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![Show Contents]() Matheson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of MathesonWhat does the name Matheson mean? Matheson comes from the ancient Dalriadan clans of Scotland's west coast and Hebrides islands. The name comes from the son of Matthew. 1 In Gaelic, the name was spelled M'Mhathain or Mathanach. The latter names in Gaelic were probably derived from Mac Mhathghamhuin which means son of the bear. Indeed, early references of the name have reference to the Scottish bear. 2 3 Today, early legal records provide a plethora of information about the family with various early spellings. Some of the first records include, "Robertus filius Mathei [who] witnessed a charter by Walter filius Alani, a. 1177. John Mathyson and Michael Mathowson were outlawed as part guilty of the slaughter of Walter de Ogilvy, Sheriff of Angus, in 1392." 3 Early Origins of the Matheson familyThe surname Matheson was first found in the Scottish Highlands were they could be found in Lochalsh, Lochcarron and Kintail. They are said to descend from Gilleoin of the ancient and royal house of Lorne. They gave their allegiance to the Clan MacDonald, the Lord of the Isles. Kenneth MacMathan (Cormac Mac Mathian) was the constable of Eilean Donan castle and is recorded in most accounts of the invasion of King Haakon IV of Norway against Scotland in the 13th century. One accounts suggests that McMathan and his clansmen fought under the Earl of Ross, defeating Haaken at Largs in 1263. There is a record of Kermac Macmaghan in Inverness, receiving 20 cows from the Earl of Ross in 1264. "In the Norse Saga he is called Kjarmak son of Makamal = Corniac Macmathan. The Siol Mhathain, a sept of Matheson, in an old Gaelic song appears as Siol Mhothan. Matheson has been adopted as the English form of the name simply on account of the similarity of sound." 3 Early History of the Matheson familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Matheson research. Another 418 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1263, 1400, 1411, 1427, 1498, 1514, 1539, 1570, 1600, 1631, 1683, 1688, 1715, 1719, 1796, 1820, 1851, 1878 and 1963 are included under the topic Early Matheson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Matheson Spelling VariationsThe translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years Matheson has appeared as Mathieson, MacMaghan, MacMathan MacMaken, Mathie, Mann and many more. Early Notables of the Matheson familyNotable amongst the Clan from early times was - Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson (1796-1878), born in Shiness, Lairg, who made a great fortune in the opium trade, and was created the 1st Baronet of Lewis in 1851. His family proceeded to buy th...
Matheson World RankingIn the United States, the name Matheson is the 4,442nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Matheson is ranked the 613rd most popular surname with an estimated 8,323 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Matheson is the 668th popular surname with an estimated 5,866 people with that name. 6 New Zealand ranks Matheson as 369th with 1,729 people. 7 Migration of the Matheson family to IrelandSome of the Matheson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Matheson migration to the United States | + |
Many of the ancestors of Dalriadan families who arrived in North America still live in communities along the east coast of Canada and the United States. In the American War of Independence many of the original settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the ancestors of many Scots began recovering their collective national heritage through Clan societies, highland games, and other patriotic events. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Matheson or a variant listed above:
Matheson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Alexander Matheson, who arrived in Boston in 1736
- Farquhar Matheson, who arrived in America in 1774
- Hugh Matheson, who settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774
- Hugh and Kathrine Matheson, who settled in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774
- Hugh Matheson, aged 32, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Matheson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Rodk Matheson, who landed in South Carolina in 1811 8
- Duncan Matheson, who landed in Georgia in 1811 8
- Murdoch Matheson, aged 22, who arrived in Georgia in 1812 8
- William Matheson, who arrived in Georgia in 1850 8
- Donald Matheson, who arrived in Mississippi in 1892 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Matheson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Alexander Carmichael Matheson, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1907
- Alexander Matheson, aged 44, who settled in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1911
- Alexandrina Matheson, aged 21, who landed in America from Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1912
- Adam George Matheson, aged 22, who settled in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1918
- Aeneas Matheson, aged 19, who landed in America from Lockinvar, Scotland, in 1923
| Matheson migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Matheson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- John Matheson, who settled in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
- William Matheson, who settled in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
- Ann Matheson, who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
- Charles Matheson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1773
Matheson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- Dugald Matheson, who settled in Canada in 1809
- Alexander Matheson, Scottish settler who arrived in Churchill in 1812 before arriving in the Red River, Canada in 1814
- John Matheson, aged 22, Scottish settler who arrived in Churchill in 1812 before arriving in the Red River, Canada in 1814
- Angus Matheson, aged 30, who arrived in Canada in 1815
- Helen Matheson, aged 21, who landed in Canada in 1815
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Matheson migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Matheson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. George Matheson, Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
- Mr. James Matheson who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 4th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
- Maxwell Matheson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Competitor" in 1848 11
- Henry Matheson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cromwell" in 1849 12
- James Matheson, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Anglia" 13
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Matheson migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Matheson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mrs. J. Matheson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 14
- Mr. Angus Matheson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 14
- Mr. Duncan Matheson, Canadian settler from Baddeck travelling from Cape Breton aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th June 1857 14
- Mr. George Matheson, Scottish labourer from Lybster travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 14
- Miss Betty Matheson, (b. 1828), aged 30, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Strathfieldsaye" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 29th April 1858 14
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Matheson (post 1700) | + |
- John Ross Matheson OC, CD (1917-2013), Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician who was assigned by Prime Minister Lester Pearson to develop a new Canadian flag and the Order of Canada
- Ivan Mack Matheson (1926-2016), American politician and farmer, Member of the Utah Senate (1977-1988)
- Roderick Nicol Matheson (1824-1862), American commanding officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War
- Richard Burton Matheson (1926-2013), American author and screenwriter, probably best known for his work "I am Legend" and his Twilight Zone screenplays, recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 1984 and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement
- Timothy Lewis "Tim" Matheson (b. 1947), American actor, director, and producer, best known for his role in the 1978 comedy National Lampoon's Animal House
- Scott Milne Matheson (1929-1990), American politician, 12th Governor of Utah (1977-1985)
- Max Matheson, American Chemist
- Mac C. Matheson, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Arizona 2nd District, 1960 15
- L. Keith Matheson, American Republican politician, Elected New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Center Harbor 1956 15
- John Hubbard Matheson (b. 1908), American Republican politician, Rock County District Attorney, 1935-40 15
- ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Matheson family | + |
- Mr. John Robert Matheson (1868-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
- Mr. Albert C. Matheson (1871-1917), English Warrant Officer aboard the HMCS Niobe from Todmorden, England, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
- Mr. Clifford Harold Matheson (1893-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
- Miss Catherine Matheson (1916-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
- Joseph Matheson, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
USS Indianapolis - Richard Robert Matheson, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 18
Vimy Ridge - Andrew Colin Matheson (1892-1917), Canadian farmer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Fac et Spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
- "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
- "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) COMPETITOR 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Competitor.gif
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CROMWELL 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Cromwell.htm
- South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ANGLIA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/anglia1852.shtml
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
- HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
- Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew
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