Michell surname - pronunciation?

[gandolf]

I was wondering if our Cornish locals could advise on the correct pronunciation of the surname Michell?

I have been tracking a family (Quick/Hollow descendants) who appear on Cornish census records in 1841 & 1851 with the surname of Michell.

They move to Victoria, Australia in the early 1850's, almost certainly chasing gold. Once in Victoria the surname becomes Mitchell and stays that way.

So is the Cornish pronunciation of Michell like Mitchell or like Michael?

[Cornish Terrier]

To my knowledge it is just as we pronounce Mitchell.

The usual pronunciation of Cornish names is with the emphasis on the second syllable however there were, I believe, some exceptions.

The following is copied from part of the introduction to the Early Madron Registers:-

Thanks to the imperfect but phonetic spelling of the period, it is easy to determine how the names of

persons and places were then pronounced ; and, since there is a tendency to disguise the sound of our
Comish names in such a manner that we do not know them with their foreign ring, it is well that we
have some means of refreshing our memories with the original pronunciation. As a rule in all Cornish
names the accent is laid on the second syllable in words of tn-o syllables, and on the next to the last in

words of more than two. There are some exceptions, but, for the most part, names, differently accentuated
by the inhabitants of the more remote districts, are not essentially Cornish.

Hope that helps.

[tonymitch]

My family were listed as Michel/Michell/Mychel and variations on a theme. Today we are Mitchell.

I was intrigued to learn of the stress being placed upon the last syllable which was how all my family pronounced our name. However my children insist on putting the emphasis on the first syllable and claim not to understand or even hear the difference. I have tried a variety of punishments including forcing them to watch 'Home and Away' but to no avail....they still put the stress upon the first syllable. What can I do???

[trencrom]

Excellent question gandolf.
I have seen the name given in Cornish parish registers as both "Michell" and "Mitchell". That variation I think answers the question.
One of the really good things about the spelling variations we encounter in earlier records is precisely the way it can be a guide to pronounciation.
On the subject of which syllable is stressed, yes the general rule is the second syllable but there are a number of exceptions.
I've have noticed incidentally that pronounciation of some place names has changed over the centuries. It would be interesting to see whether that has happned with surnames as well. I am aware of this with some of my non-Cornish lines but have not seen it with Cornish ones so far.

Trencrom

[trencrom]

Oct 28, 2008 19:41:15 GMT -5 trencrom said:

.... pronounciation of some place names has changed over the centuries. It would be interesting to see whether that has happned with surnames as well. I am aware of this with some of my non-Cornish lines but have not seen it with Cornish ones so far.

In saying that I should add that I am not here talking about cases where the surname has contracted, eg "Bennatts" going to "Bennett" or "Safeguard" to "Guard",

Trencrom