MATTHEW
Matthew is a surname that can be traced back to the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which translates as “gift of Yahweh” or “gift of God.” The name entered the English language through early Christian usage, owing to its association with one of the twelve apostles traditionally credited with authoring the first Gospel.
The surname is patronymic in nature, recognising the descendants of a man who bore the given name Matthew. Such a construction was common in medieval England and other parts of Europe, where surnames were often formed by adding a suffix or by simply using the forename of a prominent ancestor.
Documentary evidence of the name dates from the Norman period. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the Latinised form Matthaeus appears, alongside the French spelling Mathieu. By 1260 a man named Alan Mathew is recorded in the Assize Rolls of Cambridge, confirming the use of the name as a family designation. Subsequent medieval records include Heinrich Matthaus in 1382 (Germany), John Mathows of Whitby, England in 1395, Hugh Mathewman in the 1379 poll‑tax rolls of England, and Clewi Mathisen of Freiburg, Germany in 1475. The earliest known American bearers of the name are shown in a 1623 Virginia plantation record where Samuel Matthews is listed as a settler.
Throughout the Middle Ages the name spread across Christendom. From its biblical roots it gained popularity as both a baptismal name and a hereditary surname, especially in the 11th and 12th centuries when returning Crusaders and their families christened their offspring in commemoration of their religious undertakings.
In contemporary usage the surname Matthew remains common in English‑speaking countries. In the United Kingdom it is the forty‑third most frequent surname, with over 58 000 recorded bearers; the majority live in Kent, Essex and London. In the United States it is similarly widespread, especially in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Georgia. Australian records list Mathew as the twenty‑fourth most common surname, with significant populations in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. In Canada it ranks thirtieth, predominantly in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, while in New Zealand it appears as the twenty‑third most common name, notably in Auckland and Wellington.
The name is robustly characterised by a wide array of spelling variants. Common forms include Matthews, Mathews, Mattis and Matiou; foreign equivalents consist of the French Mathieu, the Spanish Mateo and the Italian Matteo. Hyphenated styles such as Mat-thew or Mat-theus are occasionally employed, particularly in genealogical documents. The frequency of use and the presence of these variants attest to the surname’s long‑standing appeal across linguistic borders.
Thus the surname Matthew encapsulates a rich etymological heritage and enduring cultural significance, reflecting both its ancient Hebrew roots and its sustained prominence within the modern English‑speaking world.
Typical given names associated with the Matthew surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Anne
- Charmaine
- Elizabeth
- Jennifer
- Karen
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Maddy
- Maith
- Math
- Mathe
- Mathea
- Mathee
- Mathen
- Mathes
- Matheu
- Matheus
- Mathew
- Mathewes
- Mathews
- Mathey
- Mathhews
- Mathie
- Mathieson
- Mathieu
- Mathiew
- Mathoo
- Mathu
- Mathue
- Mathues
- Mathus
- Matte
- Mattew
- Mattews
- Matthaei
- Matthai
- Matthay
- Mattheas
- Matthee
- Matthees
- Mattheis
- Matthen
- Matthens
- Mattheou
- Matthes
- Mattheus
- Matthewes
- Matthewman
- Matthews
- Matthewson
- Matthey
- Mattheys
- Matthiae
- Matthie
- Matthies
- Matthieu
- Matthouse
- Matthus
- Matthwes
- Matthws
- Matthy
- Mattthews
- Matty
- Mauthew
- Maythew
- Methe
- Methew
- Methews
- Metthews
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Matthew in...
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There are approximately 3,954 people named Matthew in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,362nd most common surname in Britain. Around 61 in a million people in Britain are named Matthew.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Matthew
- Brian Matthew - Broadcaster (1928 to 2017)
- Catriona Matthew - Golfer
- Colin Matthew - Historian (1941 to 1999)
- Matthew - Electronic music artist and DJ
- Damian Matthew - Football player
- Andy Matthew - Scottish football player and manager (1932 to 1992)
- Matthew - Athlete
- Arthur Gordon Matthew - Army officer (1898 to 1947)
- Harry Matthew - Football player (1870 to 1956)
- Matthew - -New Zealand rugby union football player
- Matthew - Rower (1948 to 2015)
- Tobie Matthew - (1577 to 1655)
- Christopher Matthew - Writer and broadcaster
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.