Matteson
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Matthew,” with English and Scandinavian spelling forms.
The #4,919 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 43,193 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Matteson is a patronymic surname built from the personal name Matthew, with the added element -son meaning “son of.” Matthew ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Mattityahu, “gift of God,” passed into English through Latin and Old French. The spelling Matteson is one of several regional forms alongside Mattison, Mattson, Matson, and Mathieson.
History
The historical excerpts place Matteson among surname forms recorded in England from at least the late 14th century, and they show it grouped with other local variants of the Matthew-name family. In English-speaking areas, especially in northern Britain and later North America, these spellings often shifted according to local pronunciation and spelling habits. The name is not unusual as a variant of the broader Mat-/Matt- surname set, though Matteson is less common than Mattson or Matheson in some regions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The name Matthew has been one of the most productive sources of surnames in English, spawning a whole family of spellings from Mattson to Mathieson.
From the historical record
“Thomas Mateson, 1379 : P. T. Yorks. Marmadoke Matteson, co. York. W. 16. Anne Mattson, ca York. ibid. Roger Matson, of Cocken, Parness,”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)