Matthews ~ Mac Mathghamhna

The Story of the Matthews Name

Matthews is an anglicized surname meaning “son of Matthew,” from the biblical personal name Matthew, ultimately derived from the Hebrew Mattityahu, meaning “gift of God.” The name came to Ireland through the Anglo-Norman and later English traditions, becoming established among families who settled in Ireland during the medieval period.

The Matthews name became particularly associated with County Wexford, where families bearing the name were established among the English and Hiberno-Norman communities of the southeast. The surname was also found in other parts of Ireland, including Dublin, Kilkenny, and Tipperary, reflecting the movement of families throughout the country.

The personal name Matthew became popular throughout medieval Europe because of Saint Matthew the Apostle, traditionally regarded as the author of one of the four Gospels. Its meaning, “gift of God,” made it a favored Christian name, and it eventually gave rise to numerous hereditary surnames across Europe, including Matthews in Ireland.

As English naming customs became more widespread, the patronymic form “Matthew's” developed into Matthews, indicating descent from an ancestor named Matthew. Over time, families bearing the surname became part of Irish society, while branches of the family later spread throughout Ireland and across the Irish diaspora.

Behind the familiar name Matthews lies the story of a surname rooted in Christian tradition and medieval Ireland. From the communities of Wexford to Irish families around the world, Matthews carries forward the memory of Matthew, the “gift of God,” and the enduring influence of Christian names on Ireland's family heritage.