Surname Matthias - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the origins of my family name Matthias through a DNA analysis at iGENEA: Journey Into My Ancestral Past
Taking a leap to understand the intimate story of my family name Matthias led me to the doorsteps of iGENEA. Expanding my comprehension of my name and its origins, the DNA analysis brought me face to face with a fascinating interplay of cultures, languages and movements across continents. The path to my roots unraveled infusing me with a new sense of identity.
W. Matthias
read moreMatthias: What does the surname Matthias mean?
The surname Matthias is a Germanic name that originated as a given name, derived from the Hebrew name "Mattityahu," meaning "gift of Yahweh." In the Old Testament, Matthias was one of the apostles of Jesus and the replacement for Judas Iscariot.
Over time the given name Matthias evolved to become a surname, and was used by many European families with Germanic origins. Today it is also common in countries like Austria, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
In the United States, the Matthias surname typically identifies ancestors of German descent. In many parts of the world, it has diversified to encompass individuals from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
The Matthias surname wasn’t included in Social Security Administration’s list of the 2009 most common surnames, however it has seen a rise in popularity as a sense of nostalgia or patriotism causes more people to embrace their German-American heritage.
The literal translation of the Matthias surname is "gift of God" and is a reminder of family values and faith. It's associated with strength and loyalty, which seems fitting for an ancestor who was quite literally chosen by God to follow Jesus and continue his work. There is an inherent respect for history and loyalty woven into the Matthias name.
Order DNA origin analysisMatthias: Where does the name Matthias come from?
The last name Matthias is most commonly found in Germany. The name Matthias has been recorded in Germany since at least the 12th century and remains a popular choice today. According to the 2020 German Name Statistics there are approximately 166,000 people in Germany bearing the name Matthias, making it the 16th most popular name in the country. The Matthias name has also spread to other parts of Europe including the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary.
In addition to Europe, the Matthias surname is also very common in Latin America, where the Spanish and Portuguese variants of the name (Matías and Matheus, respectively) are common. The Spanish name was brought to Latin America by Spanish explorers during the time of the conquests. As a result, the names Matías and Matheus appear frequently in the countries of Mexico, Ecuador, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico.
Outside of Europe and Latin America, the name Matthias is relatively rare. In 2020 the United States Census estimated there were only around 11,000 people with the name living in the United States, with the surname appearing at the most in the states of California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Minnesota. In Canada, the last name appears mainly in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.
In total, the Matthias surname is most commonly found in Germany and Europe, with a large presence in Latin America, but much more rare in North America.
Variations of the surname Matthias
The surname Matthias is a German-origin name derived from the given name Matthias, which is the German form of the Biblical Greek name Ματθίας (Matthias). It is derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu and is a nickname for Mattan, meaning “gift of God”. Its variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Mathias, Mathaus, Mathaeus, Mathis, Mattias, Mattaus, Matteus, Mattheus, Mathes, and Matthat.
Mathias and Mathaus are the original forms of the surname Matthias, and are also found as Matthies, Matthis, and Matthee. Mathis and Mathaeus stem from the Germanic male name Mathaeus, which is the Latinized form of Matthia. Mattias and Mattaus are derived from the shortened form of the Greek name Matthew, which is Matthias. Matteus and Mattheus are the more formal version of Mathis and Mathaeus. Mathes is a Hebrew form of the name Matthias, while Matthat is commonly used among Protestant Christians.
Many of these variants have been adopted as surnames in many countries. Mathias, Mathis, and Matthis are common German surnames, while Mathaeuss is found in France, and Mathaus and Mattaus are seen in both Germany and the Netherlands. For Spanish speakers, Mathaeus is particularly common, and Mattheus and Mattias are also seen in Portugal and Italy. Above all, Matthias is one of the most common of all surnames in Germany, and is found in many other areas of Europe.
Famous people with the name Matthias
- Rebecca Matthias:An American actress, best known for her role in the 1990s TV series “Caroline in the City”
- Ernie Matthias: A retired Major League Baseball player from the 1950s and 1960s
- Johannes Matthias Sperger: An Austrian composer and bassist from the Classical era
- Robert J. Matthias: A prominent 20th-century American politician
- Maximilian Matthias: An 18th-century Austrian musician, composer, and teacher
- Louis Jules Matthias- A 19th-century French operatic bass singer
- Karolina Matthias: A modern-day Austrian singer and actress
- Karl A. Matthias: An American nuclear physicist and past president of the American Physical Society
- Karen Matthias: An award-winning American jewelry and product designer
- Pamela Matthias: An American artist who has held multiple solo exhibitions in museums and galleries in the United States