Family name origins & meanings
- Arabic and Muslim (found in the Indian subcontinent as well as in the Arab world) : from a personal name based on Arabic masị̄h ‘Messiah’. It is sometimes found in combinations such as ‛Abd-ul Masị̄h ‘servant of the Messiah’. It is used by Christians as well as Muslims. ‛Isa (Jesus) is mentioned as the Messiah and a Prophet in the Qur’an (4:171).