Mitchum
A surname that likely began as a variant of a personal-name-based family name, probably connected to Michael or a similar given name.
The #8,602 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 80,676 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Mitchum is generally understood as an English surname formed from a shortened form of the personal name Michael, via nickname forms like Mitch or Mitcham-style spellings. In that sense, it means something like "descendant of Mitch/Michael" rather than describing an occupation or place. The exact pathway is not certain, and the spelling may reflect later regional pronunciation or recording habits.
History
The name is best known in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where it is comparatively uncommon. Like many surname spellings, Mitchum may have stabilized from a looser cluster of spoken and written forms rather than from a single fixed medieval spelling. It is sometimes associated with English or Anglo-American family lines, but the precise origin of individual branches can vary.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname became widely familiar in the 20th century through American actor Robert Mitchum, whose last name helped make the spelling memorable.