Surname Mathewes - Meaning and Origin
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Mathewes: What does the surname Mathewes mean?
The last name Mathewes is an English and Welsh patronymic surname, derived from the personal name Matthew. Matthew is derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means “gift of Jehovah.” The Mathewes surname is believed to have originated from the borderlands between England and Wales. It is descended from the Welsh surname “Megynfryn”, which is often found with both English and Welsh spelling variations.
The Mathewes surname has been documented in England since as early as the 1200s, with records indicating a family living in Sussex dated 1225. During the Middle Ages, which was a period of significant population growth and accompanying migration, Mathewes families moved into Devon, Bedfordshire, and Oxfordshire. Mathewes also have a strong presence in London, appearing on the city’s rolls as early as the 1600s.
Mathewes occurs with varying spelling forms, such as Mathews, Mathes, Matthews and Matthews. Regardless of variation, the Mathewes surname typically signifies a connection to Welsh or English heritage; it can also indicate a certain strength or religiosity. In modern times, the Mathewes surname is still in use, with prominent bearers being entrepreneur Damien Mathewes and actor/TV host Andréa Mathewes.
Order DNA origin analysisMathewes: Where does the name Mathewes come from?
The last name Mathewes is a relatively common and widespread surname found primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. In the United States, it is most common in California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, and Florida. In the United Kingdom, Mathewes is found mainly in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Overall, Mathewes is the 476th most common last name in the world, according to WorldNames PublicProfiler.
In the United States, nearly 90% of the Mathewes population is of European descent. More than half of the Mathewes population in the US is of English descent, while an additional 13% are of German and Irish backgrounds, followed by Dutch, French, Polish, and Welsh.
In the UK, few records at the time of the 1800 census reveal that Mathewes was most common in London and South East England. In 1881, Mathewes was most common in London and Lincolnshire in the East Midlands. The Mathewes surname is believed to be of Occitan language origin, derived from personal (first) names like Matthew or Matthieu. The first recorded spelling of the family name Mathewes is believed to have been in the 12th century during the reign of King Richard I, in the "Records of the Knights Templar", growing in popularity during the Medieval period when people took on the name of their master or lord.
In modern day, Mathewes continues to be a popular name with a significant population residing in the United States.
Variations of the surname Mathewes
The surname Mathewes is an interesting one as it has a variety of spellings and variants of the same origin. The most common spelling of Mathewes is Matthews, accounting for over 80% of bearers of the name. The other spellings of Mathewes include Matthewes, Mathews, Mathis, Matthias, Matthes and Matheus.
The surname Mathewes is also a patronymic surname, derived from the name Matthew which is derived from the Greek name “Matthaios” which means “Gift of God”. The spelling variants for this name can also be of Germanic origin, such as Mathaeus, Mathias and Matthaeus.
As a result, some derivatives of the Patrynomic surname Mathewes can include MacMatthew, McMatthew, Mathe, MacMathews, McMathews, Mathews, MacMatthias, McMatthias, Matthias, MacMathis, McMathis, Mathis, MacMatthes and McMatthes.
Mathewes is also a cognomen surname, which refers to people who were known for certain physical features or distinctive names. Cognate surnames of Mathewes include Renouf (red-haired), Saulier (a person with fair hair), Frappier (a person with curly hair).
In addition, there are other variations which are not necessarily related to Mathewes but example of similar-sounding names include Mathews, Mathewson, Matheen and Mathieson.
Overall, with the various spellings and variants, there are many ways in which people today can be related to the Mathewes surname.
Famous people with the name Mathewes
- Chris Mathewes: American actor and writer known for roles on shows such as ‘Younger’, ‘Orange Is the New Black’, and ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’
- Hayden Mathewes: American actor and television director known for his work on the shows ‘Monk’, ‘Alias’, and ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’
- Shooter Jennings: American singer, songwriter and musician, son of country music icons Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter
- Janelle Mathewes: American actress, best known for her roles in films such as ‘The Skeleton Key’ and ‘Stop-Loss’
- Jada Mathewes: American actress, best known for her roles in the films ‘Gone in Sixty Seconds’, ‘Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle’, and ‘Zoolander 2’
- Frank Mathewes: British actor, best known for his role as Captain Charles Gordon in the television show ‘Sharpe’
- John Mathewes: American jazz and blues guitarist
- Anna Mathewes: American writer and poet
- Peter Mathewes: British actor, known for his roles on television shows such as ‘Coupling’, ‘East Enders’, and ‘The Bill’
- Alexander Mathewes: British actor, best known for his work on various BBC productions such as ‘Holby City’ and ‘Doctors’.