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

Matte, 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 Matte surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matte in America

Matte is the 11216th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matte surname appeared 2,819 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 Matte.

We can also compare 2010 data for Matte 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 Matte

The surname Matte has its origins in the northern regions of France, particularly in the area of Normandy. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "matte," which means "mat" or "dull." This could potentially suggest that the name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with dull or lackluster hair or complexion.

The earliest known record of the surname Matte dates back to the 12th century, where it appears in the ancient rolls and manuscripts of Normandy. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Livre Noir, a medieval cartulary from the abbey of St. Wandrille, which contains records dating back to the early 12th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Matte was frequently associated with various place names in Normandy, such as Matte-en-Vexin, Matte-d'Avranches, and Matte-sur-Risle. These place names likely played a role in the widespread adoption of the surname among families residing in those areas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Matte was Guillaume Matte, a Norman nobleman who lived in the late 12th century. Records indicate that he participated in the Third Crusade, which took place between 1189 and 1192.

Another notable figure was Jean Matte, a French merchant and explorer who lived in the 16th century. Born in Rouen in 1520, he is known for his travels to the Americas and his contributions to the early exploration and trade in the New World.

In the 17th century, Jacques Matte, a French soldier and colonist, played a significant role in the establishment of the French colony of Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia and parts of New Brunswick and Maine). Born in 1625 in La Rochelle, he arrived in Acadia in 1651 and was involved in various military campaigns and land disputes.

During the French Revolution, François Matte, born in 1762 in Marseille, was a prominent figure who supported the revolutionary cause. He served as a member of the National Convention and later became a deputy in the Corps Législatif under Napoleon.

In the 19th century, Louis-François-Rodrigue Matte, born in 1836 in Quebec City, was a prominent Canadian businessman and political figure. He founded the Banque Nationale du Canada and served as a member of the Senate of Canada from 1888 until his death in 1908.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matte

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

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

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

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