Surname Matthais - Meaning and Origin
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Matthais: What does the surname Matthais mean?
The last name Matthais is a German surname, stemming from the personal name Matthias. This name originates from the Hebrew Teomîyâhû, meaning "gift from God." It is a contraction of the Greek name Matthaios, meaning the same.
Throughout the ages, the name has been used all over the world, and has thus taken on many forms, such as Matthew, Matthieu, and Mathias. The Matthais version appears to be the most frequent in Germany.
The surname Matthais is representative of the Germanic culture, as this particular name has had a long history in the country. It first appeared in records in the 11th century, indicating that it was used widely by this time. Since then, it has been found in various dialects and variations and is still in use today as a common surname.
Matthais has been bestowed as an occupational surname for a miller, as written in documents from Germany from the 13th and 14th centuries. It can also be viewed as a local surname, used by those who lived near a specific town or village, indicating the family origin as descendants of the place's original inhabitants.
The name Matthais symbolizes loyalty, faithfulness, dedication, and strength. In general, it aimed to instill those values into a family and passed down from generation to generation, conveying protective and unifying motives. In later years, it also came to symbolize patriotism and a sense of community and belonging.
Order DNA origin analysisMatthais: Where does the name Matthais come from?
The last name Matthais is most common today in Northern Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands. According to World Names Public Profiler, its highest concentrations are in the Netherlands, where it is the 75th most common surname; in Germany, where it is the 641st most common; and in Belgium, where it is the 1,255th most common. Additionally, it is found in France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
Matthais is an ancient name with Germanic and Latin origins. The Germanic root of the name is the personal name Mathai, which is derived from the Latin word “mattheus”, which means “gift from God”. The name was borne by one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, referred to in the Bible as Matthew. The name was then taken to Northern Europe by the Franks, and it has been in use in the region since at least the 7th century.
The spelling of the name has changed as time has gone on with different variants such as Mathais, Matthia, and Matthai. The spelling Matthais has appeared in records from as far back as the 16th century and is the most commonly used spelling today.
Variations of the surname Matthais
The surname Matthais has several variants, spellings, and surnames with the same origin. The most common variant spellings are Matthaeus, Matthäus, Mathews, Mathais, Mathaeus, Mathaus, Matthaus, Mattaeus, Mathias, Mattheus, and Matheus. Other variations include Mathewes, Mathieux, Mathies, and Mathiesson.
The origin of the surname Matthais traces back to ancient Germanic names. Matthaeus, for example, is derived from the Hebrew Mattityahu, which means “Gift of God”. The historical use of the surname dates back to the thirteenth century, with earliest records found in Prussia during the 1500s.
The surname is by no means restricted to Germanic countries, however, and can be found in many other countries and cultures. Variants of the surname can be seen in the records of early North American settlers, most notably in the states of Pennsylvania and Virginia during the 1600s.
In recent times, the Matthais surname has taken many forms around the world, ranging from the original spelling to modern interpretations, such as Mathees and Matheo. This reflects the influence of dominant languages such as English, Spanish, French, and even Latin.
Despite the differences in appearance and spelling, the Matthais surname is deeply rooted in the same familial line, sharing both its ancient origins and modern interpretations around the world.
Famous people with the name Matthais
- Kirill Petrenko: Kirill Petrenko is a Russian conductor and music director of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Martin Matthias: Martin Matthias is a former German footballer who played as a defender for Borussia Dortmund in the 1970s and 1980s.
- Charles Matthias: Charles Matthias is a fictional character from the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, an English author.
- Joe Matthias: Joe Matthias is a British singer and actor, best known for his role as Ged in the British band Busted.
- Werner Matthais: Werner Matthais is a German modern pentathlete, who won a bronze medal in the men's team event at the 1975 World Championships.
- Jason Matthais: Jason Matthais is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks and the Dallas Stars.
- Scott Matthais: Scott Matthais is a former Canadian National Volleyball Team member and two-time Olympian.
- Hillard Matthais: Hillard Matthais is an American former professional basketball player who spent seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
- Kojo Matthais: Kojo Matthais was a Ghanaian military officer and diplomat who served as the first Ghanaian Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1964 to 1966.
- Axel Matthais: Axel Matthais is a former Austrian football defender, playing for SV Stockerau and the Austrian national team.