Name of the Week

 

A stable reliable that exudes a quiet strength.

 

Origin:

From the Hebrew name Mattityahu, or Mattithiah, meaning "gift of God". In Greek the name became Ματθαιος (Matthaios) and Ματθιας (Matthias), which were translated to Matteus and Matthias in Latin.  Several figures in the Old Testament are named Mattithiah including one of the companions of Ezra, and a Levite, appointed by King David to preside over offerings. We also find it on two men in the New Testament: both disciples of Jesus. To make a distinction, the King James bible renders the name differently: Mattithiah is used in the Old Testament, Matthew for the Evangelist (St Matthew), and Matthias for the disciple who was chosen to replace Judas (St Matthias).

Usage:

As an Apostle, St Matthew was a popular saint in the Middle Ages and he was widely venerated throughout Europe. The Old French forms, Mathieu and Mahieu, were brought to Britain by the Normans in the late 11th century, and became anglicised as Mathew and Matthew. This is attested by the two Norman landowners recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) named Matthew / Mathieu. From then on, we can find the name in consistent use through the 12th to the 14th century. Several of these early examples were borne by Scottish bishops.  There were many medieval pet-forms of Matthew, which can be found in multitude of surviving surnames. The Normans used Masse / Macy as a short form of Mathieu, and this, too, can be found in the Domesday book. Its impact in Britain can be seen in the surnames Macy, Macey and Massey. May was used as a pet-form for the spelling Mahieu, which was anglicised as Mayhew and Mayo. The nicknames Math and Matthi became Mathieson, Matthey and Matthys. As a biblical name, Matthew was still used after the Reformation. Indeed, for the most part, the name was in the Top 20 most popular names throughout 16th and 17th century*. Interestingly, there are several examples of girls named Matthew, alongside boys, in Norfolk in the 17th and early 18th century. This isn't the first time Matthew recieved a feminine twist either. A few rare examples survive of women in the 12th century named Masota, which is thought to be a feminine diminutive form of Masse.  The name was consistantly and well used through the 19th century. The 1851 UK census lists 25,260 Matthews and 12,540 Mathews, while the 1901 census lists 37,467 Matthews and 5,917 Mathews.   The name ranked #84 in England and Wales in 1904 and #85 in 1914. It had fallen out of the Top 100 by 1924, until it rocketed back to #52 in 1964. From there, it shot up to #10 in 1974, #6 in 1984 and #5 in 1994.  From 1996 to 1999  Matthew ranked at #6, with over 7,000 births each year, and was in the Top 20 until 2007. Since then the name has gradually declined in a smooth downward slope. In 2010 the name ranked #41, with 1984 births, in England and Wales. Similarly, the spelling Mathew is on the decline: from 393 births in 1996 to 74 in 2010.  In Scotland the name has been more consistant. In 1998 it ranked at #14, and moved up and down nominally in the following years. In 2011 it was #14 . What we do find, however, is that, whatever the rank each year, the birth count has gradually decreased each year. In 1998 420 boys were named Matthew; in 2011, despite the same rank, there were 282 births.

Famous Bearers:

History: * St Matthew is one of the Four Evangelists who created the gospels of the New Testament.  * Matthew of Edessa (d.1144) was an Armenian historian who chronicalled the Crusades.  * Matthew (d.1199) was Archdeacon of Aberdeen and, later, Bishop of St Andrews.  * Matthew the Scot (d.1229) was once Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop of Dunkeld.  * Matthew (d.1274) was Bishop of Ross. * Matthew Parker (1504–1575) was Archbishop of Canterbury.  * Matthew Henry (1662–1714) was a minister and bible commentator.  * Matthew Arnold (1822–1888) was a British Victorian poet. * Matthew White Ridley, 1st Viscount Ridley (1842–1902) was Home Secretary from 1895 to 1900. He was the fifth generation of Matthew White Ridleys; all of whom were MPs.

Variants:

Matias, Mads (Danish), Matthijs (Dutch), Matias, Matti (Finnish), Mathieu (French), Mathis, Matthäus (German), Maitiú (Irish), Matteo (Italian), Matteus, Mats (Norwegian, Swedish), Mateusz (Polish), Matvey, Motya (Russian), Matej (Slavic), Mateo (Spanish)

Pronunciation:

MATH-yoo (UK) [key]

Diminutives:

Macy, Mads, Masse, Math, Mats, Matt, Matty, May

Sibling Names:

Abigail     Leah     Emma     Georgia     Bethany     Sophie  Christopher     Samuel     William     Daniel     James     Thomas

Name Lists:

Popular Biblical Names   Medieval Favourites   Gorgeously Georgian   Shakespearean Names   Dickensian Names

 

If you like Matthew you may also like:   Andrew, Joseph, William, Michael, Benjamin, Lucas, Maxwell,  Lewis, Ewan, Lawrence