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Matthews Family History

Matthews Name Meaning

English and Irish (Ulster and County Louth): patronymic from the personal name Matthew . In North America this surname has absorbed various cognates from other languages such as German Matthäus (from the personal name Matthäus from Latin Matthaeus) and Slovenian Matavž (from an obsolete vernacular form of the personal name Matevž from Latin Matthaeus). Compare Mathews . Irish: Anglicized form of Mac Mathghamhna (see McMahon ).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Matthew, Mathews, Mathes, Matthes, Mattes, Matthey, Mathew, Matthias

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Matthews family from?

You can see how Matthews families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Matthews family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Matthews families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 4,411 Matthews families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Matthews's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Matthews families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Matthews surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Matthews ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Matthews. 7% of Matthews men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Matthews women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Matthews were Incapacitated and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Matthews | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Gardener
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Matthews family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Matthews. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Matthews census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Matthews

Passenger Lists

There are 112,000 immigration records available for the last name Matthews. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

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Draft Cards

There are 147,000 military records available for the last name Matthews. For the veterans among your Matthews ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

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What is the average Matthews lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Matthews life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Matthews in 1940 was 44, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Matthews

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