Surname Macabee - Meaning and Origin
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Macabee: What does the surname Macabee mean?
The last name Macabee is of Gaelic origin and is derived from the Gaelic name Mac an Aba, meaning "son of the abbot." This name was often given to the actual sons of abbots, but it could also be awarded metaphorically to those who were considered spiritual sons of the church or who had a close relationship with a particular abbot. Over time, the name was anglicized to Macabee. The name is traditionally associated with Scotland, particularly the regions of Kirkcudbrightshire and Galloway. The famous historical figures known as the Maccabees, Jewish rebel warriors from the 2nd century BC, have a different origin for their name, which is not related to the Scottish surname.
The Macabe surname can also be of Jewish origin, referring to the Maccabees who led a Jewish revolt against the Seleucid Empire. The term Maccabee is believed to derive from the Hebrew word "maqqabi," meaning "hammer" and was a title of honor given to the leader of the revolt, Judah, and later to his brothers as well. The name Maccabee has thus come to be associated with strength, resilience, and resistance. Note that the spelling Macabee and Maccabee can be used interchangeably.
Order DNA origin analysisMacabee: Where does the name Macabee come from?
The surname Macabee is of Scottish origin. The name is derived from the Gaelic "Mac an Aba," translated as "the son of the abbot." The Macabees were a historical Scottish clan hailing from the region of Argyll on the west coast of Scotland. Like many Scottish surnames, the name was born out of the traditional practice of identifying individuals based on their father's profession. In this case, an individual named Macabee would historically have been the son of an abbott.
The surname Macabee is not very common, but a fair number of individuals with this surname can still be found in Scotland. Additionally, due to the historical emigration of Scots around the world, especially to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, individuals bearing this surname can likely be found in these countries as well. Please note that the name's spelling can vary considerably, owing to shifts in spelling conventions over the centuries. Variants can include MacAlpe, MacAlpy, MacAlbie, Maccabee, and others.
Variations of the surname Macabee
The surname Macabee appears to have Scottish or Irish origins. It may also stem from the name Maccabee, a nickname given to Judas Maccabeus, a Jewish leader who resisted Greek-Syrian rule in the 2nd century BC. The name Maccabee supposedly means "hammer" in Hebrew, which could signify strength or determination.
There are various ways that the surname Macabee might be spelled due to differences in language, culture, or simply transcription errors over time. These could include spellings such as: Maccabee, MacAbbee, Maccaby, Macabie, Mcabee, Mccabee, Makabee, and MacAbie.
There may also be different variations of the surname based on region and dialect. For example, in Ireland, the equivalent surname might be rendered as Mac an Bháird, which translates to "son of the bard" in English.
In Scotland, especially in the region of Argyll and the Isles, surnames beginning with 'Mac' are common and imply "son of". Therefore, Macabee might be a variation of a more common Scottish surname, such as Macabre or MacAboy.
Lastly, the name could have changed over time due to migration and anglicization. For instance, Maccabeus, another version of Maccabee, might have become Macabee over time.
Famous people with the name Macabee
- Uri Macabee: Israeli football player and manager.
- Sheba Macabee: Congolese actress
- King Mattathias Macabee: Leader of the Jewish revolt against the Syrian Greeks in the 2nd century BCE
- Shimon Macabee: 11th century BCE biblical ruler of Israel
- Jonathan Macabee: Israeli musician
- Moishe Macabee: Israeli actor
- Captain Judah Macabee: US army officer
- Paul Macabee: French professional football player
- Hugh Macabee: American actor
- Michael Macabee: American farmer and politician