Surname Moses - Meaning and Origin
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Moses: What does the surname Moses mean?
The surname Moses is of biblical origin, derived from the Hebrew name Moshe. The name Moses is related to the Hebrew word mashah, which means to "draw out" or "to lift out". This refers to the story of baby Moses being found in the bulrushes by the Egyptian princess in the Book of Exodus. The name is thus symbolic, reflecting the significant role Moses played in leading the Israelites out of Egypt. However, there's also an interpretation that suggests the name Moses could mean "son of", since it's similar to Egyptian names like Ramses and Thutmose, where "ses" or "mose" means "son of". However, the most accepted meaning is "drawn out". Today, Moses is a common surname and given name among people of various cultures and religions, including those of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. Its popularity as a name and surname has been sustained by this religious and historical significance.
Order DNA origin analysisMoses: Where does the name Moses come from?
The last name Moses is most commonly found among Jewish families, but can also be found among Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and even atheists all around the world.
The surname Moses can trace its origin back to ancient times from the Hebrew bible and the prophet Moses, whom God chose to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. From this, it has become well-known to Christian, Jewish, and Muslim families around the world.
In the United States, Moses is the 1,566th most common surname and is most common in the South and the Midwest. According to the 2017 US Census, it is most common in the states of Florida (1 in 10,954), Georgia (1 in 10,741) and Delaware (1 in 12,809). Other countries that it can be commonly found in are Canada, Mexico, England, India, France, Germany, and Israel.
The last name is also popular among celebrities, musicians, and athletes, such as Albert Moses, Zikora Mosay Andoh, Juliana Moses, and tennis player Amos Moses.
Even though the name itself is thousands of years old, it is still a popular and well-known surname in many nations around the world.
Variations of the surname Moses
The surname Moses is of Jewish origin and has many variants. Spellings of the surname include Moshe, Mozes, Mozus, Mozhyshyn, Mosheh, Moishe, Moshele, and Moshewitz. Common surnames derived from Moses include Moise, Moseson, Moskovici, Moszkowski, Mozer, Moscovitz, and Mosca.
Moses is also an Anglicized form of the Irish surname MacMahon, which is derived from the Gaelic Mac Mathghamhna, which means “son of the bear”. Some derivatives of the surname MacMahon include MacMahan, MacMohan, MacM logue, and MacMahon.
In Germany, the surname Mozinsky or Moschinski is derived from Moses. It is an Ashkenazic Jewish name, originally used as a nickname for a theological student.
The Russian version of the surname Moses is Moiseenko or Moiseyenko. Sometimes it is spelled Moiseyev.
The Hebrew masculine name Moshe is sometimes spelled Mosheh and is derived from the biblical figure, Moses. It is popular among Jewish men, and is sometimes used as a surname.
In Arabic speaking countries, Moses is spelled Musa. This spelling is also used in Persia, and is often abbreviated to Mss or Mousa.
Surnames derived from the biblical name Moses are popular all over the world, especially among Jewish families. Variants of the surname are found in English-speaking and non-English speaking countries, to reflect the various pronunciations and spellings of the surname over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Moses
- Bob Moses: Canadian composer, performer, and producer.
- Jerry Lee Lewis: Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame singer and pianist.
- Margaret Moses: American Olympian and figure skater.
- David Moses: Former NBA player.
- Marshall Moses: Former NBA player.
- Vicki Moses: American Paralympic cyclist.
- Steve Moses: American professional ice hockey player.
- Icona Pop: Swedish duo consisting of Caroline Hjelt and Aino Jawo.
- Debbie Moses: American producer and director.
- Kool G Rap: American rapper.
- Matisyahu Moses: American reggae vocalist.
- Idan Raichel: Israeli singer-songwriter and musician.
- Daniel Moses: Thai tennis player.
- Isaac Moses: Australian bare knuckle boxer.
- Sandra Moses: British tennis player.
- Joan Moses: American actor, writer, and producer.
- Aaron Moses: American actor.
- Isaac Edward Moses: Israeli sculptor.
- Cherie Moses: American country and western singer.
- Joan Micklin Silver: American film director and producer.