Contents [hide]

Mathieson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Mathieson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The many centuries old Dalriadan-Scottish name Mathieson comes from the son of Matthew. 1 In Gaelic, the name was spelled M'Mhathain or Mathanach. The latter names in Gaelic were probably derived from Mac Mhathghamhuin which means son of the bear. Indeed, early references of the name have reference to the Scottish bear. 2 3

Today, early legal records provide a plethora of information about the family with various early spellings. Some of the first records include, "Robertus filius Mathei [who] witnessed a charter by Walter filius Alani, a. 1177. John Mathyson and Michael Mathowson were outlawed as part guilty of the slaughter of Walter de Ogilvy, Sheriff of Angus, in 1392." 3

Early Origins of the Mathieson family

The surname Mathieson was first found in the Scottish Highlands were they could be found in Lochalsh, Lochcarron and Kintail. They are said to descend from Gilleoin of the ancient and royal house of Lorne. They gave their allegiance to the Clan MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles. Kenneth MacMathan (Cormac Mac Mathian) was the constable of Eilean Donan castle and is recorded in most accounts of the invasion of King Haakon IV of Norway against Scotland in the 13th century. One accounts suggests that McMathan and his clansmen fought under the Earl of Ross, defeating Haaken at Largs in 1263.

There is a record of Kermac Macmaghan in Inverness, receiving 20 cows from the Earl of Ross in 1264. "In the Norse Saga he is called Kjarmak son of Makamal = Corniac Macmathan. The Siol Mhathain, a sept of Matheson, in an old Gaelic song appears as Siol Mhothan. Matheson has been adopted as the English form of the name simply on account of the similarity of sound." 3

Early History of the Mathieson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mathieson research. Another 418 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1400, 1411, 1427, 1498, 1514, 1539, 1570, 1600, 1631, 1683, 1688, 1715, 1719, 1796, 1820, 1851, 1878 and 1963 are included under the topic Early Mathieson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mathieson Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Mathieson has been spelled Mathieson, MacMaghan, MacMathan MacMaken, Mathie, Mann and many more.

Early Notables of the Mathieson family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Margaret Matson, one of two women tried in Philadelphia for witchcraft in 1683; Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson (1796-1878), born in Shiness, Lairg, who made a great fortune in the opium trade, and was created the 1st Baronet of Lewis in 1851. His family proceeded to buy the former Clan territories: James Matheson...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mathieson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mathieson Ranking

In the United States, the name Mathieson is the 15,749^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4 However, in New Zealand, the name Mathieson is ranked the 862^nd most popular surname with an estimated 849 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Mathieson family to Ireland

Some of the Mathieson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mathieson migration to the United States +

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Mathieson family emigrate to North America:

Mathieson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Chr Mathieson, aged 19, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 6
Jannet Mathieson, aged 11, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 6
Eustian Mathieson, aged 17, who arrived in New York in 1775 6
Robert Mathieson, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1775 6

Mathieson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Rachel Rebecca Mathieson, who arrived in Virginia in 1814 6
Alexander Mathieson, aged 26, who arrived in New York, NY in 1834 6

Mathieson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Mathieson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Mathieson, Scottish convict from Glasgow, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on September 21, 1826, settling in New South Wales, Australia 7
James Mathieson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Phoebe" in 1847 8
George Mathieson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Phoebe" in 1847 8
Jane Mathieson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Phoebe" in 1847 8
Wilhelmina Mathieson, aged 28, a dairy maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "John Bunyan" 9

Mathieson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Mathieson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

K. Mathieson, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clydeside" in 1841
Ms. Margaret Mathieson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 10
Miss Margaret Mathieson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 10
Miss Ann Mathieson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 10
Miss Johanna Mathieson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Mathieson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 11

Mathieson Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Kenneth Mathieson, who settled in Barbados in 1745

Contemporary Notables of the name Mathieson (post 1700) +

Amy "Violet" Mathieson (b. 1982), English-born, American actress and dancer
Thomas Alastair Sutherland Ogilvy "Taso" Mathieson (1908-1991), Scottish racing driver who raced between 1930 and 1955
David Mathieson (b. 1978), retired Scottish professional association football goalkeeper
Catherine Mathieson (1818-1883), Scottish-born, New Zealand cheese and butter maker
Neil Mathieson (b. 1823), Scottish chemist and businessman
Willie Mathieson (b. 1943), Scottish former professional footballer
James Muir Mathieson (1911-1975), Scottish conductor and composer
William Mathieson (b. 1870), Scottish footballer
Alexander James Mathieson (1921-2022), Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (1944)
Ms. Cecilia Mathieson C.B.E., British Ministry of Defence, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Defence by Her Majesty The Queen 12
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Mathieson Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fac et Spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1826 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1826
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PHOEBE 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Phoebe.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 24th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) John Bunyan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/johnbunyan1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists