Matthew

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Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources

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Matthew m. Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ 'gift of the Lord', Hellenicized first as Ματταθίας and then shortened to Ματθαῖος.

The name of one of the twelve apostles, one of the four evangelists, and a 15th C king of Hungary and Bohemia. Wycliffite Bible (1395): Matheu.

By the end of the Middle Ages, Matthew and Matthias were considered distinct names, despite their shared origin.

The English diminutive Mate is witnessed in 1379 in the relational byname Matesoñ (WRYPT1 p. 302).

Mahé is a typical western French spelling, while Mahieu is more typical of Normandy and Picardy. The diminutive form Macelin- can also be a hypocoristic of any of various names beginning with Old Frankish madal, from Old High German, Old Saxon mahal 'council, meeting'.

Belgium

Middle Dutch: ● 1336 Matheuse (obl) RSG1336-39 p. 4, Mathise (obl) ibid. p. 4
Dutch: ● 1597x1598 Matheus BoonenGes p. 331, Mathias ibid. p. 392, Mathieu ibid. p. 340, Mathys ibid. p. 321, Matthys ibid. p. 372

Brabant

Latin: ● 1312 Mathie (gen) JeanIII p. 15

Croatia

Latin: ● 1439x1482 Mathei (gen) Brgles p. 8, Mattheus (nom) ibid. p. 10; 1446 Mathey (gen) ibid. p. 11; 1544 Matheus (nom) ibid. p. 6, fn. 18; ◑ 1439x1482 Mathe (nom) Brgles p. 8

Czech Republic

Latin: ● 1314 Matheus (nom) Rössler1 6; 1345 Mathie (dat) CDEM-7.2 605; 1348 Mathie (dat) chlumecky 9; 1349 Mathia (abl) ibid. 51, Mathias (nom) ibid. 25; 1353 Mathei (gen) ibid. 117, Matheo (abl) ibid. 60, Mathias (nom) ibid. 72, Matiey (nom) ibid. 99, Matyey (nom) ibid. 47, p. 23; 1355 Mathie (dat) ibid. 111, Mathya (acc) ibid. 94, Mathye (gen) ibid. 94; 1356 Mathie (dat) ibid. 178, p. 29; ◑ 1356 Maczek (nom) chlumecky 174, p. 28
Middle High German: ● 1331 Mathes (nom) Rössler1 36; c1339 Mathes (nom) ibid. 93; 1340 Mathes (gen) ibid. 97; 1341 Mathes (gen) ibid. 33; 1361 Mathes (nom) ibid. 82; 1364 Mathes (nom) ibid. 59; 1365 Mathes (nom) ibid. 58, Mathias (nom) ibid. 58; 1370 Mathes (nom) ibid. 62; 1373 Matess (nom) ibid. 102, Mathes (nom) ibid. 102

Denmark

Danish: ● 1581 Madtz KD-1 no. 362, Matthis ibid. no. 362, Matz ibid. no. 362; ◑ 1581 Theus KD-1 no. 362

England

Latin: ● 1189 Matheus (nom) GASurv p. 90; 1296 Mathey (gen) RCS-1 p. 94b, Mathias (nom) ibid. p. 93a; 1297 Matheus (nom) ComWil-vol1 p. 1; 1340xc1450 Matheus (nom) CovGuild-1 p. 4; 1379 Matheus (nom) WRYPT1 p. 5; 1381 Mathei (gen) FenPT-2 p. 6, Matheum (acc) Suffolk1381 p. 114
Dutch: ● 1572 Mattheus AuFr Baen, Matthijs ibid. Anthonis; 1573 Matheus ibid. Buen; 1575 Mathieuw ibid. Bons; 1576 Matheus ibid. Beun; 1577 Matheus ibid. Ghilberts; 1578 Mattheus ibid. Gast; 1579 Matheus ibid. Bon, Mathias ibid. Eussenkercht; 1580 Matheus ibid. Capellen; 1581 Mattheus ibid. Bone; 1582 Mattheus ibid. Bone; 1583 Mahieu ibid. Frenoij, Mathijs ibid. Allensson; 1584 Mahieu ibid. Frenoij, Mathias ibid. Boudaen; 1586 Matthijs ibid. Boudaen; 1588 Mathys ibid. Beke; 1589 Mathijs ibid. Faber, Matthijs ibid. Boudaen; 1590 Mahieu ibid. Blaeuvoet; 1591 Mattheus ibid. Beun; 1595 Mathijs ibid. Beke
Early Modern English: ● 1530 Mathew LIWill-III p. 84, Mathewe ibid. p. 70; 1532–1533 Mathew CovGuild-2 p. 101; 1534 Mathew ibid. p. 128; 1541 Mathew BarnstapleBap p. 2; 1542 Matthew ibid. p. 3; 1543 Mathew ibid. p. 3; 1545 Mathew ibid. p. 5; 1546 Matthew DEmar-vol1 p. 79; 1551 Mathew BarnstapleBap p. 7; 1553 Mathew ibid. p. 8; 1554 Mathew ibid. p. 8; 1555 Mathew ibid. p. 9; 1556/57 Mathew PRThirsk p. 2; 1557 Mathew BarnstapleBap p. 10; 1560 Mathew ibid. p. 10; 1561 Mathew Redruth-Co p. 6; 1564 Mathew OrpingtonKe p. 2; 1565 Mathew Bar-in-El p. 11, StAnthonlin p. 17; 1567 Mathewe BEmar-vol2 p. 2; 1568 Mathew StAnthonlin p. 19; 1571 Mathew ibid. p. 21; 1573 Mathewe Bar-in-El p. 21; 1574 Mathew DEmar-vol1 p. 83, Mathewe Bar-in-El p. 23; 1578 Mathew OrpingtonKe p. 5; 1580 Mathewe BEmar-vol1 p. 10; 1581 Mathewe OrpingtonKe p. 6; 1583 Mathew ibid. p. 6; 1586 Mathew Bar-in-El p. 34; 1588 Mathew OrpingtonKe p. 8, Matthew Bar-in-El p. 26, DEmar-vol2 p. 15; 1589 Matthew ibid. p. 19; 1592 Mathew DEmar-vol1 p. 86, Mathias BEmar-vol1 p. 15; 1593 Mathew WAmar-1 p. 132, Mathewe OrpingtonKe p. 76, Matthew COmar-vol2 p. 24, DEmar-vol2 p. 26; 1594 Matthew BUmar-vol9 p. 8; 1595 Matthew DEmar-vol2 p. 31; 1596 Mathew COmar-vol5 p. 86, Matthew DEmar-vol2 p. 33; 1597 Mathew DEmar-vol1 p. 87, Mathewe BEmar-vol1 p. 17, BEmar-vol2 p. 4; 1598 Mathew DEmar-vol1 p. 87, Mathewe Bar-in-El p. 32, Matthew DEmar-vol2 p. 39; 1599 Mathewe Bar-in-El p. 35, Matthew BEmar-vol2 p. 31, COmar-vol2 p. 73

Estonia

Middle Low German: ● 1379 Mathias BbRT p. 336; 1383 Mathias ibid. p. 337; 1396 Mathias ibid. p. 341; 1405 Mathias ibid. p. 344; 1415 Mathias ibid. p. 347; 1434 Mattyies ibid. p. 356; 1524x1532 Matthys (nom) Saareste1923a p. 102, Mattys (nom) Saareste1923b p. 137, Matys (nom) ibid. p. 138; 1525 Mattis (gen) Hiiumaa p. 147; 1543 Mattis (nom) ibid. p. 151; ◑ 1409 Thewes BbRT p. 345; 1524x1532 metzu (gen) Saareste1923b p. 138, metzw (gen) ibid. p. 138; 1592 Matt Tiik1977 p. 286, Matz ibid. p. 285, Maz ibid. p. 285, Thies ibid. p. 287
Early Modern Swedish: ● 1564 Matthias (nom) Hiiumaa p. 44; ◑ 1564 Matz (nom) Hiiumaa p. 178; 1565 Matz (nom) ibid. p. 241; 1576 Matz (nom) ibid. p. 22; 1583 Matz (nom) ibid. p. 172; 1591 Matz (nom) ibid. p. 211; 1595 Matte ibid. p. 172, Matz (nom) ibid. p. 281; 1599 Matz (nom) ibid. p. 88

Finland

Early Modern Swedish: ● 1582 Mattseij (nom) Audén1980 p. 172; ◑ 1548 Matts (nom) Audén1980 p. 169, Matz (nom) ibid. p. 167

France

Latin: ● a1114 Matheus (nom) CartStPC XXXI; 1130 Matheus (nom) ibid. VIII; 1132 Matheus (nom) clairvaux-12thc 5; 1143x1146 Matheus (nom) ibid. 12; 1147 Matheus (nom) ibid. 15; 1158 Matheus (nom) ibid. 33; 1163 Mathei (gen) ibid. 100; 1163–64 Matheus (nom) ibid. 106; 1164 Matheum (acc) ibid. 123, Matheus (nom) ibid. 120; 1169 Matheus (nom) ibid. 136; 1171 Matheus (nom) ibid. 140; 1174 Matheo (abl) ibid. 158; 1179 Mathei (gen) ibid. 178, Matheus (nom) ibid. 178; 1190 Matheus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp CII; 1193 Matheo (dat) ibid. CXLIX; 1214 Matheum (acc) NDParisII 2-LI; 1217 Matheus (nom) CartNDdOurscamp XXXI; 1238 Mathei (gen) ibid. CXLV; 1241 Mathei (gen) ibid. XXIX, Matheus (nom) ibid. XXIX; 1243 Mathei (gen) NDParisII 2-LXXXVII; 1255x1256 Matheus (nom) ibid. 2-CXIII; 1257 Matheus (nom) ArrestReg-volI VIII, St. Martin; 1258 Matheus (nom) ibid. VII, Candlemas; 1260 Matheum (acc) ibid. III, St. Martin, Matheus (nom) ibid. XV, St. Martin; 1261 Matheo (abl) ibid. IV, BMV, Matheus (nom) ibid. IV, BMV; 1267 Mathei (gen) NDParisII 2-XXI, Matheus (nom) ibid. 2-II; 1268 Matheus (nom) ibid. 2-V; 1269 Matheus (nom) ibid. 2-III; 1270 Matheus (nom) ibid. 2-XLI; 1273 Matheus (nom) ibid. 2-XLIII; 1301 Mathei (gen) MemPic-vol17 p. 220, Matheo (abl) ibid. p. 176, Matheum (acc) ibid. p. 212, Matheus (nom) ibid. p. 176, Mathias (nom) ibid. p. 199; 1350 Mathiam (acc) SDHK no. 6039; 1376 Matheus (nom) St-Bernard-Romans 383; 1378 Mathei (gen) hanquetvol1 178, Matheo (dat) ibid. 14, Matheum (acc) ibid. 988, Matheus (nom) ibid. 545, Mathias (nom) ibid. 1841, Mathie (gen) ibid. 733; 1564 Matheus (nom) FlorLyon p. 172; ◑ 1047 Macelino (abl) CartNDSaintes I; 1263 Macioto (abl) NDParisII 1-I
Old French: ● 1280 Maci (obl) HistHdVParis p. 105; 1292 Maci (obl) ibid. p. 116, Macy 1292paris p. 1, Mahi (obl) HistHdVParis p. 114; 1294 Maci (obl) ibid. p. 126; 1296 Maci paris1296 p. 20, Mahi ibid. p. 3; 1298 Mahi (obl) HistHdVParis p. 142, Mahy (obl) ibid. p. 142; 1299 Mahi (obl) ibid. p. 145; 1301 Mahieu (obl) MemPic-vol17 p. 234, Mahieus (nom) ibid. p. 276, Mahiex (nom) ibid. p. 271, Maihieu (obl) ibid. p. 276, Mathieu (obl) ibid. p. 233; 1302 Mathieu NDParisII XXXV; 1313 Maci Paris1313 p. 5, Macy ibid. p. 8, Mahi ibid. p. 31, Mahy ibid. p. 23; 1337 Mahieu (obl) NDParisII 1-LII; ◑ 1296 Maciot paris1296 p. 12; 1299 Mahiet (obl) HistHdVParis p. 146; 1313 Maciot Paris1313 p. 24, Mahiet ibid. p. 57
Middle French: ● 1368 Mathieu beauchet-vol1 p. 14; 1386 Macé MemBret-II col. 513; 1388 Mahieu thierry; 1392 Mace MemBret-II col. 597, Mahieu ibid. col. 599; 1415[1469x1471] Mahieu Waurin p. 225; 1418 Mace DdB1418 p. 203, Macé ibid. p. 198, HGParis p. 374, Mahieu ibid. p. 376, Mathieu DdB1418 p. 200, HGParis p. 378; 1421 Macé favier 290, Mahieu ibid. 859, Mathieu ibid. 310, Mathé ibid. p. 164; 1423 Macé ibid. 259; 1504 Mathieu HistHdVParis no. 6; 1562 Mathieu RegPCC-1 p. 10; 1563 Matthieu ibid. p. 24; 1564 Macé ibid. p. 61, Mathieu ibid. p. 60; 1565 Massieu ibid. p. 118; 1566 Macé ibid. p. 221, Mathieu ibid. p. 198; 1567 Mathieu ibid. p. 280; 1568 Mathieu ibid. p. 379; 1571 Mathieu ibid. p. 441; 1587 Mathieu RTFProvins 3; ◑ 1418 Macin HGParis p. 378, Maciot ibid. p. 374, Mahiet DdB1418 p. 197, HGParis p. 373, Mathelin DdB1418 p. 199; 1421 Mahiet favier 142, Mathelin ibid. 449; 1423 Mahiet ibid. 458, Mathelin ibid. 218; 1438 Mahiet ibid. 257; 1493 Mathelin MSR1838 p. 379; 1570 Mathelin RegPCC-1 p. 434

Germany

Latin: ● 1174 Matheus (nom) quix-vol1 32; 1197 Matheus (nom) hennes-vol1 1, Mattheus (nom) ibid. 2; 1198 Matheus (nom) ibid. 3; 1310 Matheus (nom) VFBStralsund 11; 1332 Mathiam (acc) ibid. 36; 1394 Mathei (gen) SMM p. 173, Mathie (gen) ibid. p. 194, Mathye (gen) ibid. p. 170; 1401 Matheo (dat) HD1401 no. 2, Mathye (dat) ibid. no. 21
Early New High German: ● 1401 Matheis (nom) mairhofer DCLXIX; 1497 Mates Nurn1497 269, Mathes ibid. p. 2
Middle Low German: ● 1376 Mathyas (nom) UrkMeck19 10820; 1453 Mathias VFBStralsund 677, Mathies ibid. 677; 1454 Mathias ibid. 679; 1472 Mathias ibid. 684

Hungary

Latin: ● 1317 Mathaei (gen) CDH-VIII-II IV, Matthaei (gen) ibid. VI, Matthaeo (abl) ibid. VI, Matthaeum (acc) ibid. VII, Matthaeus (nom) ibid. VI

Ireland

Latin: ● fin12thC Mathei (gen) MunDocIr III, p. 14, Mathias (nom) ibid. III, p. 8; 1431 Matheum (acc) RegOct 50; 1497 Matheum (acc) ibid. 38
Early Modern English: ● 1540 Mathew Fiants-1 128, Matthew ibid. 111

Italy

Latin: ● 1174x1176 Matheus (nom) clairvaux-12thc 163; 1177 Matheus (nom) ibid. 164; 1236 Mathei (gen) TirNot1 10; 1265x1339 Mafei (gen) BBC-Berg 138, Mafey (gen) ibid. 247; 1285 Mafei (gen) Perugia1285 p. 157, Mafutii (gen) ibid. p. 160, Mathei (gen) ibid. p. 159; 1324 Mactheus (nom) DSF p. 47, 3726; 1326 Mathei (gen) Friuli-14thC no. 446, Matheus (nom) ibid. no. 446, Mathia (abl) ibid. no. 427; 1348 Macii (gen) INP 18, Macius (nom) ibid. 23, Macthei (gen) ibid. 3, Mactheo (dat) ibid. 26, Mactheus (nom) ibid. 35; 1366 Maffi (gen) Livi 53; 1387 Mathei (gen) Venditti II-92, Matheus (nom) ibid. II-2029; 1408 Matheo (dat) CatTir1 42; 1449 Mathei (gen) VitAs2 V; 1450 Mathia (abl) ibid. X, Mathiam (acc) ibid. X; 1464 Matheus (nom) CUP-III-I CCXXXI; 1470 Maffeo (abl) RCCaetani6 1192; 1478 Macthei (gen) ibid. 2720, Mattheo (abl) ibid. 2720; 1521 Matei (gen) VitAs2 III, Mathei (gen) ibid. I; 1522x1532 Machtius (nom) DSF p. 52, 29, Macteus (nom) ibid. p. 53, 37, Mactius (nom) ibid. p. 58, 35, Maffeo (abl) ibid. p. 51, 23, Matheus (nom) ibid. p. 54, 58; 1527 Mattej (gen) Rome1527 p. 89, Matthei (gen) ibid. p. 85, Mattheo (abl) ibid. p. 83, Mattheus (nom) ibid. p. 86; ◑ 1285 Mathioli (gen) Perugia1285 p. 159; 1326 Mathiussio (abl) Friuli-14thC no. 422, Mathiussium (acc) ibid. no. 426; 1348 Mactheolus (nom) INP 24, Macthocius (nom) ibid. 3; 1387 Macthutii (gen) Venditti II-81; 1464 Mafiolus (nom) CUP-III-I CCXXXI; 1522x1532 Mactiellus (nom) DSF p. 56, 2
Italian: ● 1429–1430 Matteo DiaryLMA p. 266; 1513x1521 Matheo LeoX p. 13, Mathia ibid. p. 17, Mattheo ibid. p. 16

Latvia

Latin: ◑ 1289 Mathe (nom) RigSB 222
Middle Low German: ● 1463 Mathias Arbusow p. 99; 1508 Mathais Mettig1892 p. 5; 1512 Mathias ibid. p. 5; 1514 Mathies ibid. p. 11; 1524 Matthias Arbusow p. 99; 1561 Mattis Arbuzov1920 p. 46; ◑ 1523 Mattis Mettig1892 p. 4, Mattys Arbusow p. 100; 1524 Mattys ibid. p. 99; 1532 Mattz ibid. p. 97; 1545 Mattis ibid. p. 99; 1565x1577 Matz ibid. p. 98; 1573 Matz Arbuzov1920 p. 47

Lithuania

Latin: ◑ 1551x1555 Maczis (nom) Kaunas2006 p. 85
Polish: ● 1551x1555 Macziey (nom) Kaunas2006 p. 85; 1561x1565 Macʒieia (gen) ibid. p. 83, Macʒiey (nom) ibid. p. 85; 1587x1591 Massisʒ (nom) ibid. p. 85

The Netherlands

Middle Dutch: ● 1383 Mathijs (nom) GesOIJ-4 p. 186
Dutch: ● 1560 Matthys MagMiddelburg-1560; 1573 Matthys ibid.; 1574 Matthys ibid., (nom) NHG-Middelburg p. 69; 1575 Matthys MagMiddelburg-1560; 1576 Mahieu NHG-Middelburg p. 69, Matthys MagMiddelburg-1560; 1577 Matthys ibid.; 1596 Matthys ibid.; 1597 Matthys ibid.; 1598 Matthys ibid.; 1599 Matthys ibid.

Portugal

Latin: ● 1179 Matheus (nom) PHGCRP-I no. 4

Scotland

Latin: ● 1376 Mathei (gen) morton-vol1 16, Matheo (dat) ibid. 16; 1392 Matheo (abl) CartLevenax p. 11
Scots: ● 1506 Matho RegDunf 497

Spain

Latin: ● 1488 Matthiae (gen) carbonell-I p. 16; 1491 Matthei (gen) ibid. p. 52, Mattheus (nom) ibid. p. 52
Catalan: ● 1510 Matheu valencia1510 3192, Mathia ibid. 2658
Spanish: ● 1495 Mateu montalvo; 1575 Mateo Catalogo-5.2 3800; 1576 Matias ibid. 4026

Sweden

Latin: ● 1350 Mathei (gen) SDHK no. 6043, Mathias (nom) ibid. no. 6014, Mathis (gen) ibid. no. 6024; 1383 Mathias (nom) SRA-vol2 no. 1908; 1411 Mathiam (acc) SDHK no. 17654
Old Swedish: ● 1358 Mathosa (gen) SDHK no. 7337; 1383 Mathis (gen) SRA-vol2 no. 1943, Mathiussa (gen) ibid. no. 1915, Matiwssa (gen) ibid. no. 1934, Matthis ibid. no. 1944, Mattius ibid. no. 1922; 1409 Matias (nom) SDHK no. 17250, Matis (nom) ibid. no. 17250, Matissa (gen) ibid. no. 17250

Switzerland

Latin: ● 1179 Matheo (dat) CartHaut 24, Matheus (nom) ibid. 24

Ukraine

Latin: ● 1469 Mathiam (acc) AGZ-18 36, Mathie (gen) ibid. 18; 1480 Mathias (nom) ibid. CIX-1316; ◑ 1469 Maczek (abl) AGZ-18 36

Wales

Early Modern English: ● 1592 Matho RegLlantrithyd p. 34

Cite as: G. Grim, R. Le Get, J. Uckelman, S.L. Uckelman. "Matthew". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2017, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2017/1/name/Matthew.