Mitchell
Usually a form of Michael, meaning “who is like God?”, though in some cases it may come from an old word for “great” or “big.”
The #48 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 803 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Most historical sources treat Mitchell as a pet or reduced form of Michael, the biblical name from Hebrew Mikha’el, meaning “Who is like God?” In medieval English it often came through French Michel, which helped shape the surname form. Some writers also noted a possible separate source from Old English mickle/mucel, meaning “great” or “big,” so the name may have more than one origin in different families.
History
The surname is well attested in medieval records as Michel, Michell, and related forms, and later became very common in the spelling Mitchell. Its popularity reflects the widespread use of Michael as a baptismal name in medieval Europe. The related surname Mitchelson is one piece of evidence often cited for the Michael derivation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Michael was such a common given name, Mitchell developed independently in more than one place, so not every Mitchell family shares the same original ancestor.
From the historical record
“big + ham(m] MITCHELL ( A.-Heb. ) a palatal form of Michael, q.v. (Eng.) a palatal form of Mickie, q.v. Roger Michel— Hund. Rolls. MITCHELSON, MITCHELL'S Son : v. Mitchell. MITGHENER 1 for MInchenep, Minchinep, MITCHINER J q.v. MITCHESON 1 I for Mitchelson, q.v. MITCHISON J 2 for Mitchinson, q.v.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)