Mattheson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The surname Mattheson is a patronymic name derived from the well known first name Matthew. This name is ultimately derived from the Hebrew personal name "Mattathaigh," meaning "gift of Jehovah;" it was Latinized as Matthaeus and Mathaeus. It was introduced to England by the Normans, and quickly became quite a popular name.

Early Origins of the Mattheson family

The surname Mattheson was first found in the Domesday Book in 1086, listed as Mathiu and Matheus. They family came to England following the invasion of William the Conquerer in 1066.

Early History of the Mattheson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Mattheson research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1260, 1273, 1395, 1546, 1577, 1628, 1655, 1790, 1797, 1824, 1856, 1863, 1889, 1890 and 1941 are included under the topic Early Mattheson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mattheson Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Matthew, Matthews, Matthewson, Matheson, Mathew, Mathews and many more.

Early Notables of the Mattheson family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Tobias Matthew (1546-1628), Archbishop of York, statesman and writer; Sir Tobie Matthew (1577-1655), English MP, courtier, diplomat and writer; Father Theobald Mathew (1790-1856), who campaigned in Ireland...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Mattheson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Mattheson family to Ireland

Some of the Mattheson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 108 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Mattheson migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Mattheson or a variant listed above:

Mattheson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Kenneth Mattheson, aged 37, who landed in Alexandria, Va in 1801 1
Mary Ann Mattheson, aged 30, who arrived in Alexandria, Va in 1801 1

Mattheson 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:

Mattheson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Christina Mattheson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 2
Miss Isabella Mattheson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 2
Mrs. M. Mattheson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Mattheson (post 1700) +

Johann Mattheson (1681-1764), German composer

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html