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MOT = Member of The Tribe.

It's a good-natured way in which Jews refer to each other. It's a reference to the 12 tribes of Israel, of which only 2 still survive - the Kohane and the Levis. Unlike Jewishness, which is passed through the mother, tribe affiliation is passed through the father. My paternal grandmother was a Levi, but since my paternal grandfather wasn't, then neither is my father or myself.

Those who aren't affiliated with the two remaining tribes are known collectively as "Israel."

Although last names for Jews are a relatively new thing (our Hebrew names are simply our "name" ben/bat (son/daughter) of our "father's name"), there are some distinctly Jewish surnames that come from tribal affiliation, such as Cohen (Kahane), Levine, etc.

Sorry to be so long winded!

Maven
Whose Hebrew name is Miriam Pia bat Menasha.