Matthew (name)
Encyclopedia
Matthew is a given name
that ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Matityahu. It was first named to Saint Matthew, who was one of the twelve disciples and credited with the authorship of the Gospel of Matthew
. It is commonly shortened to Matt, or especially in Ireland
, Matty.
The Hebrew name "" (Matityahu) was transliterated into Greek
to "Ματταθίας" (Mattathias), which was shortened to "Ματθαῖος" – (Matthaios). Deceptively, it is therefore unrelated to θεῖος (theios) meaning divine (adjective, e.g. theology) or sulfur (Koine noun, e.g. thiol group). The Greek Ματθαῖος was Latinised as Matthaeus, which became Matthew in English.
Matthew has been widely recognised as an Irish name
, as when Ireland
was converted to Christianity
by Saint Patrick
, there has been a persistent preference for Christian
, Hebrew and Aramaic names, with the name translating into the Irish
spelling Maitiú to emphasise its importance in Irish culture. Matthew is used as an Anglicisation of the Irish
name Mathúin, meaning bear.
The name Matthew globally became in use during the Middle Ages
. Due to its popularity in North-West Europe
, it is used vastly in various countries, and is even distinguished in many European languages. The name has been very common throughout the English-speaking world
since the 1970s. Matthew has been one of the 1,000 most popular male names in Australia
, Canada
and United States
. In Great Britain
, Matthew has been in the top 100 most popular male names. Currently, it is the 15th most popular name in Ireland
. In the United Kingdom
, it was among the 10 most popular male names through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and was ninth as recently as 2001, but by 2009 had fallen to 38th.
} (Matte) (Matthaios)
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
that ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Matityahu. It was first named to Saint Matthew, who was one of the twelve disciples and credited with the authorship of the Gospel of Matthew
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
. It is commonly shortened to Matt, or especially in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Matty.
The Hebrew name "" (Matityahu) was transliterated into Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
to "Ματταθίας" (Mattathias), which was shortened to "Ματθαῖος" – (Matthaios). Deceptively, it is therefore unrelated to θεῖος (theios) meaning divine (adjective, e.g. theology) or sulfur (Koine noun, e.g. thiol group). The Greek Ματθαῖος was Latinised as Matthaeus, which became Matthew in English.
Matthew has been widely recognised as an Irish name
Irish name
A formal Irish-language name consists of a given name and a surname. Surnames in Irish are generally patronymic in etymology, although they are no longer literal patronyms, as Icelandic names are...
, as when Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
was converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
by Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, there has been a persistent preference for Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, Hebrew and Aramaic names, with the name translating into the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
spelling Maitiú to emphasise its importance in Irish culture. Matthew is used as an Anglicisation of the Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
name Mathúin, meaning bear.
The name Matthew globally became in use during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Due to its popularity in North-West Europe
North-West Europe
North-West Europe is a term that refers to a northern area of Western Europe, although the exact area or countries it comprises varies.-Geographic definition:...
, it is used vastly in various countries, and is even distinguished in many European languages. The name has been very common throughout the English-speaking world
English-speaking world
The English-speaking world consists of those countries or regions that use the English language to one degree or another. For more information, please see:Lists:* List of countries by English-speaking population...
since the 1970s. Matthew has been one of the 1,000 most popular male names in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, Matthew has been in the top 100 most popular male names. Currently, it is the 15th most popular name in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, it was among the 10 most popular male names through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and was ninth as recently as 2001, but by 2009 had fallen to 38th.
Translations in other languages
(Matie) (Mattà) (Mattai) (Mathios)} (Matte) (Matthaios)
-
- Koine GreekKoine GreekKoine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
: Ματθαῖος (Matthaios) (Matityahu)
- Koine Greek