Find out how popular the first name Mateu has been for the last 3 years (from 2020 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Mateu by gender

Based on the last 3 years of data, Mateu is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Mateu.

The history of the first name Mateu

The name Mateu originated from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which is a combination of the Hebrew words "mattat" meaning "gift" and "Yah" referring to the Hebrew God Yahweh. It is the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek name Matthaios, which later became Matthew in English.

The name Mateu has its roots in ancient Judea and was used among the Jewish people as early as the 6th century BCE. It gained wider recognition during the 1st century CE with the apostle Matthew, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ mentioned in the New Testament.

In Catalonia, the name Mateu has been in use since the Middle Ages, and it is believed to have been brought to the region by Jewish settlers and later adopted by Christians. The earliest recorded instance of the name Mateu in Catalonia dates back to the 11th century.

One of the most famous historical figures with the name Mateu was Mateu Obrador i Bennàssar, a Majorcan philosopher and writer who lived from 1888 to 1973. He was a prominent figure in the Mallorcan cultural renaissance of the early 20th century.

Another notable figure was Mateu Alemany i Vall, a Catalan politician and lawyer who served as the Mayor of Barcelona from 1901 to 1904. He was born in 1856 and played a significant role in the modernization of Barcelona during the late 19th century.

In the world of art, Mateu Fernandez de Soto (1856-1942) was a Spanish painter and engraver known for his landscapes and genre scenes. His works are part of the collections of several museums in Spain and abroad.

In the realm of literature, Mateu Obrador i Soler (1923-1996) was a Majorcan writer and poet who made significant contributions to Catalan literature in the latter half of the 20th century.

Another historical figure with the name Mateu was Mateu Orfila (1787-1853), a Spanish physician and chemist who is considered one of the founders of modern toxicology. He made significant contributions to the study of poisons and their effects on the human body.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Mateu was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mateu, please contact us.

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