A male name. Hebrew Mattathiah ‘gift of Jehovah’, became Ματθίος or Ματθίας in Greek and Matthaeus or Matthias in Latin. The name was introduced into England by the Normans and Matthiu seu Macy is a tenant mentioned in Domesday Book. Matheu (latinized as Matheus) was the usual French form, together with the nickname Macy and Macey. From this are derived the surnames Mayhew, Mayo, Mayow, Mayhow, Mace and Macey. Mace or Macy is sometimes found used as an independent name and latinized as Maceus, Macius. Another French diminutive was Machin, Machon which gave rise to the surnames Machen, Machin, Machon. Mathew, Mathews,Mathewson, Matheson (all spelt in many ways) are derived from the English Mathew; Maton, Matkin, Matterson are from the English nickname Mat; Maycock and Maykin from the nickname May, with the suffixes -cock and -kin. These surnames are only a selection of the derivatives of Mathew and they give some measure of its popularity in the 12th-14th C. It continued in general use, though less frequent, after the Reformation. The English versions of the Bible rendered the name variously, and in the Authorized Version of the Bible Mattathiah is used in the Old Testament, Matthew for the Evangelist, and Matthias for the disciple who was chosen to take the place of Judas. Matthias, accordingly, was sometimes used in the 17th C as a christian name.

Mattheus Domesday Book 1086. Matheus Curia Regis Rolls 1166, Hundred Rolls 1273, Feudal Aids 1316. Mathiu seu Macy Domesday Book 1086. Mathie, Matheu 14th-C Legendary. Matheu Exchequer Rolls 1306, Yorks Poll Tax of West Riding of Yorkshire 1379 1379. Mathewe Cocke Lorelle’s Bote c. 1515. Mathy, Mathey Hundred Rolls 1273. Macius, Mace, Masse Hundred Rolls 1273. Maheu Hundred Rolls 1273. Maye HR1273. Mayeu Writs of Parl 1300.

The Hebrew Mattaniah, ‘gift of the Lord,’ became, in Greek, Ματθαίος (Mat-thaios) and Ματθίαος (Mat-thias), Latin Matthaus and Matthias: while Matthew and Matthias are doublets, it is more precise to derive the former from Matthœus, the latter from Latin Matthias. Although Matthias has generated a surname, as indeed has Matthew in the form of Matthews (? direct from Latin or German Matthœus), Matthias has never been nearly so popular in England as in Austria and Germany, and even Matthew (contrast John, Mark, Peter) is fast losing ground here. (Yonge.)

From the Greek name Ματθαιος, Μαθθαιος, which, like Matthias, is a contraction of Mattathias, for מַתִּתְיָה, Mattathiah; from máttah-Yah, the gift of Jehovah. Conf. the name Theodore. The nickname of Matthew is Mat.

Hebrew (masculine) - God’s gift.

Math'-yew, given, a reward. An apostle and evangelist, son of Alpheus, a Galilean by birth, a Jew by religion, and a publican by profession. Mark ii. 14; Luke v. 27. He was called by the other Evangelists by his Hebrew name Levi; but he always calls himself Matthew. See his Gospel.

Meaning: an abbreviated form of Mattathias.

A Hebrew name, meaning: God’s gift.