The surname is a form of the surname Matthew; from the given name Matthew and son of Matthew. The Hebrew form of the name is , which means "gift of Yahweh." From Latin the form is Matthaeus.

Spelling the name with two letter ‘t’ became popular in Wales. English spellings are Mathew, Matthew, Mathews, Mathis, Matthis and Matthias. In Spanish the name is Mateo, in Italian it is written Matteo, in Portuguese it is Mateus, in French it is Matheu and in German the spelling is Mathis.

In England the surname is located in Bristol, Surrey, Lancashire and Kent counties and in London. In Ireland, Matthews is mostly in the region of and Louth County, in Scotland in the Lanarkshire county.

In the United States the surname is mostly in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Georgia and Illinois.

Matthews family members originally have come from England, Scotland and Ireland.

In the 1880s most Matthews families have been farmers.

Famous: Saul Matthews (-American American Revolutionary War hero, spying on the British, became a freeman), Dave Matthews (South African musician), William Matthews (American poet and essayist), Dakin Matthews (actor in film, television and theater), Emma Matthews (Australian operatic soprano), Jessie Matthews (from the 1930s, a British actress, dancer, and singer), Clay Matthews (professional football linebacker with the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons), Artie Matthews (ragtime composer), Gordon Matthews (American inventor - developing voice mail on cell phones and businessman) and Jeffrey Matthews (British postage stamp designer).