Machado is a surname commonly found in Spain, Latin America, Portugal, India (southern Tamil Nadu) and Brazil, derived from Latin (Marculatum) 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. Jewish Encyclopedia reveals faithfully five hammers hatchets for this Coat of Arm family’s surname. The surname may be associated with Jewish background as listed in Archivio di Stato di Genova, Comunità Israelitica di Genova. (State Arquives of Genova – Israelite Community of Genova). Jews are attested in Genova since Roman times. Two letters written in the years 507 and 511 by Theodoric, the Ostrogothian king, speak about "jura veterum" (old rights) of the Jews and the right to "rebuild" the roof of the synagogue given to the Jews of Genova. This surname is one of the most frequent found in documents from Genova’s Synagogue (Italy).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.
Notable people with the surname include:
Alicia Machado, Venezuelan Miss UniverseAnderson Machado, United States baseball playerAntonio Machado, Spanish poetBernardino Machado, Portuguese statesmanCelso Machado, Brazilian musician and composerChina Machado, fashion model, editor, television producerCristian Machado, Brazilian heavy metal singerDjair Baptista Machado, Brazilian footballerFélix Machado, Venezuelan boxerGerardo Machado, Cuban independence hero and politicianGustavo Machado, Venezuelan politicianHonorio Machado, Venezuelan racing cyclistIsrael Machado, Brazilian basketball playerJoaquim Maria Machado de Assis, Brazilian writerJ. P. Machado, American football playerJulio Machado, Venezuelan baseball playerJustina Machado, United States actressLeandro Machado, Brazilian footballerLeandro Ruiz Machado, Brazilian water polo playerLuis Alberto Machado, Venezuelan Minister of IntelligenceManny Machado, United States baseball playerManuel Machado, Spanish writerMarcelo Machado, Brazilian basketball playerMaría Corina Machado, Venezuelan politicianOctávio Machado, Portuguese footballer and coachPaulo Machado, Portuguese footballerPriscila Machado, Miss Brazil 2011Rob Machado, United States surferRobert Machado, Venezuelan baseball playerRod Machado, United States pilotRui Machado, Portuguese tennis playerTeresa Machado, Portuguese Olympic athleteTiago Machado, Portuguese road racing cyclistTina Machado, American businesswoman and Miss Hawaii USA 1985The Machado brothers, Brazilian jiu-jitsu teachers and competitorsRigan MachadoCarlos MachadoJean Jacques MachadoJoaquim Germano Pinto Machado Correia da Silva, Portuguese Governor of Macau