NameCensus.

UK surname

Matthewson

Son of Matthew, derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu meaning "gift of God".

In the 1881 census there were 428 people recorded with the Matthewson surname, ranking it #7,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 731, ranked #7,448, up from #7,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newcastle All Saints, Gateshead and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Matthewson is 757 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.8%.

1881 census count

428

Ranked #7,587

Modern count

731

2016, ranked #7,448

Peak year

2010

757 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Matthewson had 428 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016, ranked #7,448.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 728 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Matthewson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Matthewson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Matthewson 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 458 #5,402
1861 historical 407 #6,306
1881 historical 428 #7,587
1891 historical 635 #6,097
1901 historical 728 #6,087
1911 historical 580 #7,013
1997 modern 697 #7,271
1998 modern 713 #7,369
1999 modern 723 #7,342
2000 modern 745 #7,140
2001 modern 722 #7,182
2002 modern 744 #7,153
2003 modern 736 #7,110
2004 modern 710 #7,313
2005 modern 698 #7,369
2006 modern 686 #7,491
2007 modern 708 #7,353
2008 modern 712 #7,380
2009 modern 725 #7,428
2010 modern 757 #7,330
2011 modern 750 #7,311
2012 modern 736 #7,331
2013 modern 746 #7,380
2014 modern 750 #7,378
2015 modern 740 #7,394
2016 modern 731 #7,448

Geography

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Where Matthewsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newcastle All Saints, Gateshead, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Tynemouth and Unst. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland and Broadland. 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 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Tynemouth Northumberland
5 Unst Shetland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
2 Broadland 004 Broadland
3 Broadland 005 Broadland
4 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
5 Broadland 006 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Matthewson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Matthewson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Matthewson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Matthewson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Matthewson is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Matthewson is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Matthewson falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Matthewson

The surname Matthewson has its origins in England. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally derived from the given name of an ancestor. In this case, Matthewson indicates "son of Matthew." The name Matthew itself comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of Yahweh."

The earliest known record of the surname Matthewson dates back to the late 12th century in Yorkshire, England. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was William Matthewson, who was mentioned in the Chartulary of Rievaulx Abbey in 1195.

In the 13th century, the surname Matthewson appears in various historical records across northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Northumberland. For instance, a Robert Matthewson was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1279.

The Matthewson surname can also be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records of landholders in England. One notable entry is that of Thomas Matthewson, who was listed as a landholder in the county of Yorkshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Matthewson was sometimes spelled with variations such as Mathewson, Mathison, and Matthison. These different spellings were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Matthewson surname to achieve historical significance was John Matthewson, a member of the Parliament of England who represented the city of York in the mid-15th century.

Another notable individual with this surname was Sir Richard Matthewson, who lived during the late 16th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1585. He was a successful merchant and played a role in the establishment of the East India Company.

In the 17th century, the Matthewson surname spread further across England, with records showing bearers of the name in various counties, including Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. One prominent figure from this period was William Matthewson, a scholar and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

Other notable individuals with the surname Matthewson include George Matthewson, a 19th-century Scottish inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of the steam engine, and James Matthewson, a British soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later wrote memoirs about his experiences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Matthewson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Matthewson 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. Northumberland leads with 162 Matthewsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.96x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 162 25.96x
Fife 43 17.32x
Durham 41 3.29x
Angus 35 9.01x
Middlesex 22 0.52x
Warwickshire 20 1.89x
Kent 10 0.70x
Stirlingshire 9 5.82x
Surrey 8 0.39x
Yorkshire 7 0.17x
Hampshire 6 0.70x
Lanarkshire 6 0.44x
Midlothian 6 1.07x
Norfolk 6 0.93x
Shetland 6 14.01x
Lancashire 5 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.03x
Cheshire 4 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.71x
Berwickshire 3 5.91x
Perthshire 3 1.59x
Derbyshire 2 0.30x
Devon 2 0.23x
Kincardineshire 2 3.92x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 3.29x
Roxburghshire 2 2.63x
Cornwall 1 0.21x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.08x
East Lothian 1 1.80x
Inverness-shire 1 0.80x
Lincolnshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.00x
Selkirkshire 1 2.64x
Shropshire 1 0.28x
West Lothian 1 1.58x
Westmorland 1 1.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne All Sts in Northumberland leads with 27 Matthewsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.44x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 27 72.44x
Wemyss 27 256.90x
Tynemouth 21 62.84x
Ford 18 789.47x
Elswick 15 30.11x
Gateshead 13 13.91x
Birmingham 11 3.12x
Lowick 11 506.91x
North South Gosforth 11 1375.00x
Byker 10 32.41x
Dundee 10 6.89x
Paston 10 4000.00x
Aston 9 3.09x
Falkirk 9 24.86x
Liff Benvie 9 15.26x
Dawdon 8 52.12x
Kyo 8 136.29x
Bromley London 7 7.59x
Dysart 7 41.87x
Inverkeillor 7 290.46x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 7 85.26x
Ryton 7 159.82x
Swanscombe 7 108.86x
Branxton 6 1875.00x
Glanton 6 833.33x
Unst 6 191.69x
Duddingston 5 44.33x
Haveringland 5 2941.18x
Loan End 5 2380.95x
Milfield 5 2000.00x
Northwood 5 40.85x
Penge 5 18.66x
Carham 4 246.91x
Isleworth 4 21.45x
Leslie 4 63.59x
Stoke Newington London 4 12.24x
Winlaton 4 33.42x
York St Lawrence 4 92.38x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 4.13x
Birkenhead 3 4.06x
Channelkirk 3 344.83x
Forfar 3 14.26x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.05x
Paddington London 3 1.95x
Perth East Church 3 16.90x
St Vigeans 3 14.30x
Aberdour 2 80.00x
Barony 2 0.58x
Battersea 2 1.30x
Burntisland 2 28.82x
Derby St Peter 2 9.56x
Govan 2 0.60x
Kirkdale 2 2.39x
Laurencekirk 2 67.57x
Lee 2 9.62x
St Pancras London 2 0.59x
Urr 2 25.32x
Westgate 2 5.17x
Ashkirk 1 138.89x
Biggar 1 32.57x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.93x
Carlaverock 1 66.23x
Cheetham 1 2.69x
Devonport 1 9.97x
Hornsea 1 37.88x
Huyton With Roby 1 17.15x
Inverness 1 3.17x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.04x
Lidford 1 25.51x
Longbenton 1 3.78x
Mirfield 1 4.38x
Monifieth 1 7.28x
New Monkland 1 2.49x
Newark Upon Trent 1 4.92x
Norwich St Clement 1 13.37x
Southampton All Sts 1 6.78x
St Bartholomew By 1 344.83x
Whitchurch 1 14.22x
Winterton 1 43.48x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 1 12.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Margaret 14
Elizabeth 13
Jane 10
Ellen 7
Isabella 7
Sarah 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Ann 4
Ada 3
Eliza 3
Louisa 3
Catherne 2
Dorothy 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Charlotte 1
Davina 1
Eleanora 1
Elspeth 1
Emiley 1
Emma 1
Enid 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
J.Ann 1
Janet 1
Jeffrey 1
Joan 1
Johannah 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Mildred 1
Patience 1
Phylis 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
James 18
William 14
Thomas 12
George 9
Robert 9
Alexander 7
Charles 4
Isaac 4
Matthew 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Andrew 3
Henry 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
Alexdr. 1
Alexr. 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
G.A. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jos. 1
Lawrance 1
Mather 1
Michael 1
Oswald 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Simeon 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Matthewson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Matthewson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 428 people were recorded with the Matthewson surname. That placed it at #7,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Matthewson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 731 in 2016. That gives Matthewson a modern rank of #7,448.

What does the Matthewson surname mean?

Son of Matthew, derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu meaning "gift of God".

What does the Matthewson map show?

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