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

Mathena, 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 Mathena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mathena in America

Mathena is the 18523rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mathena surname appeared 1,490 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Mathena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mathena 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 Mathena

The surname Mathena has its origins in the Middle Ages, tracing back to the ancient region of Gaul, which is present-day France. It is derived from the Latin word "matthaeus," meaning "gift of God." This name was likely brought to the area by early Christian missionaries.

In the 7th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Mathien, Mathieu, and Mathey, in regions like Normandy and Brittany. It was during this period that the name began to spread across Europe, carried by traders, soldiers, and settlers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mathena can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Here, the name is listed as "Mathenet," belonging to a landholder in the county of Somerset, England.

By the 12th century, the name had evolved into its modern spelling, Mathena, and was particularly prevalent in the regions of Normandy and Picardy in northern France. It was during this time that the name began to appear in historical records and chronicles, often associated with notable figures.

One such figure was Mathena de Montfort, a Norman knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart during the Third Crusade (1189-1192). Another notable bearer of the name was Mathena de Châtillon, a French noblewoman born in 1245, who played a significant role in the court of King Louis IX.

In the 14th century, the name spread further across Europe, with records showing Mathena families in regions like Germany, Italy, and Spain. One notable individual from this period was Mathena von Nürnberg (1320-1392), a German merchant and banker who significantly contributed to the economic development of the city of Nuremberg.

As the centuries passed, the Mathena name continued to spread and evolve, with various branches establishing themselves in different parts of Europe and beyond. One notable figure from the 16th century was Mathena de Soto (1495-1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who played a crucial role in the exploration and colonization of Florida.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Mathena was particularly prominent in regions like Scotland and Ireland, where it was often associated with influential families and clans. One such individual was Mathena MacGregor (1670-1734), a Scottish clan chief known for his leadership during the Jacobite risings.

In the 19th century, as immigration to the Americas increased, the Mathena name began to appear in records across North and South America. One notable figure from this period was Mathena Pérez (1845-1912), a Mexican politician and statesman who served as the governor of the state of Nuevo León.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mathena

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

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

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

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