NameCensus.

UK surname

Mathew

A variant of the surname Matthew, derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning "gift of Yahweh."

In the 1881 census there were 1,126 people recorded with the Mathew surname, ranking it #3,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,998, ranked #2,242, up from #3,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Markinch, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Worcester and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mathew is 3,043 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 166.3%.

1881 census count

1,126

Ranked #3,540

Modern count

2,998

2016, ranked #2,242

Peak year

2014

3,043 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mathew had 1,126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,998 in 2016, ranked #2,242.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,829 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Mathew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mathew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mathew 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 1,751 #1,647
1861 historical 2,829 #1,033
1881 historical 1,126 #3,540
1891 historical 1,349 #3,225
1901 historical 665 #6,529
1911 historical 630 #6,588
1997 modern 607 #8,081
1998 modern 664 #7,782
1999 modern 648 #7,966
2000 modern 656 #7,883
2001 modern 642 #7,873
2002 modern 788 #6,856
2003 modern 892 #6,134
2004 modern 1,178 #4,886
2005 modern 1,585 #3,753
2006 modern 1,967 #3,140
2007 modern 2,115 #2,965
2008 modern 2,365 #2,707
2009 modern 2,555 #2,596
2010 modern 2,775 #2,461
2011 modern 2,858 #2,381
2012 modern 2,954 #2,269
2013 modern 2,966 #2,298
2014 modern 3,043 #2,248
2015 modern 3,032 #2,227
2016 modern 2,998 #2,242

Geography

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Where Mathews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Markinch, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, London parishes, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Worcester, Croydon, Harlow and Newham. 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 Markinch Fife
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 009 Mid Sussex
2 Worcester 010 Worcester
3 Croydon 019 Croydon
4 Harlow 004 Harlow
5 Newham 018 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mathew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mathew

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mathew, 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 Mathew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Mathew 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, Mathew 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

Mathew 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

Mathew falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mathew 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 Mathew, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mathew

The surname Mathew has its origins in the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of God." The name was later Anglicized and adopted as a surname in various European countries, particularly in England and Wales.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Mathew can be traced back to the late 11th century in England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Mathew de Mohun, who was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding lands in Somerset, England.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Mathew was often associated with places names, such as Mathew of Gloucester, referring to an individual from the city of Gloucester. The spelling variations of the name were numerous, including Mathew, Matthew, Mathewe, and Mattheus, among others.

Notable historical figures with the surname Mathew include Sir Toby Mathew (1577-1655), an English politician and courtier during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. Another prominent figure was Sir Francis Mathew (1530-1615), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament for Pembrokeshire.

In the 18th century, Admiral Thomas Mathews (1676-1751) was a British naval officer who played a significant role in the War of Jenkins' Ear against Spain. He is remembered for his involvement in the Battle of Toulon in 1744.

The 19th century saw the rise of Theobald Mathew (1790-1856), an Irish Catholic priest and pioneer of the temperance movement in Ireland. His efforts to promote abstinence from alcohol significantly impacted Irish society and earned him widespread recognition.

Another notable figure with the surname Mathew was Sir John Charles Mathew (1849-1920), an English jurist and judge who served as a Lord Justice of Appeal and was known for his legal writings and contributions to the field of law.

Throughout history, the surname Mathew has been associated with various professions, including landowners, politicians, military figures, religious leaders, and jurists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mathew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mathew 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. Angus leads with 144 Mathews recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.18x.

County Total Index
Angus 144 14.18x
Middlesex 144 1.31x
Lancashire 128 0.98x
Aberdeenshire 62 6.11x
Surrey 59 1.10x
Fife 53 8.17x
Cornwall 45 3.63x
Suffolk 41 3.07x
Glamorgan 33 1.73x
Yorkshire 32 0.29x
Midlothian 28 1.91x
Devon 23 1.01x
Kent 19 0.51x
Staffordshire 19 0.51x
Lanarkshire 18 0.51x
Warwickshire 18 0.65x
Durham 17 0.52x
Carmarthenshire 15 3.25x
Cardiganshire 14 5.23x
Essex 12 0.55x
Sussex 11 0.60x
Huntingdonshire 10 4.59x
Oxfordshire 10 1.48x
Pembrokeshire 10 2.87x
Denbighshire 9 2.17x
Hampshire 9 0.40x
Northumberland 9 0.55x
Kincardineshire 8 5.99x
Monmouthshire 8 1.01x
Norfolk 8 0.47x
Flintshire 7 2.38x
Dorset 6 0.83x
Morayshire 6 3.52x
Rutland 6 7.45x
Stirlingshire 6 1.48x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.75x
Cheshire 5 0.21x
Cumberland 5 0.53x
Dunbartonshire 5 1.70x
Leicestershire 5 0.41x
Perthshire 5 1.02x
Radnorshire 5 5.65x
Somerset 5 0.28x
Hertfordshire 4 0.53x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.27x
Banffshire 3 1.32x
Gloucestershire 3 0.14x
Worcestershire 3 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.29x
Channel Islands 2 0.62x
Peeblesshire 2 3.88x
Renfrewshire 2 0.24x
Shropshire 2 0.21x
Anglesey 1 0.51x
Berkshire 1 0.12x
Buteshire 1 1.51x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.22x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.77x
Selkirkshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 60 Mathews recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.82x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 60 15.82x
Mile End Old Town 27 15.60x
Liff Benvie 25 16.21x
Hackney London 23 3.74x
Liverpool 17 2.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 2.54x
Llanelly 15 14.41x
Islington London 13 1.22x
Wardleworth 13 17.48x
Camberwell 12 1.71x
Croydon 12 4.05x
Cruden 12 91.74x
Montrose 12 19.49x
Wuerdle Wardle 12 30.39x
Carnock 11 277.08x
Lewtrenchard 11 948.28x
Peterhead 11 20.48x
Lambeth 10 1.05x
Norton 10 357.14x
St Vigeans 10 18.24x
Tresmeer 10 1538.46x
Wemyss 10 36.42x
Oldham 9 2.14x
Settle 9 108.17x
St Neots 9 76.08x
Blatchinworth 8 27.01x
Cardiff St Mary 8 7.61x
Clase 8 11.27x
Ellon 8 57.27x
Kennethmont 8 212.20x
Llandilo Talybont 8 79.84x
Moss Side 8 11.69x
St George Hanover 8 5.59x
Aston 7 0.92x
Barony 7 0.78x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.47x
Brechin 7 17.54x
Brymbo 7 48.54x
Govan 7 0.80x
Mirfield 7 11.74x
Mold 7 26.19x
Newington 7 1.73x
Rumney 7 419.16x
St George In East 7 9.39x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 7 18.69x
Wendron 7 40.63x
Barrow In Furness 6 3.39x
Beckenham 6 12.27x
Burton Upon Trent 6 6.93x
Everton 6 1.45x
Great Casterton 6 495.87x
Inveresk 6 15.09x
Kirkden 6 94.49x
Knettishall 6 2068.97x
Lanlivery 6 115.16x
Llanilar 6 191.08x
Markinch 6 27.22x
Paddington London 6 1.49x
Portsea 6 1.36x
Shoreditch London 6 1.26x
Tremaine 6 1818.18x
Urquhart 6 74.53x
Willesden 6 5.81x
Birmingham 5 0.54x
Castleton 5 3.85x
Clapham 5 3.65x
Cwmdauddwr 5 174.83x
Earsdon 5 37.68x
Edgbaston 5 5.83x
Ensham 5 142.45x
Manningham 5 3.74x
Newtyle 5 145.35x
Pakenham 5 138.89x
Pembroke St Mary 5 11.14x
Ramsgate 5 8.19x
Saltash 5 51.92x
St Pancras London 5 0.57x
Woodstock 5 117.65x
Wycombe 5 10.12x
Wymondham 5 29.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Elizabeth 26
Jane 22
Sarah 20
Eliza 17
Emma 16
Annie 15
Ann 13
Ellen 11
Hannah 10
Emily 9
Margaret 9
Alice 8
Charlotte 8
Esther 7
Caroline 6
Catherine 6
Louisa 6
Martha 6
Harriet 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Anna 4
Maria 4
Ada 3
Beatrice 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Matilda 3
Anne 2
Barbra 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Flora 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
H. 2
Helen 2
Jemima 2
Lizzie 2
Margt. 2
Maud 2
Millicent 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Susan 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 33
Thomas 28
George 21
James 19
Charles 18
Henry 18
Joseph 12
Richard 11
Edward 10
Walter 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
David 7
Harry 7
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Herbert 5
Alexander 4
Jas. 4
Francis 3
Percy 3
Andrew 2
Frank 2
Harold 2
Hugh 2
Jonah 2
Norman 2
Peter 2
Sidney 2
Theobald 2
Thos. 2
Uriah 2
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Cheshold 1
Chs. 1
Clara 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
F.A. 1
Fredck.Wm. 1
Hezekiah 1
Hubert 1
J.M. 1
J.P. 1

FAQ

Mathew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mathew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,126 people were recorded with the Mathew surname. That placed it at #3,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mathew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,998 in 2016. That gives Mathew a modern rank of #2,242.

What does the Mathew surname mean?

A variant of the surname Matthew, derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu, meaning "gift of Yahweh."

What does the Mathew map show?

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