Surname Matalan - Meaning and Origin
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Matalan: What does the surname Matalan mean?
The last name Matalan is believed to have originated from the Old Gaelic and pre-7th century language known as Breton. In Breton, "Mat" is a diminutive for "Maked" meaning "son of". The suffix "-alan" is a form of the word "Lann" which translates to "place". Put together, the last name Matalan means "a place of son of" or "son of a place".
The surname Matalan is believed to be of Celtic origin and is thought to have been used to identify a person and their family’s connection to a particular area or location. In the past, the spelling of names was not always standardized, and alternate versions of Matalan such as MacLain, MacLane, and Maklan are also believed to exist.
The origins of the Matalan name can be traced back many centuries to the early days of the Celtic people as they migrated across Europe. It is believed that the Celts first arrived in present-day Scotland and Ireland between 500 and 400 BCE, and it is likely that the Matalan surname was adopted during this time period.
The Matalan name is considered to be a topographical name, which means that it can be used to describe a physical feature in the surrounding environment. This could include a hill, a valley, a ravine, or even a shoreline. It is speculated that the owners of the Matalan surname once lived in an area close to a particular geological feature.
The Matalan surname is still found in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales today, where the surname holders often take part in festivals and other celebrations to honour their Celtic heritage. The Matalan name also appears in records across North America, indicating that many families bearing this name have at some point in their past emigrated from the British Isles to the New World.
Order DNA origin analysisMatalan: Where does the name Matalan come from?
The surname Matalan is most likely of French origin. Today, the surname is commonly found in the United States, France, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. The presence in the United States likely dates to arrivals from the early twentieth century from countries where the surname is most common.
In the United States, Matalan is a particularly popular surname in California, as well as other regions of the West Coast. It is also quite popular in northern states such as Michigan and Wisconsin, likely due to a large number of French-Canadian immigrants who emigrated during the 19th century.
In France, the surnameOriginated in the Limousin region of the country, where examples of the name have been found since the 15th century. Many who bear the name in France today are from the departments of Vienne, Nord, and Pas de Calais.
In Spain, the surname is most commonly found in the Andalusia region, while those with the surname in Mexico and Brazil are likely descended from Spanish settlers during the colonial era.
Overall, the surname Matalan is quite common today, with those bearing the name found mainly in the United States, France, Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. It remains most frequently found in the regions where it originated centuries ago.
Variations of the surname Matalan
Matalan is a surname of Spanish-American origin. There are numerous different variants, spellings and surnames that are related to it, including the following:
Mata: This is the Spanish spelling of the surname, originating from the Spanish root word ‘Mata’, meaning ‘forest’ or ‘wood’. It is also a given name in many Spanish-speaking countries.
Matalanos: This is a Spanish variation of the surname Matalan, often found in the area of Galicia in Northern Spain.
Matalleano: This is a corrupted spelling of the Spanish surname Matalanos. It is sometimes found in Latin-American areas as well.
Matallen: This is an Anglicized form of the surname Matalan, which is sometimes found in Scottish and Irish archives.
Matalon: This is another English variation of the surname, originally derived from the Hebrew male given name ‘Matalon’, which translates to ‘Gift of God’.
Mattolon: This is another variation of the surname Matalan, which is possibly derived from the Italian ‘Matteo’, meaning ‘gift of God’.
Martello: This variation of the surname is of Italian origin and is derived from the word ‘Martello’, meaning hammer.
Marcello: This variation of the surname is of Italian origin and is derived from the Roman male given name ‘Marcellus’, which means ‘young warrior’.
Mataleano: This variation of the surname is of Spanish origin and is derived from the Spanish words ‘matano’, meaning ‘forest’ and ‘lean’, meaning ‘location’.
Matallan: This is a variant of the surname Matalan, found in Eastern European countries. It is derived from the words ‘mata’, meaning forest and ‘Elan’, from a Slavic root word meaning ‘place’.
Matelan: This is yet another variation of the surname Matalan, found in Eastern European countries.
Matalin: This is a Jewish variation of the surname Matalan, meaning ‘dweller from a small wood’.
These are the many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Matalan.
Famous people with the name Matalan
- John Matalan: Joey From Friends actor
- Jim Matalan: Investor and former CEO of J.C. Penney
- Gilbert Matalan: American Football Player
- David Matalan: American Writer and Historian
- Alfredo Matalan: Spanish Professional Basketball Player
- John Matalan III: Businessman and Investor
- Steve Matalan: Country Music Musician
- T. S. Matalan: Novelist and Playwright
- Don Matalan: Professional Golfer
- Sam Matalan: Emmy Award Winning Actor and Musician