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Mathis History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Mathis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Germany

The German surname Mathis emerged in the lands that formed the powerful German state of Prussia, which at one time was an immense territory that stretched from France and the Low Countries to the Baltic sea and Poland. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the German territories were inhabited by a variety of barbarian tribes. The borders of the barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known as Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in the unification of Germany.

Early Origins of the Mathis family

The surname Mathis was first found in Prussia, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation, and would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. The name stems from two sources which were continually mixed up throughout the Middle Ages, so they can no longer be differentiated: one was Matthaeus the Evangelist, who was patron saint of tax collectors, and the other was Mattias (Hebrew for "gift of the gods",) who was one of the twelve Apostles. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in local social and political affairs.

Early History of the Mathis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mathis research. Another 146 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1504, 1558, 1565, 1681, 1710, 1727, 1761, 1764, 1809, 1811 and 1831 are included under the topic Early Mathis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mathis Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Mathis include Mathias, Matthias, Mathius, Matthius, Matheus, Mathesius, Matheson, Matthisson, Mathies, Mathiessen, Thiessen and many more.

Early Notables of the Mathis family

Notable figures of the time with the name Mathis were

His patron was Duke Friedrich of Wuerttemberg, who raised Mathisson to the nobility in 1809 and appointed him theater director in 1811...

Mathis Ranking

In the United States, the name Mathis is the 483^rd most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Mathis is ranked the 594^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,896 people with that name. 2

Mathis migration to the United States +

The state of Prussia was a great influence on the shape of modern Germany. After the Second World War, Prussia's land was divided among the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany and the state was abolished. Some Prussians remained in those countries after the war, while many others migrated to North America in search of a new start. Philadelphia was their primary point of entry to the United States, after which many of them moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. A large number of Prussians also migrated to Ontario and the prairie provinces as United Empire Loyalists. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Mathiss to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Mathis Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ann Mathis, who landed in Virginia in 1636 3

Mathis Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Jacob Mathis, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 3

Mathis Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christian Mathis, who arrived in New York in 1847 3
Cathrine Mathis, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1852 3
Jean Mathis, aged 57, who arrived in New York, NY in 1852 3
John C Mathis, who landed in Indiana in 1852 3
Madeleine Mathis, aged 23, who arrived in New York, NY in 1852 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Mathis (post 1700) +

Johnny Mathis (b. 1935), American popular music singer, inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Bill Mathis (1938-2020), American college and professional football player for the New York Titans/Jets (1960–1969)
Marvin Dawson Mathis (1940-2017), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia (1971-1981)
Samantha Mathis (b. 1970), American Screen Actors Guild Award and Young Artist Award nominated actress, American Psycho (2000), Buried (2010) and Broken Arrow (1996)
Robert Nathan Mathis (b. 1981), American NFL football outside linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts
Reginald Levi Mathis (b. 1956), former American football linebacker who played from 1979 to 1990
Rashean Jamil Mathis (b. 1980), American NFL football cornerback for the Detroit Lions
Kevin Bryant Mathis (b. 1974), former American NFL football cornerback who played from 1997 to 2006
Jeffrey Stephen "Jeff" Mathis (b. 1983), American Major League Baseball catcher for the Miami Marlin
Douglas Alan "Doug" Mathis (b. 1983), American Major League Baseball pitcher
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Mathis family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Donald Lee Mathis (1966-1985), American Private from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 4

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Henry F. Mathis, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Mrs. Dorothy Caroline Mathis, (nee Rottman), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Miss Dorothy Fay Mathis, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550