Surname Matter - Meaning and Origin
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Personal Discovery: How my iGENEA DNA Test Altered my Perception of my Surname, Matter
Taking the iGENEA DNA test brought forward surprising revelations about my lineage, revealing my surname Matter's varied origins and my diverse family history. The experience has forever changed my perception of my surname and given me a deeper understanding of my unique heritage.
U. Matter
read moreMatter: What does the surname Matter mean?
The surname Matter is of Swiss origin and primarily found in the Swiss-German speaking regions of Switzerland. It is considered an occupational surname, denoting a job or profession. Matter is derived from the Middle High German "metzjer", which means a butcher. Therefore, it was originally used to denote a person who worked as a butcher. This surname is shared by a few famous people such as photographer and director Jordan Matter and Swiss ski mountaineer, Florent Troillet, born Florent Matter. Please remember that the meaning of a surname can vary as it has evolved over centuries and been affected by regional and cultural differences. Thus, while this interpretation of the surname Matter is widely accepted, there may be others as well.
Order DNA origin analysisMatter: Where does the name Matter come from?
The surname Matter is of German origin. The word "Matter" in Middle High German means "chopping board" or "cutting table", used by tailors or leather workers. It becomes a metonymic occupational name for a tailor or tanner. The surname also could originate from the Germanic "Matte" which refers to a meadow or 'low lying pasture,' signifying families that resided near such places.
In Switzerland, Matter is linked with geographical features like the Matter Valley and the Matterhorn, a well-known mountain in the Swiss Alps. Therefore, it is possible that the name may also indicate Swiss families who resided near these areas.
Today, the surname Matter is common in Switzerland, Germany, and in the United States, particularly in areas with significant German and Swiss immigration history. As per the distribution data, states like Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin in the U.S have a higher concentration of people with the Matter surname. In Germany, the surname is most common in the southern region, in states like Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Despite these specific concentrations, the name is spread worldwide owing to immigration patterns.
Variations of the surname Matter
The surname Matter is of Swiss and German origin. There are several variant spellings and related surnames due to regional dialects and phonetic spellings. Some of these variants include Mattera, Matters, Matterer, Mattero, Matyre, Matteri, Mattery, Mattar, Matar, Matti, Matthei, Matty, and Mattei.
In Switzerland particularly, the surname Matter is found in a region called Valais. In Germany, it’s more common in southern regions including Bavaria. Surnames such as Mattern, Mattner and Matern can also be found in these regions, probably as regional variations or possibly as derived from different given-names maternus, mattin or mattein.
Certain surnames like Matthias, Matthijs, Matthiessen, Matthieu, or Matthioli could possibly have evolved into Matter over the generations due to phonetic spelling and regional dialects. Further research would be needed to confirm these possible connections.
Additionally, other similar surnames like Mettier, Metter, Mettler can also be found in German and French-speaking regions. Also, in some cases, Matter might have been used as a nickname for a important person in the community deriving from the Latin "mater" meaning 'mother'.
Remember, given the complexities of language evolution, surname origins can be multifaceted and cross-cultural.
Famous people with the name Matter
- Roger Matter: Swiss alpine skier who won the bronze medal in slalom at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.
- Chase Matter: American professional snowboarder who was the 2016 US Snowboarding Grand Prix Champion.
- Sal Matter: American actor, comedian, writer, and producer and was a regular on the ABC sitcom, “Full House.”
- Jim Matter: American basketball player who was the All Big Sky Player of the Year in 1982 and Career Scoring Leader for University of Montana Grizzlies.
- Ray Matter: German racing driver who competed in Formula One from 1988-92.
- Eric Matter: American former professional skateboarder and co-founder of the skateboarding company World Industries.
- Al Matter: American stock car racing driver who competed in the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series from 1989-90.
- Chuck Matter: American soccer player and coach who was the head coach of the 1993 US Men's National Team.
- Jason Matter: American professional surfer and skateboarder who was the 2003 US Surfing Open Champion.
- Mike Matter: American golf instructor and the senior teaching professional at the University of Wisconsin Men's Golf Team.