Find out how popular the last name Matchem is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Matchem.

Matchem, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Matchem surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matchem in America

Matchem is the 119508th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matchem surname appeared 145 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Matchem.

We can also compare 2010 data for Matchem to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Matchem

The surname "Matchem" is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English word "mæcce," meaning "mate" or "companion," and the word "ham," meaning "homestead" or "village." Thus, "Matchem" likely referred to someone who lived in a hamlet or settlement where people gathered or met.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Geoffrey de Machum in Lincolnshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1332 also mention a John de Machum in Yorkshire. These early spellings, such as "Machum" and "Macham," were common variations of the modern "Matchem" form.

During the late 13th century, the name "Matchem" was associated with a family that held lands in the village of Macham in Yorkshire. This place name, which shares a similar root to the surname, is thought to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the family name over time.

In the 16th century, the Matchem family gained prominence in Lincolnshire, with records indicating that a William Matchem (c. 1520-1585) served as a local magistrate and landowner. His son, John Matchem (1550-1621), was a prominent merchant and held the position of Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1601.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Matchem (1675-1738), a wealthy landowner and member of Parliament for Lincolnshire in the early 18th century. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his support for the Whig party during the reign of King George I.

In the world of horse racing, the name "Matchem" is associated with a famous Thoroughbred stallion born in 1748. Known as "Matchem," this horse was a highly successful racehorse and sire, and his bloodline had a significant influence on the development of the modern Thoroughbred breed.

While the surname "Matchem" is not among the most common in England today, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and is closely tied to the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matchem

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Matchem.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Matchem was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Matchem has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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