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

Matta, 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 Matta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matta in America

Matta is the 6111th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matta surname appeared 5,610 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Matta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Matta 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 Matta

The surname Matta has its origins in Italy, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "matto," meaning "mad" or "foolish," and may have been used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who was considered eccentric or unconventional.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from the city of Genoa, dated 1185, which mentions a person named Guglielmo Matta. Another early reference is in a manuscript from the town of Orvieto in Umbria, from around 1230, where a certain Matteo Matta is listed among the local residents.

During the medieval period, the Matta name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Liguria, Tuscany, and Umbria. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name, as there are several small villages in Italy with similar names, such as Mattarello in the province of Trento, and Mattarana in the province of Cosenza.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the Matta name was Francesco Matta, a renowned painter from Siena who was active between 1350 and 1380. His works can still be found in various churches and museums across Tuscany.

Another famous individual with the Matta surname was Giulio Matta, a Venetian artist and engraver who lived from 1550 to 1616. He is best known for his intricate etchings and engravings, many of which depicted religious scenes and mythological subjects.

During the Renaissance period, the Matta family also produced several scholars and intellectuals, including Giovanni Battista Matta, a mathematician and astronomer from Genoa who lived from 1572 to 1644. He is credited with making significant contributions to the field of optics and for his work on the theory of refraction.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Benedetto Matta, a composer and violinist from Naples who lived from 1705 to 1778. He gained recognition for his instrumental works, particularly his violin concertos, which were widely performed throughout Europe during his lifetime.

As the Matta surname spread across Italy and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as Matti, Mattei, and Mattia. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and traditions, further enriching the history and diversity of this Italian surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matta

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

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

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

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