Surname Matthesius - Meaning and Origin

Matthesius: What does the surname Matthesius mean?

The last name Matthesius is derived from the surname Matthäus, which is a Germanic form of the name Matthew. Matthew was one of the twelve Apostles in the Bible and his name derives from the Greek "mattheos," meaning 'gift of God.' Consequently, Matthesius is a patronymic surname, which is a name derived from the given name of one's paternal ancestor.

The root origins of the surname Matthesius trace back to the Bavarian region of Germany. Medieval German surnames typically came in two varieties. The most common were patronymic surnames, such as Matthesius, which were based on the given name of the father or paternal ancestor. The other type of surname was toponymic, meaning it was based on the location of an ancestor's home or birthplace.

The frequent migrations since the medieval era, including forced and voluntary migrations, have resulted in a widely dispersed population of the Matthesius surname throughout the world. Today, the surname Matthesius can be encountered in countries around the globe, though is most prominent in Germany and the United States. In American records, the surname is often seen variants of Matthesius, including Mathes, Matthew, Matthews, Mathews, Mathis and others.

The Matthesius surname carries an inspiring connotation, as it was derived from a biblical figure whose name is often interpreted to mean Gift of God. As such, the legacy of the Matthesius name can be said to offer a reminder of faith and an appreciation of God's gifts.

Matthesius: Where does the name Matthesius come from?

The last name Matthesius is of German origin and is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the countries of the former Czechoslovakia. In Germany, it is primarily found in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin, and Sachsen. In Austria, it is mainly found in the eastern and north-eastern states. In Hungary, it is found mainly in the larger cities such as Budapest, Debrecen, and Miskolc. In the Czech Republic, the last name Matthesius is found in the northern regions and cities such as Prague, Brno, and Pardubice.

The surname Matthesius is not a particularly common name in the United States; however, there are a few people with this name who live in North Carolina, Texas, and Colorado. Matthesius is also a fairly common surname in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Although the last name Matthesius is not particularly common today, the number of people who bear this name is increasing. This could be linked to increased mobility and immigration from Eastern Europe to other countries, as well as increased intermarriage between families of different ethnic backgrounds.

Variations of the surname Matthesius

The surname Matthesius is a variant of the name Matthaeus, with spellings including Mathies, Mattiess, Matthees, Mathees, Matthei, Matheisen, Matthis and Mattheisen. There are also variations of the spelling, such as Matthiesen, Mattheson, and Matthiessen.

The family from which the name is derived can be traced back to the medieval region of Oldenburg in what is now northwest Germany. The endings "-sius", "-es" and "-sen" indicate that the name may have derived from Matthaeus, which in Latin means “gift of God”.

Matthaeus is also derived from the personal name Mathaios (also known as Mathias), described in the Christian Bible as one of the French apostles. It is likely that the name Matthaesius was adopted as a surname during the medieval period when people began to give their children surnames, as a way to differentiate families.

In addition to the spellings discussed above, Matthesius has also been used as a surname by other families that do not trace their roots back to Oldenburg. These variant spellings include Mattheis, Matheis, Matheys, and Matthaeis. German families often take the form of Mathis or Matthies, but Dutch families sometimes take on the more advanced version of Matheys or Mattheiss.

In its more modern forms, Matthesius appears as Matthes, Mattweis, Mattney, Matheis, Matheny, Matties, and Mathes. In some instances, it can be seen spelled with a double 't', as in Mattthes, Mattthies, and Mattheiss. The surname's presence has also spread outside of Europe, appearing in the United States and Canada as variations of Mathis, Mathes, and Mattes.

Famous people with the name Matthesius

• Ad von Matthesius: German Protestant theologian and biblical scholar
• Eric Matthesius: American ski mountaineer, photographer and author
• Richard Matthesius: German painter and engraver in the 18th century
• Emmy Matthesius: German actress
• Johannes Matthesius: German Lutheran theologian and preacher
• Matthias Matthesius: German physician and professor
• Johann Matthesius: German organist and Kapellmeister
• Konrad Matthesius: German composer, kapellmeister and teacher
• Marga Matthesius: German artist and muralist
• Johann Georg Matthesius: German engraver in the 16th century

Other surnames

MatthesMatthesen