NameCensus.

UK surname

Matos

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, derived from the word "mato," meaning "thicket, brush, or scrubland."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Lambeth and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matos is 422 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

2016

422 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Matos surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matos surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matos 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 #33,412
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1911 historical 1 #34,332
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 116 #25,089
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 150 #21,669
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 194 #18,512
2006 modern 230 #16,690
2007 modern 243 #16,243
2008 modern 270 #15,219
2009 modern 295 #14,594
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 312 #14,230
2012 modern 351 #12,942
2013 modern 369 #12,655
2014 modern 401 #11,979
2015 modern 409 #11,713
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Matos' 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 Brent, Lambeth, Boston and Willowbrae and Duddingston Village. 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 Brent 031 Brent
2 Lambeth 008 Lambeth
3 Lambeth 022 Lambeth
4 Boston 002 Boston
5 Willowbrae and Duddingston Village City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matos

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matos

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Matos surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Matos household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Matos is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Matos 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

Matos 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 Matos 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
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Matos

The surname Matos originated in Portugal, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "mattus," meaning "insane" or "foolish," suggesting that it may have been initially used as a nickname for someone perceived as eccentric or unconventional.

One of the earliest known references to the Matos surname can be found in a Portuguese census record from 1497, where a certain João de Matos is listed as a resident of Lisbon. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the Matos surname began to spread across the Portuguese empire, with notable individuals bearing the name appearing in various parts of the world. One such person was Gaspar de Matos, a Portuguese explorer and navigator who participated in the conquest of Brazil in the early 1500s.

As Portugal's influence expanded, the Matos surname also found its way to other parts of the world, including Africa and Asia. In the 17th century, a Portuguese soldier named Manuel de Matos served as the governor of the Portuguese colony of Mozambique in East Africa.

The Matos surname has also been historically associated with various place names in Portugal. For example, the village of Matos in the northern region of Portugal likely derives its name from the surname itself, suggesting that it may have been a settlement established by individuals bearing the Matos name.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Matos surname. These include:

1. Gregório de Matos (1636-1696), a Brazilian poet and satirist known for his biting criticism of colonial society and the Portuguese aristocracy.

2. José Vieira Couto de Matos (1782-1839), a Portuguese military officer who served as the governor of Macau from 1831 to 1839.

3. Andrés Matos (1923-2003), a Cuban painter and sculptor renowned for his abstract expressionist works.

4. Gilberto Matos (1929-2014), a Brazilian composer and guitarist who played a significant role in the development of bossa nova music.

5. Luiz Eduardo Matos (born 1953), a Brazilian journalist and writer who has authored several books on Brazilian history and culture.

While the Matos surname may have had humble beginnings as a nickname, it has since become a respected and widely recognized name, reflecting the diverse and far-reaching influence of Portuguese culture and exploration throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Matos surname: questions and answers

How common is the Matos surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Matos a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Matos surname mean?

A surname of Spanish and Portuguese origin, derived from the word "mato," meaning "thicket, brush, or scrubland."

What does the Matos map show?

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