The Portuguese surname Machado is of nickname origin deriving from the Portuguese word machado meaning an "axe." Legend has it that in medieval Portugal in 1147, after the Moors had taken the castle at Santarem, the Portuguese attacked the castle. Mendo Moniz and his two sons Pedro and Nono Mendes beat down the door with their axes and were the first to enter the castle. In honor of the valiant deed one of Pedro's sons, Martim Pires, was called Machado as a nickname which was then adopted as the surname. Martim Pires lived during the reign of Alfonso II (1152-1196).
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