Surname Muice - Meaning and Origin
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Muice: What does the surname Muice mean?
The last name Muice is of Scottish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic phrase "mhuice," which means "mouse." The name originated as a nickname given to someone who was small and quiet, or shrewd and nimble like a mouse. In modern times, Muice is mainly associated with the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides Islands of Scotland.
In 19th century Scotland, the name Muice was most commonly found on this island. It was during this period that the first members of this important family name settled in the region. Other members of the Muice family made their way to the mainland of Scotland and to the country's outlying islands as well.
The islanders of Lewis have had strong familial ties for generations and the Muice family is an important part of the island's culture. As leaders in local fishing and farming, they have played an integral role in the development of the island. Additionally, several members of the Muice family have gone on to become prominent business leaders in Scotland.
To this day, the name Muice still stands for loyalty, energy, and innovation. Whether it's in the small close-knit community of the Isle of Lewis, or in the busy cities of Scotland, the name Muice is held in high regard and represents a sense of pride for its many descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisMuice: Where does the name Muice come from?
The last name Muice is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it is still relatively common today. It was first recorded in the mid-14th century and is thought to derive from Mathus, a personal or family name. The spelling of Muice was later anglicised from the original Gaelic spelling, MacMathus, and the Navar spelling, McMhuise.
More recently, the Muice surname has spread to other countries including Australia, the United States, Canada, Germany and Ireland. According to records, the highest concentration of Muice families has been found in Scotland, followed by Australia and the United States.
This leads to the conclusion that the most likely place of origin for the last name Muice is Scotland. Due to the family having numerous branches, settlements have been spread throughout typical areas of Celtic habitation – from the Scottish Borders south to England and north into the Western Isles.
Today, most versions of this surname are still concentrated in their traditional geographic area, however migration has spread it further. It can be found throughout the United Kingdom, North America, Australia and Europe.
Variations of the surname Muice
The surname Muice has a handful of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Muice is a variation of the Gaelic Irish surname 'Muc' which is derived from the Gaelic elements ‘muic’ meaning ‘porc’ or ‘pig’ or ‘swine’ and 'mac’ meaning ‘son of’.
The most common variation of the name is Moxey. Other variants of the name include Moys, Moxes, Makee, Muckia, Mooks, Macmoxey, Macmoxes, Macmoise, Moise, and Macmuke. Spellings of the name in its various forms can be quite inconsistent, with records often giving different versions of the same name from successive generations of the same family.
Moxey is also a common variant of the name which is found mainly in England and Wales. In Scotland, variants such as Moise, Moxey, and Moxleys are more common, while in Ireland, the more popular forms are Makey and Moxes. In the United States, the surname is mostly seen as Macmoxey or Macmoxes, an anglicized variant of the Gaelic original.
In other cultures, the name is sometimes spelled differently. For example, in some Scandinavian languages the vowel in the last syllable of the name is pronounced as an 'u' rather than an 'o'. So the surname is commonly written as Muice in Sweden and Norway. In Germany, the name is often spelled as Meuß or Mues.
Overall, the surname Muice has a range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin due to its Gaelic roots. These variants, spellings, and surnames demonstrate the different ways the same name has been adapted over the centuries to fit different cultures, languages, and places around the world.
Famous people with the name Muice
- Senator Don Muice, a Republican member in the Iowa Senate.
- Charles Muice, a Zulu chief who helped secure the British victory of Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
- Kasdorf Muice, a cosmetics entrepreneur who founded the beauty brand K-Polish.
- May Muice, a multi-award winning artist famous for her landscapes of the African wild.
- Poncho Muice, a Grammy-nominated rapper and songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia.
- Piers Muice, a leading American neuroscientist in the field of brain science.
- Stephen Muice, the first African American to receive a doctoral degree in nuclear engineering.
- Samuel Muice, a renowned South African sculptor and gallery owner.
- Richard Muice, a prominent Texan lawyer, attorney, author and radio personality.
- Tory Muice, a Canadian Olympic athlete who competed in track and field.