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ArchivesThe meaning of ''Makhaya"
I was given this name by my Grandfather who used to live in South Africa, he told my parents that the name means someone who unifies the vilaage or the people in a village.
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The word "kaya", with various spelling possibilities, means a house. In English we form the plural by adding -s to the end of a noun, but in Xhosa and many other African languages the plural is formed by adding a prefix, like Ma- of Ama-, to the beginning of the noun.
I asked my friend, who used to lecture in Nguni languages. This is his reply:
" ... naming techniques in African cultures could vary. The direct translation would be ‘the plural of – home’
"I suppose in this instance it could mean ‘the one who represents’ the entire family, clan, homestead, etc. If born out of polygamous family structure, or from a bigger family – could mean that all eyes were on him to represent the whole family.
"Safe to say these are just my views/opinions with no substance in this particular case, however, I cannot rule out any possibility in this regard."
I hope that helps you. Whatever "Makhaya" means, you have a fine namesake in Makhaya Ntini the cricketer.
I asked my friend, who used to lecture in Nguni languages. This is his reply:
" ... naming techniques in African cultures could vary. The direct translation would be ‘the plural of – home’
"I suppose in this instance it could mean ‘the one who represents’ the entire family, clan, homestead, etc. If born out of polygamous family structure, or from a bigger family – could mean that all eyes were on him to represent the whole family.
"Safe to say these are just my views/opinions with no substance in this particular case, however, I cannot rule out any possibility in this regard."
I hope that helps you. Whatever "Makhaya" means, you have a fine namesake in Makhaya Ntini the cricketer.
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Makhaya means 'rural areas',it is from the word ,'ikhaya' which means home, NOT a' house' meaning of house is ,'indlu'. Pronounced , like this,'makcayer'
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Makhaye and Makhaya inclunding similar spelling surname mean the sAme people where the second common ancestor is Deke and/or Shombela.
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I suppose i should agree with Anneza's opinion on the meaning of"Makhaya" for the reason that there is a denotative consencus in meaning that'khaya' is associated with home,and its plural that is known.Also it has a connotative meaning.What,may however be overlooked are variations of this surname like Makaye makhaye makaya mackaye and so on and so forth.Is there a necessity that these variants surname mean the same thing but in various forms.My cure would be to establish whether these variants surnames originally meant the same.
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They don't. Mackaye at the very least appears a variant of Scots Gaelic Mackay.
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http://www.behindthename.com/bb/fact/34464
(Quoting your post at you :-)
(Quoting your post at you :-)
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Your memory is better than mine, Tanmoy! Well done! And, nice to hear from you ...
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You should wait for other answers: but, with that meaning, it can be a name from North India whose pronunciation changed on its way.
mukha is a Sanskrit word (I do not know its deeper roots; but it is attested in the vedic literature, and is still in use) meaning mouth or face, and was used in many contexts to mean principal. mukhya was the adjective derived from that, which in Hindi and related languages gives mukhiyA meaning headman of a village. This person is the head of the village government, and so fits your meaning.
The -u- is short as in English put, the -i- is short as in English hit. the -A is long as in English car. The first short vowels may have shifted to schwa in pronounciation, and English usually represents that as an -a- (as in about). The -iy- shifting to -ay- I don't understand, unless it represents the sound in English may, i.e. the -i- backed into -e-
Or it may be a different word in a different language :-)
mukha is a Sanskrit word (I do not know its deeper roots; but it is attested in the vedic literature, and is still in use) meaning mouth or face, and was used in many contexts to mean principal. mukhya was the adjective derived from that, which in Hindi and related languages gives mukhiyA meaning headman of a village. This person is the head of the village government, and so fits your meaning.
The -u- is short as in English put, the -i- is short as in English hit. the -A is long as in English car. The first short vowels may have shifted to schwa in pronounciation, and English usually represents that as an -a- (as in about). The -iy- shifting to -ay- I don't understand, unless it represents the sound in English may, i.e. the -i- backed into -e-
Or it may be a different word in a different language :-)
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