Surname Moccabee - Meaning and Origin
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Moccabee: What does the surname Moccabee mean?
The last name Moccabee is of British origin, and is derived from the biblical city of Maccabees. This city was the site of a Jewish revolt during the time of the Seleucid Empire, and the leader of the revolt was Mattathias, whose five sons became known as the Maccabees.
The origin of the name Maccabee can be traced back to the Hebrew term, meaning "hammer." Alternatively, it could derive from the Akkadian term meaning "warrior". Either way, the name became associated with courage, bravery, and leadership, providing an apt surname for members of the Jewish faith.
The surname also holds a religious significance, acting as a reminder of a successful revolt against an oppressive regime. The Maccabees are often seen as having restored religious freedom and independence in Judea, and bestowed a sense of pride among Jewish people of the time.
Many of the Jewish families who adopted the last name Moccabee would likely have done so in recognition of their faith and ancestry. It is likely that they were proud to carry a name that was more than just a surname, but rather, that it was a symbol of religious pride. As such, the last name Moccabee is a testament to the Jewish faith, the resilience of the Maccabees, and the importance of standing up for religious freedoms.
Order DNA origin analysisMoccabee: Where does the name Moccabee come from?
The surname Moccabee is primarily found today in the United States, particularly in the tri-state region of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. It is possible to find individuals with this surname scattered throughout the rest of the United States as well as in many other countries around the world, including Canada, Israel, Germany, France, and Portugal.
This surname, which derives from the Hebrew word meaning "hammer" or "smasher," is associated with a biblical family of Kohathite priests descended from Moses and Aaron. The book of 1 Chronicles contains a story that explains the origin of the surname: When Moses bore a rod that had been encased in an almond tree and threw it on the ground, the rod broke in two and the fractured portion took the form of a hammer or mace. To commemorate this event, the priests of the line of Levi were referred to as moccabee, or "hammer."
The surname Moccabee was first found in the United States during the 17th century. Additional immigration waves in the 19th and early 20th centuries further diversified the spread of this surname. It is believed that the Moccabee family in America are primarily descended from the Sephardic Jews and the Ashkenazi Jews who were two of the major waves of Jewish immigrants who arrived in the United States from eastern Europe.
Today, the Moccabees are an active and vibrant Jewish family, contributing to their local communities throughout the United States and in other countries around the world. This memorable name carries with it centuries of Jewish heritage and tradition, lending an additional level of significance to the lives of those who bear and proudly cherish its name.
Variations of the surname Moccabee
The surname Moccabee has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The surname is derived from the Hebrew name Mocca, meaning "messenger", and is likely a patronymic surname as it would indicate the person is the son of a Mocca.
The standard spelling of Moccabee is usually Mocabee, Mokabee, Makabee, Makabi and Makoby. These variations are based slightly on the various transliterations of the original Hebrew name.
The surname has seen more modern spellings and variations, which follow an anglicized form of the name, such as Moca-Bee, Moksbee, and Mokaberry.
The Anglicized variations of this name are not exclusive to the English language, as many European countries adopted similar changes, such as Maccabee in Scotland, Makabey in Germany, Makabei in France, and Makabey in Denmark.
Other Anglicized spellings of Moccabee are Makaby, Machabey, Mokesby, Muchabe, and Mokasby.
Moccabee also has spellings which are related to the spelling of the name of Maccabaeus, a Jewish priest who led a rebellion against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BC. Such variants of the name include Moccabee, Makobe, and Makoba.
All in all, the surname Moccabee has a diverse array of Anglicized and transliterated variants, as well as related spellings from Maccabaeus.
Famous people with the name Moccabee
- Pete Moccabee: American Musician and Songwriter
- Jan Moccabee: Actress and Voiceover Artist
- Christopher Moccabee: Austrian Actor
- Kaitlyn Moccabee: Professional MMA Fighter
- Daniel Moccabee: Film Producer and Special Effects Artist
- Tyler Moccabee: Professional Hockey Player
- Ryan Moccabee: Global Entrepreneur and Investor
- Stephen Moccabee: Emmy Award-Winning Cinematographer
- Benjamin Moccabee: Food Industry Leader and Philanthropist
- Simon Moccabee: Online Poker Player and Professional Gamer