(male) English form of a common biblical name (meaning ‘who is like God?’ in Hebrew) borne by one of the archangels, the protector of the ancient Hebrews, who is also regarded as a saint of the Catholic Church. In the Middle Ages, Michael was regarded as captain of the heavenly host (see Revelation 12:7–9), symbol of the Church Militant, and patron of soldiers. He was often depicted bearing a flaming sword. The name is also borne by a Persian prince and ally of Belshazzar mentioned in the Book of Daniel. Since the early 1900s it has been one of the most enduringly popular boys' names in the English-speaking world. See also Michal.
Cognates: Irish: Mícheál. Scottish Gaelic: Mìcheal. Welsh: Meical, Mihangel. German: Michael. Dutch: Michaël, Machiel. Scandinavian: Mikael. Danish, Norwegian: Mikkel. French: Michel. Spanish, Portuguese: Miguel. Catalan: Miquel. Italian: Michele. Russian: Mikhail. Polish: Michał. Czech: Michal. Croatian: Mihovil. Serbian: Mihajlo. Slovenian: Mihael. Finnish: Mikko. Hungarian: Mihály.
Short forms: Mike, Mick.
Pet forms: Mick(e)y, Mikey.
English: habitational name from a place in Nottinghamshire called Bingham, from an unattested Old English clan name, Binningas, or an Old English word bing ‘(a) hollow’ + Old English hām ‘homestead’. The name is also established in Ireland.
Jewish (American): Americanized form of various like-sounding habitational names such as Bingenheimer.
FOREBEARS The Bingham family of Melcombe Bingham in Dorset can trace their descent back to Robert de Bingham, recorded in 1273, who probably came from Bingham in Nottinghamshire. His descendants included the Earls of Lucan. A branch of the family was established in Ireland, where they gave their name to Binghamstown in County Mayo. Sir Richard Bingham (c. 1528–99) was Marshal of Ireland. Charles Bingham (1735–99) was created earl of Lucan in 1795.William Bingham, born in Philadelphia in 1752, was a prominent land speculator and founder of the Bank of North America in 1781. Hiram Bingham, born in Bennington, VT, in 1789, was a missionary to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii).
