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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