Machado is a surname of Portuguese and Spanish origin meaning the word "axe" or "hatchet" dating back to approximately 2nd century Europe. It is commonly found in Portugal, Spain, Brazil and Latin America, and India (southern Tamil Nadu) due to the Portuguese and Spanish colonization during the age of discovery. It can also be found in Macao, China and several former Portuguese territories in Africa. Machado meaning axe. In Aramaic Makkaba and Modern Hebrew Makebet – also spelled Machabees – it is the surname of Judas Machabee, that was later extended to all the descendants of Matityahu ben Yoḥanan HaKohen, head of the Hasmonean family, who had five sons. The Jewish Encyclopedia records five hatchets in the Coat of Arms for the Machado surname. In Italy, the surname may be associated with Jewish heritage, particularly in Genova; Jews are attested in Genova since Roman times, and the surname is one of the most frequent found in documents from Genova’s Synagogue. The Machados in India were populated after the conversion of Paravar race of Tuticorin (District of Tamil Nadu in India) to Catholicism by the Portuguese in the year 1532, a few years after they began trading in India.
The word machado means axe in Portuguese.
