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

Matthias, 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 Matthias surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matthias in America

Matthias is the 12174th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matthias surname appeared 2,560 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 Matthias.

We can also compare 2010 data for Matthias 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 Matthias

The surname Matthias is derived from the Hebrew name Mattathiah, which means "gift of God." The name has its origins in ancient Israel, and it was later adopted by early Christians as a personal name.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Matthias can be found in medieval European records, particularly in Germany and the surrounding regions. It is believed that the name was introduced to these areas by early Christian missionaries and travelers.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Matthias is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, which dates back to the 12th century. In this codex, there are mentions of individuals with the surname Matthias, indicating its use in the region during that time period.

Another notable historical reference is the appearance of the name in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book includes entries for individuals with the surname Matthias, suggesting its presence in England during the Norman period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Matthias was Johannes Matthias (c. 1290-1349), a German theologian and philosopher who was a prominent figure in the scholastic tradition. Another notable bearer of the name was Annius Matthias (1483-1558), a Dutch humanist scholar and historian who authored several works on ancient Roman history.

In the 16th century, Matthias Grünewald (c. 1470-1528), a renowned German Renaissance painter, became famous for his masterpiece, the Isenheim Altarpiece. His distinctive style and use of vivid colors influenced generations of artists.

During the 17th century, Matthias Buchinger (1674-1739), a German artist and calligrapher, gained recognition for his exceptional calligraphy skills despite being born without hands or feet. His intricate works were highly sought after by European aristocracy.

In the 19th century, Matthias Jakob Schleiden (1804-1881), a German botanist, made significant contributions to the field of plant anatomy and is credited with developing the cell theory, which laid the foundation for modern cell biology.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Matthias throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matthias

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

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

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

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