell’s Church". Among descendants of Scots emigrants in Norway the name appears as Mitzel, and Andrew Mitchell, a Scot, introduced the steam-engine into Denmark, 1790.