MACEY
The surname Macey is situated within the British Isles, with its earliest established presence in England. It is traditionally associated with Christian families and has been borne by individuals of English descent.
One explanation for the origin of the name is that it evolved from the medieval given name Matthew, itself derived from the Hebrew Matityahu, meaning gift of Yahweh. Consequently, the surname may be interpreted as a patronymic signifying descent from an ancestor whose given name was Matthew.
Alternatively, Macey may find its roots in the Old French word masse, translating to mace or club. In this sense the surname could have been a nickname for a person who employed such a weapon or whose appearance was reminiscent of a club‑like object.
Another possible derivation is locational, linking the name to several placenames in northern France, such as Macey in La Manche, Massy in Seine‑Inferieure, and Marcy, also in La Manche. When inhabitants of these places migrated to England, they were identified by the name of their birthplace, resulting in the surname Macey.
Documentary evidence for the surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where a Ralph Masci is recorded under the name Masci – the first known spelling. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Suffolk in 1275 under the form Alan Macy, and there are further instances such as Grace Macey christened at St. Michael Cornhill in London on 10 December 1581, and John Macy christened at St. Margaret’s Westminster on 16 May 1627.
Over the centuries the surname has been documented in a number of variants, including Macey, Macy, Maycey, Mascey, Massey, Massie, and Massy. These variations reflect the natural evolution of spelling in an era before standardised orthography.
In heraldic tradition, a coat of arms has been granted to the family. The blazon describes a blue field charged with a silver chevron between two gold mullets pierced, and in chief a gold gauntlet supporting a mace. This imagery symbolises the martial or protective associations suggested by the name’s possible derivations.
Typical given names associated with the Macey surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Elaine
- Emma
- Jane
- Janet
- Lisa
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Macey in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 3,344 people named Macey in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,722nd most common surname in Britain. Around 51 in a million people in Britain are named Macey.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Macey
- Matt Macey - Football player
- Dean Macey - Decathlete
- David Macey - Historian and translator (1949 to 2011)
- John Macey - Football goalkeeper
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.