Find out how popular the first name Matthijs has been for the last 6 years (from 2014 to 2019) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Matthijs by gender

Based on the last 6 years of data, Matthijs is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2019, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Matthijs.

The history of the first name Matthijs

Matthijs is a masculine given name of Dutch origin, derived from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, which means "gift of Yahweh" or "given by God." The name was introduced to the Netherlands during the Middle Ages, likely through the influence of Christian biblical texts and religious teachings.

The earliest known historical figure bearing the name Matthijs was Matthijs van Boulogne, a Dutch-born Franciscan friar who lived in the 13th century. He is known for his work as a preacher and missionary, spreading the Christian faith in the Low Countries.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the infamous Matthijs the Baker, also known as Jan Matthijsz, a Dutch Anabaptist leader who played a significant role in the Münster Rebellion of 1534-1535. Despite his radical beliefs and eventual demise, his story has been documented in various historical accounts of the Protestant Reformation.

During the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, the name Matthijs was associated with several notable figures, including Matthijs Maris, a renowned Dutch painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. Another prominent bearer of the name was Matthijs Calckoen, a Dutch merchant and diplomat who served as the governor-general of the Dutch East Indies from 1636 to 1641.

In the 18th century, Matthijs Naiveu, a Dutch architect and engineer, made significant contributions to the development of Amsterdam's infrastructure, designing several bridges and canals in the city.

Fast forward to the 20th century, Matthijs Verhooghen was a Dutch resistance fighter during World War II, known for his bravery and involvement in sabotage operations against the Nazi occupation forces.

It is worth noting that variations of the name, such as Matthias and Matthew, have been used across different cultures and regions, reflecting the name's enduring popularity and historical significance.

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 Matthijs was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!