It originated when an immigrant family named Michelet came to New York from Northern France. Because they had a foreign surname, they made up the names Mickley and Michelin. The originator was Jean Jacques Michelet (John Jacob Mickley), a private in the Revolutionary War. He is known for saving the Liberty Bell in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1776. There was a small town named Mickley, Pennsylvania in the 1800's.
It comes the French name Michelet, which comes from the name Michael, as in the angel. Namesakes: John Jacob Mickley (Revolutionary War hero from Pennsylvania)
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