Origin of the surname Matthai

This famous surname is recorded in over two hundred and fifty different spellings ranging from Mathieu of France to Macieiczyk of Poland. From medieval times it has been recorded in every part of Christendom. Its popularity throughout Europe first as a baptismal name and then later as a surname dates from the 11th century when Crusaders, otherwise known as the "Knights Templar", returning from one of their many expeditions to the Holy Land, gave it to their sons in commemoration of the fathers (unsuccessful) attempt to free Palestine from the Muslims.

The derivation is from the Hebrew male given name "Mattathiah" meaning "gift of the Lord", and it is recorded in the famous Norman-English Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Matthaeus' and in the French spelling 'Mathieu'. Neither of these recordings are surnames, but names of priests. Early examples of the surname recordings include Heinrich Matthaus of Uberlingen, Germany, in 1382, John Mathows of Whitby, England, in 1395, the patronymic Hugh Mathewman in the 1379 Poll Tax rolls of England, and a similar Clewi Mathisen of Freiburg, Germany, in the year 1475. Samuell Matthews was one of the earliest settlers in the New World of America. He is listed as 'living at the plantation by James Cittie' (Virginia), in February 1623. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alan Mathew, which was dated 1260, in the Assize Rolls of Cambridge, England. This was during the reign of King Henry 111, known by the nickname of 'The Frenchman', who reigned from 1216 to 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Matthai. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of matthai leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname matthai, and in addition to the original locations of matthai, we can find out where people with the surname matthai can currently be found.

The surname Matthai around the world

There is a considerable probability that matthai has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where matthai is most abundant are the following. The mobility of people carrying the surname matthai has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Matthai

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named matthai are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname matthai are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of matthai could be modified. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname matthai or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of matthai.

Notable Figures Named Matthai

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname matthai, even though not all have been documented to our present day. A surname like matthai can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname matthai who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Matthai and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname matthai, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname matthai, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of matthai, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Matthai