Surname Mathäus - Meaning and Origin
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Mathäus: What does the surname Mathäus mean?
The last name Mathäus is a German and Dutch surname, which has its roots in the Hebrew name Mattathiah, which has the meaning "Gift of God." In biblical times, Mattathiah was the seventh son of the biblical figure, Jehoiakim. As a last name, Mathäus carries the vibrancy and strong faith of its biblical origin.
In Germany and the Netherlands, the last name Mathäus is derived from the Middle High German name Mathoys. Some believe this spelling to be derived from the Old Norse name Mátti which means "mighty." It could have also come from the Germanic name Mathis, which is a diminutive form of the name Mattheus.
In addition to religious affiliation, Mathäus can also be linked to patriotism and military service. This is due to the fact that Mathäus was a relatively common surname among military personnel, since it was seen as a popular name for young recruits. During World War I, several soldiers with the last name Mathäus served their country with distinction.
Whether it be from an ancestral lineage associated with strong faith or a proud family heritage linked to admirable patriotism, the last name Mathäus is a powerful moniker evocative of strength and courage.
Order DNA origin analysisMathäus: Where does the name Mathäus come from?
The last name Mathäus is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, and surrounding nations in Central and Western Europe. This is in line with its history, as it is a German language or Teutonic surname derived from the Hebrew-Aramaic Matthew, which is the same name as the English Matthew. It was also written as Mathias or Mathaeus in Latin script and occasionally mutated to Matheis, Mathai or Mattheis.
In Germany, the name Mathäus is consistently among the most common surnames, ranking within the top 100 names since the 1980s. It is particularly popular in the states of Baden-Württemberg, inland from the Rhineland, and North Rhine-Westphalia, in the northwest corner of the country. The name is also popular in Austria, where it is among the top 200 most popular surnames, and Switzerland as well.
Although the name is most popular in Central and Western Europe, it can also be found elsewhere, particularly due to the German diaspora which impacted many points around the world, including South America and the United States. In the United States, it is ranked 1,406th on the Social Security Administration’s list of most common surnames.
The surname Mathäus is rooted in a shared yet distant past, and continues to thrive in its old core regions but can also be found scattered around the world. It is a testament to the influence of German culture which extends beyond physical borders, and pauses to reflect a shared history for those bearing it.
Variations of the surname Mathäus
The surname Mathäus is a Germanic name derived from Greek Matthaios, a derivative of mattheos (given by God), a combination of the element ‘mattha’ meaning ‘gift’ in Hebrew and ‘eos’, meaning ‘God’. This brings the meaningful description of ‘gift of God’ as given by the Christian religion. Due to its presence in several languages, its spelling may be different yet mean the same thing. It has several spelling variations, which include Mathews, Mathis, Matthias, Math, Mathia, Mathieu, Mathiou, Mathaeus, Matthaeus, Matthai, Mathaes, Mathaey, Mamet, Matiau, Matthews, Mathya and Mathäus. The surnames are Matthiessen, Matthiesen and Matheisen.
Due to the common language roots of many European countries, similar spellings and surnames can be found beyond the Germanic language. In Dutch, for instance, it is spelled Matthijs and Mattheus. In French, Mathieu and Matthieu are the two spellings used, while in Italian, Mathia and Mattia are the two primary spellings.
Beyond Europe, variations of the surname are also used in many other parts of the world. In Chinese, the surname is spelled as Mai Tia, while in Hindi, the spelling Matheu is found. In Serbia, the spelling is Matija, while in Poland, it is spelled as Mateusz.
In the United States, among the African American descendants from the slave community, the surname is spelled as Matthew, Mattie and Mat. It is also used in the south Asia communities as Mathy and Mathur.
The numerous spellings and variations of the surname Mathäus in many different languages provide a basis for tracing the lineage of the surname, despite its common roots. It has also led to different surnames from the same person, making the tracing of the lineage and origin of the surname even more difficult.
Famous people with the name Mathäus
- Lothar Matthäus: This German footballer is one of the most successful German footballers of all time. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1991 and was also voted European Footballer of the Year in that same year. He is a two-time Bundesliga champion and four-time German Footballer of the Year.
- Jay Mathäus: Jay Mathäus is an American singer and songwriter who is best known as the frontman for the band The Cat's Meow. He has also acted in films, including in a recurring role on The Office.
- Bernd Matthäus: Bernd Matthäus is an Austrain tennis player and former World No. 43 in singles. He reached the quarterfinals of the 1985 French Open. He also earned the triple crown of tennis by winning the men's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events at the 1984 Hungarian Open.
- Michael Mathäus: Michael Mathäus is a German actor and stunt man who has appeared in over 100 films. He is best known for his roles as Thor in The Incredible Hulk and as a stunt man in Thor and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
- Christoph Matthäus: Christoph Matthäus is a German football manager and former player. He played in for the German national team and currently manages the Preußen Münster. He was named German Footballer of the Year in 1990 and is a three-time UEFA Champions League winner.