Macias or more commonly Macías, is a Spanish surname found to varying degrees in Europe and Latin America. Within Spain, it can be found in the northwestern regions of Spain, specifically Galicia and Leon.

There is no singular theory as to the origin of Macías. A long-standing argument over its origin revolves around whether or not it is of a Sephardi origin. Some argue that Macías originates from the Spanish version of the Hebraic term for the Messiah, while others hold that Macías (pronounced Ma-thi-as within Spain) actually is the Spanish version of the Biblical name, Matias or Matthew. Given that the Sephardim used surnames that were in many cases identical to those of their Gentile neighbors, it can be reasoned that certain Macías members were Sephardi without the surname Macias being exclusively Sephardi.

Some variations of Macias include Masias, Masías, Matias, Matías, Mathias, Mathías, Massias, Massías, Mesias, Mesías.

References

Woodardward, John. A Treatise in Heraldry: British and Foreign, with English and French Glossaries. London: W. & A. K. Johnston, 1896. p. 403.

People with surname

• Manuel Macías y Casado, Spanish general, governor of Puerto Rico
• Macías O Namorado (Macías the Enamoured), a 14th Century Galician troubadour