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

Matus, 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 Matus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Matus in America

Matus is the 8375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Matus surname appeared 3,952 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 Matus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Matus 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 Matus

The surname Matus is of Slovak origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era in the region encompassing modern-day Slovakia and parts of neighboring countries. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Slavic personal name Matúš, which was a variant of the biblical name Matthew.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Matus can be found in the Rationes Collectorum Pontificalium, a document detailing papal tax records from the early 14th century. In this record, the name appears as "Mathus," indicating its evolution from the original Old Slavic form.

During the 15th century, the surname Matus gained prominence in various regions of the Kingdom of Hungary, which at the time included present-day Slovakia. Historical records from this period, such as local parish registers and land ownership documents, mention individuals bearing the surname Matus in areas like Trenčín, Nitra, and Banská Bystrica.

A notable figure bearing the Matus surname was Ján Matus, a Slovak Lutheran pastor and writer who lived from 1592 to 1672. He is known for his contributions to the development of the Slovak language and his published works, including religious texts and educational materials.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Matej Matus, a Slovak painter and engraver born in 1618. He was renowned for his religious artwork and is considered one of the most significant Slovak artists of the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the surname Matus continued to be prevalent in various regions of the Kingdom of Hungary, with records indicating its presence in areas like Šariš, Spiš, and Zemplín. One notable individual from this period was Jozef Matus, a Slovak Catholic priest and writer who lived from 1721 to 1796.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Matus spread beyond its Slovak origins and can be found in various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities. Some variations of the surname include Matusz, Matusz, and Matusik, reflecting regional linguistic influences.

Towards the end of the 19th century, a significant figure bearing the Matus surname was Ján Matus, a Slovak politician and journalist who played a crucial role in the Slovak national revival movement. He was born in 1836 and was a vocal advocate for Slovak rights and cultural preservation.

Throughout its history, the surname Matus has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, clergy, and political figures, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the Slovak people and their contributions to society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Matus

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

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

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

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