Contents [hide]

Matthewson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Canada New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Matthewson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The ancestors of the Matthewson family come from the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. Their surname 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 Matthewson family

The surname Matthewson 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 Matthewson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Matthewson 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 Matthewson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Matthewson Spelling Variations

Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Matthewson has been spelled Mathieson, MacMaghan, MacMathan MacMaken, Mathie, Mann and many more.

Early Notables of the Matthewson 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 Matthewson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Matthewson family to Ireland

Some of the Matthewson 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.

Matthewson migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Matthewson were among those contributors:

Matthewson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Donald Matthewson, who arrived in New York in 1842 4
E C Matthewson, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1849 4
R Matthewson, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1849 4

Matthewson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Matthewson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Matthewson, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Eliza" departing 17th July 1847 from Glasgow, Scotland; the ship arrived on 17th September 1847 but he died on board 5

Matthewson 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:

Matthewson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Joseph Matthewson, aged 18, a fisherman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Salisbury" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Matthewson (post 1700) +

Dale Wesley Matthewson (1923-1984), American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played in the 19423 season for the Philadelphia Phillies
Reuben C. Matthewson, American politician, Postmaster at Boonville, Indiana, 1841-45 6
Joseph Oscar Matthewson (1871-1926), American politician, Mayor of Ashland, Kentucky, 1906-10 6
George Matthewson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Hampshire, 1860 6
Darius Matthewson, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Pomfret, 1820-21, 1824, 1826, 1828 6
Bucklin Matthewson, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Lisbon, 1832-33 6
Reg Matthewson (b. 1939), former English professional footballer
Gillian Matthewson, New Zealand architect
Trevor Matthewson (b. 1963), English former professional footballer
Clive Denby Matthewson MNZM (b. 1944), New Zealand civil engineer and former politician
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Matthewson 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)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 85)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html