Surname Massion - Meaning and Origin
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Massion: What does the surname Massion mean?
Mosion is a surname of French origin. It is derived from the word "mace" which means "hammer" in French. It could refer to a profession, such as a mace-maker or blacksmith, or a place, such as someone who lived near the site of an old smithy.
Macion is also a French surname. It is derived from the word macu, which means "horseman". It could mean a person was a horseman, either by profession or as a hobby, or it could refer to a place. It is likely that the bearer of the surname either lived near a stable or rode horses often.
The last name Massion appears to be a combination of Mosion and Macion. It could be a combination of a profession related to hammers and horses. Perhaps someone who made horseshoes or blacksmiths that worked specifically with the creation of horseshoes. It could also refer to a place where horses and blacksmithing were common activities.
Regardless of the origin of the surname, Massion is associated with French culture and likely originated in France. It is currently found most prominently in parts of Europe and North America.
Order DNA origin analysisMassion: Where does the name Massion come from?
The surname Massion, or its variant Mosion, is a rare family name that has declined in popularity in recent years. While the last name is derived from a French patronymic name, its origins have been lost over time, likely due to its low frequency. Its variant, Macion, is still commonplace in some parts of Europe and South America, but is almost unheard of in other parts of the world.
In France and other French-speaking countries, Massion and Macion are almost exclusively found in the Loire region of central France, mostly around the cities of Clermont-Ferrand and Roanne. Here, it is not uncommon to find various other Massion-derived or Macion-derived surnames, such as Massoin, Macoin, or even Massonnet.
In the Americas, Macion is particularly common among people of Spanish and Portuguese descent. It is in fact the 10th most common surname in Spain. In Argentina, the Macion surname is widespread, and is even found amongst the indigenous population, likely the result of inter-cultural marriages.
Although rare, the surname Massion has still been used in countries such as the United States, Canada, England, and Germany. However, its diminutive size and current decline in popularity make it even harder to track. Regardless, all of these names can serve as an important link to a shared French heritage, and, possibly, distant cousins.
Variations of the surname Massion
The surname Massion has a few variants, which slightly alter the spelling and pronunciation of the name. These include Mosion, Macion, Masion, Masin, Masen, Masone, Masson, and Macen. All of these variants are derived from the Old French word masse, meaning “land boundary”.
Mosion, Macion, Masion, and Masson are the most common spellings of the surname. These forms of the surname have likely developed due to regional pronunciation differences and phonetic spelling by those who were unfamiliar with the Old French language.
Massione is also a variant of the surname, which is more prominent in Italian families who originally immigrated from France. This spelling of the surname is likely to originate from merging the first part of the name with the suffix –ione, which is a typical Italian suffix for surnames.
Macen is another variant that is typically seen in families of English descent. This spelling is more likely to be derived from an Anglicized version of the Old French word that became common among English speakers in the late Middle Ages.
Overall, the surname Massion has many variant spellings, all of which are derived from a single Old French word. Despite the small changes in spelling, every spelling variant shares the same origin and meaning.
Famous people with the name Massion
- Joe Massion: musician and visual artist
- Oren Massion: scientist, neuroscience expert, and entrepreneur
- Troy Massion: professional racing driver
- Jean Massion: French sculptor
- Ser Piero Massion: Italian Renaissance diplomat and military engineer
- Fabien Massion: French basketball player
- Jeff Massion: American academic specializing in history
- Olivier Massion: French businessman and executive
- Jean-Pierre Massion: former French minister for Employment
- Gérard Massion: French Socialist politician and trade union leader