All Origins Mitchell

Mitchell, like many English surnames, is the result of hundreds of years of evolution of the English language.  One likely origin of the name Mitchell was mickle - (Scots for "Great" < Middle English mikel < Old English micel < Old Norse mikill.)  So it is possible a Mitchell ancestor was a man of stature.   A more recent origin could be the name Michael - (Hebrew for "He who is like God".)

Heraldry There have been no less than 24 different British coats of arms for the surname MITCHELL. Below is the arms of the MITCHELL families of Scotland. Many MITCHELL arms are similar to it. Although the fesse and muscles in this coat of arms may be represented in other arms as chevron and shells or swans, the two-bearings-over-one design seems a common theme.

Crest:  A stalk of wheat with three ears. Arms:  Sable a fesse between three muscles Or within a bordure chequy of the last and first.  (A black shield with a band between three diamond-shaped figures all of gold within a checkered border of gold and black.) Motto:  He is wise who is assiduous.

Tartans Another traditional means of identifying with one's ancestry is the tartan.  As long ago as 500 B.C., the Scots ancestors of Ireland wore a striped Roman-like tunic called a léine.  The more recognizable woolen tartan was not seen in Scotland until the 16th Century, but rapidly defined the clans and related families.  MITCHELL is not a clan, however there are two distinct tartans associated with the name.  One tartan is that of the Clan INNES, of which MITCHELL is considered a Sept.  The other tartan is a MITCHELL family tartan, which is shared with families HUNTER and RUSSELL, and the Clan GALBRAITH (this is the same pattern on the front page of All Things MITCHELL.)