NameCensus.

UK surname

Mathai

An Indian surname derived from the Hebrew name "Matthew" meaning "gift of God".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Cambridge and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mathai is 233 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

2010

233 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Mathai surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mathai surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mathai surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mathai over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1997 modern 32 #34,472
1998 modern 33 #34,532
1999 modern 35 #34,418
2000 modern 39 #34,066
2001 modern 39 #33,923
2002 modern 55 #32,831
2003 modern 60 #32,446
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 121 #24,947
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 227 #17,733
2012 modern 208 #18,720
2013 modern 218 #18,441
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Mathais are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hounslow, Cambridge, Sheffield and Watford. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hounslow 011 Hounslow
2 Cambridge 008 Cambridge
3 Sheffield 013 Sheffield
4 Sheffield 020 Sheffield
5 Watford 011 Watford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mathai

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mathai surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mathai

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mathai, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Mathai surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mathai household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Mathai is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mathai is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mathai falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mathai is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mathai, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mathai

The surname MATHAI is believed to have originated from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the southern state of Kerala. It is thought to be derived from the Malayalam words "Maththai" or "Mathan," which were used to refer to a person engaged in fishing or related maritime activities.

The earliest known records of the surname MATHAI can be traced back to the 16th century in various local documents and records maintained by village councils and religious institutions in Kerala. One notable early reference to the name is found in a palm leaf manuscript from the year 1567, which mentions a person named "Mathai Kurien" as a witness to a land transaction.

During the colonial era, the MATHAI surname gained prominence among the Christian communities of Kerala, particularly the Syrian Christians and Latin Catholics. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name include Thomas MATHAI (1670-1742), a prominent merchant and philanthropist from the town of Kochi, and Kurian MATHAI (1705-1778), a respected community leader and landowner from the town of Alappuzha.

As the centuries progressed, the MATHAI surname spread beyond the confines of Kerala, with many members of the community migrating to other parts of India and abroad. Notable individuals bearing the surname include Dr. Mammen MATHAI (1890-1979), a pioneering Indian ophthalmologist and the founder of the prestigious Madras Medical Mission, and Sir John MATHAI (1886-1959), an eminent Indian civil servant and diplomat who served as the first Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Other notable individuals with the MATHAI surname include Dr. C.P. MATHAI (1888-1971), a renowned educator and the first Indian principal of the prestigious Loyola College in Chennai, and Dr. George MATHAI (1912-2003), a renowned physicist and the founder of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in Pune.

While the MATHAI surname is predominantly found among the Christian communities of Kerala, it has also been adopted by other communities over time, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mathai surname: questions and answers

How common is the Mathai surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Mathai a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Mathai surname mean?

An Indian surname derived from the Hebrew name "Matthew" meaning "gift of God".

What does the Mathai map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mathai bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.