The Matheson surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 7,585 people carried this name — #4,678 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 38,900 people counted. That is up 4% from 7,302 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Matheson surname

A surname originating as a patronymic.

From Matthew + -son.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Matheson» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Mathew’.

An early record he cites: John fil. Mathie, Wiltshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls. Fil. is Latin for “son of”.

His entry covers Matheson, Mathison and Mathieson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 520 · public domain.

In Scotland, 1880s

Matheson and Mathieson, counted together, were 10 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 1,000. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Scattered.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 592 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Matheson was recorded 65 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 407th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 97. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Matheson in American newspapers,
1918–1921.

Newspaper page from Manchester Democrat carrying the name Matheson
Manchester Democrat 1918-10-30
Newspaper page from Omaha Daily Bee carrying the name Matheson
Omaha Daily Bee 1921-03-12
Newspaper page from Omaha Daily Bee carrying the name Matheson
Omaha Daily Bee 1920-09-19

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 41,326 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Matheson in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

51,783 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Matheson. The most, 9,706, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 13,551
Victoria 12,478
South Australia 9,025
Western Australia 7,331
Queensland 6,751
Tasmania 2,282
ACT (Canberra) 212
Northern Territory 34

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Matheson.

Who carried it

People named Matheson,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Matheson d. 1878
  • Margaret Grant Matheson d. 1935
  • Iain 'Dubh' Matheson d. 1539
  • John Matheson d. 1805
  • Flora Macdonald Matheson d. 1911
  • Dugald Roy Matheson 1492–

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Matheson,
in the records of 6 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,147 records

1,147 records of the Matheson name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 387
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 287
  • Other U.S. records 473
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Duncan D. Matheson

    Born 1906 in Canada. Enlisted 1942 at Boston, Massachusetts; elevator operator. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1985, buried at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Johan Matheson

    Arrived at New York in 1891 aboard the Etruria from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 53; laborer. From Liverpool, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Douglas Roy Matheson

    Born 1948; from Columbiaville, Michigan. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1969 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,147 records for Matheson in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Canada2,910 records

2,910 records of the Matheson name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 2,582
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 121
  • Other Canadian records 207
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Clifford Harold Matheson

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 24; buried at St John's Cemetery, Halifax.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jno Matheson

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the St. Patrick, landing at Quebec, bound for Walkerton, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Louise Emiline Matheson

    Buried in 1968 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 57.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 2,910 records for Matheson in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,792 records

1,792 records of the Matheson name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,001
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 477
  • Other Australian records 314
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Henry Matheson

    Died 1876 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 87. Will registered in Tasmania in 1876.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Charles Matheson

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Marquis of Huntley, arriving 1835; ticket of leave 1845.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Isabella Matheson

    Arrived in Victoria in 1858 aboard the Anglesey, aged 35; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,792 records for Matheson in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

New Zealand67 records

67 records of the Matheson name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 49
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 7
  • Other New Zealand records 11
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Erika Lee Matheson

    Died 1975, aged 60; buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Helen Matheson

    Buried in 1945 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 79.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Hilda Matheson

    Died 1987, aged 89; buried at Fairhall Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 67 records for Matheson in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Canterbury Maps (Environment Canterbury), Timaru and Mackenzie District Councils (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

United Kingdom61 records

61 records of the Matheson name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 27
  • Stirling Council burial records 18
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 16
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record George Matheson

    Born 1899 at Blantyre Place; apprentice plumber. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Matheson

    Died 1997, aged 83; buried at Port Of Menteith Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Thomas Matheson

    Born 1878 at St. Andrew's Parish; labourer at naval base. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 61 records for Matheson in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands15 records

15 records of the Matheson name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 12
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Alex Matheson

    Died 1919 in Rotterdam, aged 24.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Jane Fuller Matheson

    Married in 1935 in Haarlem.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Charles Matheson

    Married in 1733 in Bergen op Zoom; born in Scotland.

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 15 records for Matheson in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Matheson.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Matheson is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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