The Mathews Family History

What Does the Mathews Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Mathews, prevalent in both England and Wales, derives from the Latin ‘Matthaeus’ and is reflected in Old French as ‘Mathieu.’ This name historically signifies a notion of a gift. Variants of Mathews include Matthews, Matheuson, Mathewes, and Mathew. In England, the Mathews surname is notably present in cities such as London, as well as in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Wiltshire, and Warwickshire. In Wales, particularly within the Glamorganshire area, the surname enjoys considerable popularity. In Scotland, families bearing the Mathews name predominantly reside in Aberdeenshire, Ayrshire, Angus, and Lanarkshire. In the United States, the Mathews surname is chiefly found in states such as Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Missouri, Illinois, California, New York, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Noteworthy individuals bearing this surname include artist Arthur Frank Mathews, Moses Mathews, who provided firearms to the American Continental Army during the 18th century, Singaporean songwriter Kevin Mathews, 19th-century author Cornelius Mathews, professional baseball player Eddie Mathews, and actor George Mathews.