Surname Matthäi - Meaning and Origin
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Matthäi: What does the surname Matthäi mean?
The last name Matthäi is of German origin and is derived from the first name Mathias, a form of the name Matthew. It is a patronymic surname that was taken on by a person at birth in order to distinguish him from other individuals with the same name. The name Matthäi is thought to have originated in Trier, particularly in the counties of Franconia, Swabia, and Bavaria.
The meaning of Matthäi is quite literal; it translates to ‘Gift of God’. It is a combination of the words ‘mat’, meaning ‘gift’ or ‘donation’, and ‘theos’, meaning ‘god’. The shortened form of the name Matthäi, Matt, is now widely used in English-speaking countries.
Throughout history, the Matthäi surname appears in records such as birth registers and migration records from Germany. Records of the Matthäi family date back to 1330 in Regensburg, a city located in southern Germany.
Traditionally, the Matthäi surname is inherited through the paternal line and has remained relatively uncommon over the centuries. It is most common in Germany and Austria, but is growing in popularity in other countries due to immigration.
No matter which country the Matthäi surname may now inhabit, the name remains a representation of a divine gift bestowed to a family many generations ago.
Order DNA origin analysisMatthäi: Where does the name Matthäi come from?
The last name Matthäi is a Germanic surname that is still popular today in both Germany and Austria. It is also common in other countries with Germanic ancestry, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Outside of these countries, it is much less common.
In Germany, Matthäi is the 75th most popular and common surname, ranking in the top 500. It is estimated that over 25,900 individuals are considered to be surnamed Matthäi, including those with alternative spellings such as Matthaei and Matthaey.
In Austria, Matthäi is even more common, ranking as the 27th most popular surname. These rankings place it among the top hundred most common names in the country. Similar to Germany, it is estimated that there are over 25,000 people with the last name Matthäi.
In the United States, Matthäi is much less common and not found in the top one thousand surnames. However, it is found in the top three thousand names, meaning that over 5,700 individuals have the name Matthäi.
In the other Germanic countries, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Matthäi is not quite as common as it is in Germany and Austria but is still relatively popular.
Variations of the surname Matthäi
The surname Matthäi is a German surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from the personal name Matthaus, which is a variant of the Hebrew name Matthew. The variants and spelling of the surname Matthäi include Matthaes, Matheis, Matthais, Matheys, Matheiss and Mathais.
The variations in spelling of the surname Matthäi are likely a result of the difficulty of spelling the name in different countries and different languages. In Germany, where the name originated, the spelling of the name is usually Matthäi. However, in other countries, including the United States, the spelling of the name is often changed.
Mathews, Mathews, Matthews and Mathis are all common surnames derived from the name Matthäi. These spellings are particularly common in the United States, with all four names being more popular than the original spelling.
The surnames Maes, Maas, Maesen, de Mees, Mees, Meyer, Mey, and Mayer all stem from the original Matthäi surname. These Germanic surnames are largely identical in meaning and pronunciation but are spelled differently from Matthäi. It is likely that in the past these names were seen as less formal or casual spellings of the original Matthäi surname and were used by commoners who could not spell the name correctly or who found it too difficult to spell in their native language.
The name Matteo is also derived from the original Matthäi surname. Matteo is an Italian variation of the Matthäi name that is more commonly used in Italian-speaking countries. This variation is pronounced with a soft ‘T’ sound instead of a hard ‘TH’ sound in the original Matthäi.
Famous people with the name Matthäi
- Herman Matthäi: German Air Force officer in WW2
- Wolfgang Matthäi: German composer and music teacher
- Ryk Matthäi: German yoyo performer and trick innovator
- Elisabeth Matthäi: German stage and film actress
- Carl August Matthäi: German-born British photographer
- Daniel Matthäi: German conductor, violinist, composer and professor
- Julius Matthäi: German gynecologist
- Klaus Matthäi: German actor
- Paul Matthäi: German cyclist
- Clemens Matthäi: German chancellor of the University of Rostock
- Hans Matthäi: German architect
- Helmut Matthäi: German organist, choirmaster, and composer
- Johann Matthäi: German physician and writer
- Johannes Matthäi: German Baroque painter
- Michael Matthäi: German sculptor
- Paul Matthäi: German geologist and university professor
- Ulrich Matthäi: German lawyer and corporate lawyer
- Werner Matthäi: German athlete and Olympic medalist