Matney
A surname most likely developed from a personal name, especially a pet form of Matthew or a related medieval name.
The #6,198 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 55,952 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Matney is most likely an English surname formed from a personal name, probably a short or altered form of Matthew or a related medieval name beginning with Mat-. Such surnames often arose as patronymics, identifying someone as the son or family of a man with that given name. The ending -ney may reflect a local or affectionate naming pattern rather than a separate meaning of its own.
History
The surname appears to be relatively uncommon and is most strongly associated with English-language naming patterns. In the United States, names of this type were often stabilized in spelling after migration and census recording, so a single modern spelling may cover several older local forms. Because there is no single well-attested dictionary entry here, its precise origin should be treated as probable rather than certain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Names built from Matthew and similar biblical forms became especially widespread in medieval Europe because of the popularity of the saint’s name in Christian communities.