NameCensus.

UK surname

Matheson

Son of Matthew or Matthias, derived from the Hebrew name "Matityahu" meaning "gift of Yahweh."

In the 1881 census there were 4,103 people recorded with the Matheson surname, ranking it #1,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,730, ranked #1,822, down from #1,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barvas and Carloway, Edinburgh and Kilmuir. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sutherland South, Skye North East and Lochlash.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matheson is 4,189 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.1%.

1881 census count

4,103

Ranked #1,104

Modern count

3,730

2016, ranked #1,822

Peak year

1891

4,189 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Matheson had 4,103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,730 in 2016, ranked #1,822.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,189 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Matheson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matheson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matheson 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
1851 historical 4,101 #696
1861 historical 3,853 #727
1881 historical 4,103 #1,104
1891 historical 4,189 #1,148
1901 historical 4,053 #1,389
1911 historical 567 #7,127
1997 modern 3,285 #1,959
1998 modern 3,448 #1,942
1999 modern 3,509 #1,937
2000 modern 3,615 #1,878
2001 modern 3,470 #1,910
2002 modern 3,545 #1,916
2003 modern 3,464 #1,917
2004 modern 3,361 #1,969
2005 modern 3,382 #1,925
2006 modern 3,407 #1,905
2007 modern 3,436 #1,908
2008 modern 3,452 #1,922
2009 modern 3,513 #1,940
2010 modern 3,598 #1,937
2011 modern 3,557 #1,934
2012 modern 3,591 #1,873
2013 modern 3,673 #1,868
2014 modern 3,709 #1,861
2015 modern 3,687 #1,856
2016 modern 3,730 #1,822

Geography

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Where Mathesons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barvas and Carloway, Edinburgh, Kilmuir, Assynt and Dornoch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sutherland South, Skye North East, Lochlash, Northwest Lewis and Inverness West Rural. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Barvas and Carloway Ross And Cromarty
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Kilmuir Inverness
4 Assynt Sutherland
5 Dornoch Sutherland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sutherland South Highland
2 Skye North East Highland
3 Lochlash Highland
4 Northwest Lewis Na h-Eileanan Siar
5 Inverness West Rural Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matheson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matheson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Matheson, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Matheson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Matheson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Matheson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Matheson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Matheson falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Matheson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Matheson

The surname Matheson originates from Scotland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Mathanach," meaning "bear" or "son of the bear." The name was initially confined to the regions of Lochalsh and Lochcarron in the western Highlands of Scotland.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Matheson can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented the individuals who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. One entry in these rolls refers to "John Matheson of Lochcarron."

In the 16th century, the Mathesons were recognized as a prominent clan in the Scottish Highlands. They were known for their involvement in various feuds and battles with other clans, such as the MacDonalds and the Mackenzies.

The name Matheson has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded figures was Sir Roderick Matheson (c. 1565-1625), a Scottish soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Another prominent Matheson was Sir James Matheson (1796-1878), a Scottish businessman and co-founder of the Jardine Matheson Group, one of the oldest trading companies in Hong Kong.

In the literary world, the name Matheson is associated with Richard Matheson (1926-2013), an American author and screenwriter known for his works in the horror and science fiction genres, including "I Am Legend" and "The Shrinking Man."

Other notable figures with the surname Matheson include William Matheson (1853-1942), a Canadian politician and businessman, and Michelle Matheson (born 1981), a British actress known for her roles in television series like "The Bill" and "Game of Thrones."

The Matheson surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Matheson Island in Lochcarron and Matheson's Cove in the Isle of Skye, further cementing its Scottish roots and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Matheson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Matheson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Ross-shire leads with 1,347 Mathesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 122.79x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 1,347 122.79x
Inverness-shire 807 67.65x
Sutherland 557 181.33x
Caithness 183 33.46x
Midlothian 165 3.08x
Lanarkshire 153 1.18x
Middlesex 111 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 88 2.38x
Lancashire 74 0.16x
Argyllshire 62 5.58x
Dunbartonshire 57 5.31x
Perthshire 53 2.96x
Angus 46 1.24x
Renfrewshire 37 1.20x
Morayshire 35 5.64x
Banffshire 29 3.50x
Kent 28 0.21x
Northumberland 23 0.39x
Orkney 23 5.23x
Ayrshire 19 0.64x
Fife 19 0.80x
Surrey 18 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.28x
Stirlingshire 15 1.02x
Yorkshire 15 0.04x
Warwickshire 11 0.11x
Nairnshire 9 7.38x
Buteshire 8 3.31x
Essex 7 0.09x
Hampshire 7 0.09x
Westmorland 7 0.80x
Devon 6 0.07x
Gloucestershire 6 0.08x
Berwickshire 5 1.03x
Durham 5 0.04x
Cornwall 4 0.09x
Sussex 4 0.06x
Worcestershire 4 0.08x
Berkshire 3 0.10x
Cheshire 3 0.03x
Royal Navy 3 0.63x
Wiltshire 3 0.08x
Dorset 2 0.08x
Glamorgan 2 0.03x
Hertfordshire 2 0.07x
Norfolk 2 0.03x
Shropshire 2 0.06x
Wigtownshire 2 0.38x
Cumberland 1 0.03x
Denbighshire 1 0.07x
Derbyshire 1 0.02x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.11x
East Lothian 1 0.19x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.17x
Peeblesshire 1 0.53x
Roxburghshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lochalsh in Ross-shire leads with 313 Mathesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1109.93x.

Place Total Index
Lochalsh 313 1109.93x
Portree 146 330.77x
Kilmuir 131 373.54x
Inverness 130 43.32x
Stoer Assynt 128 669.46x
Dornoch 120 346.72x
Stornoway 115 80.43x
Uig 100 201.09x
Barvas 90 122.87x
Contin 87 436.75x
Lochbroom 84 146.67x
Snizort 71 238.66x
Govan 69 2.16x
Strath 66 182.02x
Creich 62 202.61x
Canisbay 56 155.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 55 2.55x
Lochs 54 61.83x
Urray 50 146.80x
Duirinish 48 78.93x
Rogart 48 283.02x
Lochcarron 47 235.71x
Gairloch 45 71.17x
Wick 42 23.77x
Campbeltown 40 29.82x
Cardross 39 30.26x
Barony 38 1.16x
Golspie 36 169.09x
Kiltearn 36 222.77x
Resolis 34 173.65x
Killearnan 33 227.90x
North Uist 33 70.88x
Hampstead London 32 5.14x
Logie Wester 31 157.36x
Kildonan 29 109.02x
Rosskeen 29 56.17x
Lairg 28 149.81x
Eddrachillis 27 129.37x
Thurso 27 31.65x
Kilmorack 25 69.12x
Tongue 25 94.20x
Applecross 24 77.85x
Kintail 24 253.97x
Assynt 23 122.60x
Edinburgh St Marys 23 22.11x
Glasgow 23 1.00x
Tain 23 55.36x
Fodderty 21 75.70x
Edinburgh St Georges 20 18.01x
Kiltarlity 20 68.35x
Everton 19 1.26x
Boleskine Abertarff 18 90.96x
Kirkhill 18 88.89x
Meldrum 17 54.56x
Clyne 16 64.62x
Duddingston 16 14.89x
Kincardine 16 79.29x
Knockbain 16 62.33x
Olrig 16 58.57x
Aberdeen Old Machar 15 1.94x
Dunnet 15 68.21x
St Marylebone London 15 0.70x
Bracadale 14 108.11x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 14 11.06x
Latheron 14 15.30x
Nottingham St Mary 14 1.01x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 13 1.88x
Dingwall 13 42.13x
Dundee 13 0.94x
Sleat 13 45.79x
West Greenock 13 2.34x
Harris 12 20.01x
Logie Easter 12 104.44x
Oyne 12 91.25x
Rutherglen 12 6.33x
South Ronaldshay 12 26.39x
Caputh 11 38.99x
Liff Benvie 11 1.96x
Paisley Middle Church 10 5.55x
Woolwich 10 1.99x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Matheson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Matheson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 25
William 18
James 17
Thomas 13
Donald 11
Duncan 7
George 6
Robert 5
Alexander 4
Daniel 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Hugh 4
Roderick 4
Edward 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
Charles 2
David 2
Farquhar 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Greville 2
Harold 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Angus 1
Anthony 1
Archd. 1
Archibald 1
Archibd. 1
Arthur 1
Doughald 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Ewiny 1
Findlay 1
Henzle 1
Herbert 1
Heyton 1
Jas. 1
Jon 1
Jorgene 1
Joseph 1
Kenneth 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1

FAQ

Matheson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Matheson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,103 people were recorded with the Matheson surname. That placed it at #1,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Matheson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,730 in 2016. That gives Matheson a modern rank of #1,822.

What does the Matheson surname mean?

Son of Matthew or Matthias, derived from the Hebrew name "Matityahu" meaning "gift of Yahweh."

What does the Matheson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Matheson 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.