Matthews

Matthews is a common surname of English origin. It is a patronymic derivative of the given name Matthew, which is derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu. The name Matthews is particularly prevalent in Wales and the south of England.

Etymology

The surname Matthews is derived from the given name Matthew, which is itself derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu. The Hebrew name means "gift of Yahweh", a reference to the Jewish God. The name was popularised in the Christian world due to the biblical apostle Matthew, who is traditionally regarded as the author of the Gospel of Matthew.

Distribution

Matthews is a common surname in many English-speaking countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is particularly prevalent in Wales and the south of England. According to data from the 2000 United States Census, Matthews is the 182nd most common surname in the United States.

Notable people

There are many notable people with the surname Matthews, including:

• Dave Matthews, South African-born American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band.
• Stanley Matthews, English footballer, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football.
• Bernard Matthews, British farmer, founder of Bernard Matthews Farms, the largest turkey meat producer in the UK.

See also

• Matthew (name)
• Matthew (given name)
• Matthews (disambiguation)