Surname Mattheiss - Meaning and Origin
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Mattheiss: What does the surname Mattheiss mean?
The surname Mattheiss is a German surname which means “son of Matthias”. It’s derived from the given name Matthia, a Latin derivative of the Greek name Mattathias. The name Mattathias is variously thought to be derived from the Hebrew meaning either “gift of God” or “gift of Yahweh,” referring to the Hebrew God.
The first recorded instance of the name is from 14th century Germany, where the name was used as a patronymic surname meaning “son of Matthias.” During this same period, the name Matthias had become popular, likely due to it being the name of one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Even today many people from Christian backgrounds are named Matthias and variations on that name.
The surname Mattheiss was carried by many families all over Germany throughout the centuries. During the 19th and 20th centuries, Matheisses immigrated to other parts of Europe, Australia, the United States, and elsewhere around the world.
The spelling of the name often changed due to different languages and local dialects. Other spellings include Mattheis, Mathies, and Matheis. In some cases the name has evolved to be more anglicized as Matthies or Matthews.
Today, there are many people who are descended from various branches of the Mattheiss surname. Those who can trace their family histories may be able to discover a rich history and many stories of their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisMattheiss: Where does the name Mattheiss come from?
The last name Mattheiss is most common today in Germany and Austria. It is a relatively uncommon last name in the United States, Australia, and Canada, although there are still a few pockets of the population. It is believed to have begun as a patronymic surname, deriving from the given name Matthias.
In Germany, the last name 'Mattheiss' is most commonly found in the regions of Lower Saxony, Northern Bavaria, and Rhineland Palatinate. In Austria, it is most common in Tyrol, Upper Austria, and Vienna. It is estimated that there are currently around 20,000 individuals in Europe who bear this name.
The Mattheiss surname is also common in South and Central America, with a few hundred individuals in Brazil, Argentina, and Costa Rica. It is thought that these variants of the name originated from German immigrants who settled in the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It is likely that Mattheiss existed before the early-modern period, but there few records to confirm this. In any case, the last name appears to remain relatively popular today, with a relatively large population scattered throughout Europe and South and Central America.
Variations of the surname Mattheiss
The surname Mattheiss is a German surname derived from the given name Matthias that dates back to the Middle Ages. It is also known to have evolved from a diminutive form, Matthes, which is derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu that is believed to mean ‘gift of G-d’.
The variants of Mattheiss include: Mathies, Mattis, Matis, Matyas, Matthäus, Matthaus, Matthaeus, Mathäus, Mathewes, Matheus, Matthys, Mathys, Mathyes, Mats, Matthie, Matthew, Mattheissen, Matthes, Matisz, and Mattisen.
Spellings of Mattheiss include: Mathís, Mathiss, Máthys, Mathys, Mattes, Matthees, Mattheiss, Mathis, Mathysz, Mathyssen, Mattys, Matthies, Matthiess, and Mattheussen.
Surnames of the same origin as Mattheiss include Mathieu, Matte, Mattek, Mattingley, Mattern, Mattingly, Mattys, Matusik, Mattheus, Mattinger, Mathson, Matos, Matthiessen, Matting, Matthiesen, Mattek, and Matthert.
Famous people with the name Mattheiss
- Tyler Matthew Mattheiss: American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE for StarCom Racing.
- John Mattheiss: American football coach and former player who has served as an assistant coach at Lafayette College since 2011.
- Gregory Matthew Mattheiss: American football player who served as the head coach of the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags football team from 1993 to 1996.
- Dennis Mattheiss: German football manager and a former player who currently manages Landesliga Club FV Hilbrennau.
- Christina Mattheiss: German professional slalom canoeist, who has competed at the international level since 2000.
- Arin Matthew Mattheiss: American football coach who is the current offensive line coach at the Wabash College.
- Mark Matthew Mattheiss: American project manager and former professional water skier.
- Harold Mattheiss: American aerospace engineer and inventor.
- Michael Mattheiss: Austrian national coach for slalom.
- Nicholas Matthew Mattheiss: American soccer forward who currently plays for the Major Arena Soccer League side Tacoma Stars.