2000
#9,215
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,255
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.21
Rare Last name
Matus
A surname of Slovak origin, derived from the given name Matúš, the Slovak form of Matthew.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,981 Americans carry the last name Matus. That puts it at #9,030 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.16 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 86,098 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Matus surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
4.0K
1 in 86,098
Census rank
#9,030
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,472 bearers of the surname Matus in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.16 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 9030th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Matus, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 47.4%. The next largest groups are White (44.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Matus
Among Census respondents with the surname Matus, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 47.4%. The next largest groups are White (44.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Matus bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Matus surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Hispanic or Latino47.4% · 1,647
- White44.7% · 1,552
- American Indian and Alaska Native4.5% · 156
- Two or more races2.1% · 72
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 24
- Black or African American0.6% · 21
Timeline
Historical Census data for Matus
Matus appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#8,375
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,952
+697 bearers (+21.4%)
Per 100,000 1.34
Rank movement Up 840 places
2020
#9,030
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,472
-480 bearers (-12.1%)
Per 100,000 1.16
Rank movement Down 655 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #9,215 | 3,255 | 1.21 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,375 | 3,952 | 1.34 | +697 bearers (+21.4%) | Up 840 places |
| 2020 | #9,030 | 3,472 | 1.16 | -480 bearers (-12.1%) | Down 655 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Matus surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,375 | #9,030 | -7.8% |
| Count | 3,952 | 3,472 | -12.1% |
| Per 100K | 1.34 | 1.16 | -13.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Matus bearers went from 3,952 to 3,472 (-12.1% change). The surname moved down 655 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,375 to #9,030.
FAQ
Matus surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Matus?
Name Census estimates that about 3,981 living Americans carry the surname Matus. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 86,098 residents.
How common is Matus?
Matus ranks #9,030 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.16 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,472 people with the surname Matus. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,981), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.16 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.16 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Matus.
Has Matus become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Matus went from 3,952 recorded bearers to 3,472. That is a decrease of 480 (-12.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #8,375 to #9,030.
What does the Census say about the background of Matus?
Among Census respondents with the surname Matus, the largest self-reported group is Hispanic at 47.4%. The next largest groups are White (44.7%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (4.5%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Hispanic is the largest self-reported group for the surname Matus in the 2020 Census, accounting for 47.4% (1,647 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Matus appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Hispanic (47.4%), White (44.7%), American Indian/Alaska Native (4.5%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Matus (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Matus mean?
A surname of Slovak origin, derived from the given name Matúš, the Slovak form of Matthew. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Matus (1.16 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Matus?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.