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

Mathias, 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 Mathias surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mathias in America

Mathias is the 4014th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mathias surname appeared 8,851 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Mathias.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mathias 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 Mathias

The surname Mathias originated in Ancient Greece, derived from the Hebrew name "Mattithyahu," which means "gift of God." It is believed to have been introduced to Europe during the spread of Christianity in the early centuries AD.

Mathias is a variant spelling of the name Matthias, which was the name of one of the twelve apostles in the New Testament. This apostolic connection likely contributed to the name's early popularity and spread throughout the Christian world.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mathias can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landowners in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name had already been established in parts of Europe by the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Mathias was particularly prevalent in Germany, France, and parts of Eastern Europe. It was often associated with religious figures and scholars, such as Mathias Flacius Illyricus (1520-1575), a prominent Lutheran reformer and theologian from Croatia.

In England, the surname Mathias has been documented as early as the 13th century, with records showing individuals like Richard Mathias, who lived in Somerset in 1275. The name was also found in various place names, such as Mathias Croft in Yorkshire, which was mentioned in records from the 14th century.

Notable individuals with the surname Mathias throughout history include:

1. Sir Rhys Mathias (c. 1553-1624), a Welsh politician and member of Parliament.
2. Benjamin Mathias (1634-1696), an English clergyman and author.
3. Thomas James Mathias (1766-1835), an English poet and satirist.
4. Adolphe Mathias (1812-1896), a French lawyer and writer.
5. Alphonse Mathias (1855-1923), a French politician and statesman.

The surname Mathias has been carried across continents and cultures, with variations in spelling and pronunciation reflecting the diverse regions where it has been adopted. While its roots can be traced back to ancient times, the name Mathias continues to resonate as a reminder of its biblical and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mathias

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

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

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

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