NameCensus.

UK surname

Matt

Derived from the Hebrew name "Matityahu," meaning "gift of Yahweh," or from the English surname "Matthew."

In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Matt surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 183, ranked #20,813, down from #19,296 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barking and Dagenham, North Kesteven and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matt is 309 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.0%.

1881 census count

104

Ranked #19,296

Modern count

183

2016, ranked #20,813

Peak year

1861

309 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Matt had 104 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,296 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016, ranked #20,813.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 309 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Matt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matt surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matt 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 309 #8,207
1881 historical 104 #19,296
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 146 #18,179
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 83 #29,617
2002 modern 82 #30,181
2003 modern 76 #30,883
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 115 #27,634
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 167 #22,180
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 183 #20,813

Geography

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Where Matts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, London parishes, St Pancras, Toxteth Park and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barking and Dagenham, North Kesteven, Leeds, Manchester and Basildon. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barking and Dagenham 001 Barking and Dagenham
2 North Kesteven 012 North Kesteven
3 Leeds 012 Leeds
4 Manchester 024 Manchester
5 Basildon 017 Basildon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matt

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matt

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Matt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Matt 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Matt is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Matt 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

Matt falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Matt 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Matt

The surname Matt is believed to have originated in Germany, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Germanic personal name Matthias or Matthew, which means "gift of God." This name was popularized by the biblical apostle Matthew.

In its earliest recorded forms, the surname was spelled Matth, Matte, or Matto. It was initially found in the northern German regions of Mecklenburg and Pomerania, as well as in parts of modern-day Poland and the Czech Republic. The name may have been adopted by families living in these areas who had ancestors named Matthew or Matthias.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Matt is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the former Margraviate of Brandenburg, dating back to the 13th century. This document mentions a certain "Henricus Matt" from the town of Prenzlau in the year 1281.

Another notable early bearer of the surname was Johann Matt, a German Protestant reformer and theologian who lived from 1492 to 1551. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and served as a minister in the city of Wittenberg, where he was a close associate of Martin Luther.

In the 16th century, the surname also appeared in various records from the Duchy of Bavaria, indicating its spread across different regions of Germany. For example, a certain Christoph Matt is mentioned in the records of the city of Augsburg in 1568.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Matt was also found in Switzerland, particularly in the canton of Zurich. One notable Swiss bearer of the name was Hans Rudolf Matt, a politician and diplomat who lived from 1663 to 1719. He served as the mayor of Zurich and represented the city in negotiations with foreign powers.

In the 19th century, the surname Matt began to appear in broader parts of Europe, likely due to increased migration and mobility. For instance, the Polish-German composer and pianist Ignacy Feliks Dobrzyński, who lived from 1807 to 1867, was born with the surname Matt, which was later polonized to Dobrzyński.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Matt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Matt 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. Middlesex leads with 20 Matts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 20 1.99x
Essex 12 6.05x
Leicestershire 9 8.08x
Midlothian 9 6.69x
Surrey 9 1.84x
Lancashire 8 0.67x
Suffolk 8 6.54x
Warwickshire 8 3.16x
Cornwall 5 4.40x
Berkshire 4 5.30x
Cheshire 2 0.90x
Devon 2 0.96x
Hampshire 2 0.97x
Argyllshire 1 3.58x
Lincolnshire 1 0.62x
Northamptonshire 1 1.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.74x
Sussex 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 11 Matts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.60x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 11 13.60x
Leicester St Margaret 9 33.14x
South Leith 9 59.41x
Little Wolford 8 11428.57x
Toxteth Park 8 19.82x
Betchworth 7 1166.67x
Chelmsford 6 176.47x
Antony 5 454.55x
Great Waltham 4 493.83x
Ipswich St Clement 4 128.62x
Stoke Newington London 4 51.09x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 72.29x
Wootton 3 2307.69x
Haslington 2 322.58x
Hendon 2 55.40x
Mile End Old Town 2 12.61x
Battersea 1 2.70x
East Budleigh 1 101.01x
Elmstead 1 312.50x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 20.88x
Great Creaton 1 909.09x
Hastings St Leonards 1 40.16x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 1 370.37x
Kilmallie 1 69.44x
Lambeth 1 1.14x
Northwood 1 34.13x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.85x
Paddington London 1 2.71x
Southampton All Sts 1 28.33x
Spalding 1 31.35x
West Mersea 1 263.16x
Wokingham 1 58.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Annie 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Lizzie 2
Phoebe 2
Althea 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Elise 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Gertruda 1
Heneretha 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Nelly 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 6
Alfred 4
George 4
Albert 2
Henry 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Clifford 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Gaiaus 1
Horace 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Matt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Matt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Matt surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Matt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 183 in 2016. That gives Matt a modern rank of #20,813.

What does the Matt surname mean?

Derived from the Hebrew name "Matityahu," meaning "gift of Yahweh," or from the English surname "Matthew."

What does the Matt map show?

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