Explore the Family Name Mathews
The meaning of Mathews
English: patronymic from Mathew; a variant of Matthews. In North America, this surname has absorbed various cognates from other languages. History: Among the earliest bearers of the name in North America was Samuel Mathews (c.1600–c.1657), who came to VA from London c.1618. He established a plantation at the mouth of the Warwick River, which was at first called Mathews Manor; later its name was changed to Denbigh. He was one of the most powerful and influential men in the early affairs of the colony. He (or possibly his son, who bore the same name) was governor of the colony from 1657 until his death in 1660.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mathews in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Mathews has seen a slight decline in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Mathews ranked 609th in terms of common surnames in the United States, but by 2010, it had dropped to 663rd. Despite this decline in rank representing an 8.87% decrease, the actual count of people bearing the surname increased by 1.94% during the same period, from 50,608 to 51,592. The proportion of the population with the Mathews surname per 100,000 people also decreased, from 18.76 to 17.49.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #609 | #663 | -8.87% |
| Count | 50,608 | 51,592 | 1.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 18.76 | 17.49 | -6.77% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mathews
In terms of ethnicity, according to the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some significant changes in the distribution of the Mathews surname across different ethnic backgrounds. Asian/Pacific Islander holders of the Mathews name saw the most significant increase, rising by about 50.89%, followed by Hispanic holders at 34.76%. There was also a 22.78% increase among those identifying as belonging to two or more races. Slight growth was observed among American Indian and Alaskan Natives, who experienced an increase of 17.74%. However, the number of White and Black individuals with the Mathews surname slightly decreased by 2.95% and 2.60% respectively.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 76.9% | 74.63% | -2.95% |
| Black | 15.77% | 15.36% | -2.6% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.81% | 4.24% | 50.89% |
| Hispanic | 2.1% | 2.83% | 34.76% |
| Two or More Races | 1.8% | 2.21% | 22.78% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.62% | 0.73% | 17.74% |
Mathews ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Mathews is British & Irish, which comprises 51.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (22.2%) and Eastern European (4.8%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, and Malayali Subgroup.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 51.1% |
| French & German | 22.2% |
| Eastern European | 4.8% |
| Other | 22.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Mathews
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Mathews have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 84.80% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 84.80% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 84.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 84.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 84.40% |
What Mathews haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Mathews is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Matthews, Clark, Davis, Smith, Walker, Brown, Thomas, Thompson, Richards, Price.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Mathews surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Mathews have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Mathews" Surname 40.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Mathews" Surname 25.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Mathews" Surname 21.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Mathews" Surname 20.0%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Mathews?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Mathews are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition