The curious name Micheaux surfaced in the U.S. baby name data for two years during the 1980s:
- 1985: unlisted
- 1984: 5 baby boys named Micheaux
- 1983: 16 baby boys named Micheaux (debut)
- 1982: unlisted
- 1981: unlisted
Why?
Because of college basketball player Larry Micheaux (pronounced MEE-shaw).
Micheaux was a member of the University of Houston’s successful “Phi Slama Jama” teams of the early 1980s. His teammates included future NBA stars Akeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.
During his last two years of college, Micheaux helped the Houston Cougars reach the NCAA Final Four (in 1982) and the NCAA National Championship Game (in 1983).
(In 1982, Houston lost to the North Carolina Tar Heels, featuring freshman phenom Michael Jordan, in the semifinals. The following year, after memorably defeating the Louisville Cardinals, a.k.a. the “Doctors of Dunk,” in the semifinals, Houston was upset by the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the championship game.)
Micheaux played in the NBA for a couple of seasons after college, but spent most of his professional career in Europe.
The French surname Micheaux can be traced back to the personal name Michel, which is the French form of Michael.
What are your thoughts on Micheaux as a first name?
Sources:
- Larry Micheaux – Wikipedia
- Phi Slama Jama – Wikipedia
- Weintraub, Robert. “Jamfest for the Ages.” ESPN E-Ticket 29 Mar. 2007.
- Hanks, Patrick. (Ed.) Dictionary of American Family Names. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
- SSA
Image: Screenshot of Larry Micheaux during the 1983 NCAA Championship Game
