Origin of the surname Matthew

This famous surname derived from Mattathiah 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 origination 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 Matthew. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of matthew leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname matthew is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Matthew around the world

There is a considerable probability that matthew 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 matthew is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname matthew provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Matthew

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 matthew are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname matthew, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of matthew developed.

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 matthew could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about matthew and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Matthew

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname matthew, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname matthew were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.

The surname Matthew and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname matthew, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of matthew are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.

SOURCES

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

Origin of Matthew