Surname Mathaei - Meaning and Origin
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Mathaei: What does the surname Mathaei mean?
The last name Mathaei (also spelled Mathai, Mathay, Mathe, and Mathayo) is of Hebrew ancestry and is derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu, which translates to "gift of God". This surname occurs mostly in India and is found among Christian and Jewish communities. Many of its original carriers are believed to have come from either Iraq or Yemen.
The Mathaei surname is most commonly found in India in the South Indian state of Kerala, where it is one of the most common surnames in the region, especially among Christians and Jews. In Kerala, the Mathaei are believed to have been among the earliest converts to Christianity. The Mathaei are found throughout India, and today members of the family can be found in the United States, Canada, and other countries around the world.
The Mathaei family has a long and rich history in India. Some historians suggest that the Mathaei family first settled in India during the 11th century when most of the region was occupied by non-Christians. The Mathaei were among the first Christian families in the region and played an important role in the spread of Christianity in the subcontinent.
The Mathaei surname is symbolic of a strong devotion to God, combined with a spirit of strength and courage to find one’s place in the world. The Mathaei family’s long and distinguished history in India is a testament to these qualities.
Order DNA origin analysisMathaei: Where does the name Mathaei come from?
The last name Mathaei is most commonly found in the country of Iran, where it is the 153rd most common surname according to data from 2019. Mathaei was derived from the Persian word for “given by God” which is ‘matah’. It is widely distributed throughout the country and is believed to have first been used in the 12th century. The Mathaei family has a long history in Iran and can trace its roots to Achaemenid-era Persians.
There is also a strong presence of Mathaei’s outside of Iran in many Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These countries have Persian diasporas, many of which trace their ancestry back to the Persian Empire. The last name Mathaei is also found in India, particularly in Gujarat where there is a Gujarati diaspora of Parsis.
The last name Mathaei can also be found in Europe, North America, and Australasia. In Europe, countries with the highest population of Mathaei’s are Germany, the UK, France,Italy,Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The United States and Canada have also seen an influx of Mathaei’s over the past few decades, and the last name can be found in many cities across these two countries. Australia also has a large population of Mathaei’s, particularly in major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.
Variations of the surname Mathaei
The surname Mathaei is derived from two different sources, both of which are found in different countries with different spellings and variants.
The first source is from Germany, where the surname is spelled Mathaei and can also be found as Mathäi or Matthäi. This particular variant of the name is believed to originate from the surname Matthaeus, which is derived from the Hebrew name Matityahu and is a form of Matthew. It is also extremely popular in Poland, especially around the Greater Poland region, where it is spelled Matysek.
The second source of the surname is located in Sweden, where it is spelt Matheij and can also be found as the variant Matheije. This variant of the name is derived from the word mathematicus, which is of Latin origin and means mathematician in English.
In conclusion, there are two main sources for the surname Mathaei. The first is from Germany, where it is spelled Mathaei, Mathäi or Matthäi, and is derived from the surname Matthaeus. The second source is from Sweden where it is spelt Matheij or Matheije, and is derived from the Latin word mathematicus.
Famous people with the name Mathaei
- Zahra Mathaei: Iranian-born artist and architect
- Daryush Mathaei: Iranian-American film producer and director
- Andre Mathaei: Brazilian-born actor and director
- Mehrdad Mathaei: Iranian-born civil engineer and architect
- Hadi Mathaei: Iranian-born artist and sculptor
- Ali Badri Mathaei: Iranian-born musician and composer
- Shiva Mathaei: Iranian-born musician, singer and actress
- Fatemeh Mathaei: Iranian-born dropped out from university to go on to become a sculptor
- Noorboz Mathaei: Iranian-born painter and illustrator
- Kyamran Mathaei: Iranian-born composer and music producer