Surname Matthews - Meaning and Origin
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An Enlightening Journey Through My Matthews History with iGENEA DNA Analysis
Embarking upon a DNA analysis journey with iGENEA, I uncovered the Celtic roots and diverse history of my Matthews lineage. The journey uplifted my understanding of my heritage by tracing it back thousands of years, casting in a new light our family traits and history.
R. Matthews
read moreMatthews: What does the surname Matthews mean?
The surname Matthews is of early medieval English origin and is patronymic, meaning it is derived from the personal name of a father or male ancestor. It comes from the given name Matthew, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name "Matityahu" meaning "Gift of God". The "s" at the end indicates "son of", hence Matthews means "son of Matthew". This surname was often given to the first son of a man named Matthew. It became popular after the 12th century in Europe due to the biblical apostle Matthew who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and also the author of the first Gospel in the New Testament. Common variations of the surname include Mathews, Mathewes, and Matthaus.
Order DNA origin analysisMatthews: Where does the name Matthews come from?
The surname Matthews is of English origin, derived from the Hebrew given name Matityahu, meaning "gift of God". It was introduced into England by the Normans in the form "Mathieu" after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Later it adopted the Anglicized form of "Matthew". When surnames became common during the Middle Ages, "Matthew's son" was often shortened to Matthews. Today, the name is common in countries where English is spoken, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. It is a particularly prevalent surname in the U.S. and the U.K, appearing frequently among their respective most common surnames lists. The surname has different spellings which include Mathews, Matthew, Mathew, etc, depending on individual or regional preference.
Variations of the surname Matthews
The surname Matthews, derived from the Hebrew personal name 'Mattityahu', meaning "gift of Jehovah", is of English origin. Variants of this surname include Matthew, Matthias, Mathis, Mathieson, and Matthys. Rare variants noted are Mathes, Mathe, Matthieu, Mathieu, Mathey, Matheu, Mattheus, and Mathesius.
Different spellings of the surname Matthews have evolved over time due to regional accents, literacy level, and cultural differences. These alternative spellings include Mathews, Mathew, Mathies, Mathes, Mattews, Matthai, and Matheu.
Other surname forms with the same origin include Matus, Matson, Matthes, Matthiessen (primarily used in Germany), Mateus (Portugal), Mateo (Spain), and Matiovich (Croatia). In Wales, ap Matthew was used meaning "son of Matthew" which later evolved into surnames like Powell, Pritchard, and Bowen.
Certain Scottish and Irish Gaelic forms like MacMahon, meaning "son of Matthew", and variants McMahon, Mahon, and Vaughn also share origins with Matthews. In Hebrew culture, it’s found as Matis or Matityahu.
The Matthews surname may also be written in a non-Latin script for people of non-English speaking countries, leading to additional spelling variants.
Famous people with the name Matthews
- Dave Matthews: South African-born American singer, songwriter, musician, actor and record label owner, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band.
- Chris Matthews: American political commentator, talk show host, and author. Matthews is known for his nightly hour-long talk show, Hardball with Chris Matthews.
- Hayley Matthews: Barbadian cricketer and footballer.
- Raine Spencer, Countess Spencer (née McCorquodale; formerly, Lady Dartmouth, born Raine Matthews): British socialite and local politician.
- Bernie Matthews: Australian convicted bank robber and writer.
- Jordan Matthews: American former professional football player.
- Stanley Matthews: British footballer, often regarded as one of the greatest players of the British game.
- Spencer Matthews: British socialite, reality TV star and author known for his role in the TV show, Made in Chelsea.
- Jessie Matthews: English actress, dancer, and singer known for her roles in several big-screen musicals in the 1930s.
- Clay Matthews III: American former professional football player.
- Matthews Asia: American Investment Management firm.
- Scott Matthews: English singer-songwriter.
- Lisa Matthews: American model and actress, Playboy Playmate of the Year 1991.
- Bessie Matthews: British stage actress and singer.
- Auston Matthews: American professional ice hockey player.