(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.
Scottish and English: habitational name from any of various places in southwestern Scotland and northern England that are named with Old Norse kross ‘cross’ + býr ‘farm’, ‘settlement’.
Irish: Scottish and English surname (see 1 above) adopted by bearers of Gaelic Mac an Chrosáin (see McCrossen).
FOREBEARS The name of the Irish family of Crosbie is ultimately derived from providing the chief bards to the O'Mores, Chiefs of Leix (crosán means ‘bard’, ‘satirist’). Pádraic Mac Crosáin or Mac An Chrosáin took the name Patrick Crosbie in about 1583.