Surname Maites - Meaning and Origin
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Maites: What does the surname Maites mean?
The last name Maites is of Spanish origin and is derived from the first name Mateo, meaning “gift of God”. The surname Maites is derived from the name “Maite”, an old Spanish variation of Mateo and “Maitez”, derived from the Latin Matheus, which also means “gift of God”. This last name is believed to have originated in the Castilian region of Spain, where it is believed that the family was originally from.
The Maites family is believed to have moved to other parts of the world such as South America and the United States, most likely in search of work and a better future. In his book “Familias Mexicanas Antiguas de California y Baja California”, David Marquez states that the Maites family is of a noble heritage and suggests that the original Maites family in Mexico had settled in the area after fleeing the Inquisition in Spain. The Maites family is believed to have settled in California during the nineteenth century.
Today, the surname Maites can be found in various parts of the world, notably in the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain. Despite the name’s ancient roots, the family is vibrant and has seen great success, with family members having become distinguished academics, businesspeople and politicians. The Maites family is proud of its history and strong ties to their Spanish heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisMaites: Where does the name Maites come from?
The last name Maites is most commonly found in the Basque region of the Pyrenees Mountains. This area stretches across the border between France and Spain, and is home to the Basque people, an ancient culture with its own distinct language.
The surname Maites itself is of Basque origin and likely dates back to pre-Christian times. The meaning of the surname is thought to be derived from the Basque word maitea, which means “love” or “happiness.”
Today, the surname Maites is still quite prevalent in the Basque region. It’s especially common in the city of San Sebastian, which is located on the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain. Many other Basque cities and provinces have high concentrations of people with the Maites surname as well.
Outside of the Basque region, the name is less common, but there are still some individuals with the surname living in Spain, France, and other countries with large Basque diasporas.
Overall, the surname Maites is most strongly associated with the Basque region in Europe, and is still fairly common there.
Variations of the surname Maites
Maites is an old Portuguese surname, made up of the combination of common name elements Mai- and -tes. It likely originated from the Latin word maiores, meaning "elders". The modern variants of this surname include Mathes, Mayes, Mates, Mathis, and Matese.
Maites may have been derived from a variety of old names such as Maío (feminine form of Maio), and the feminine form of Mateus. It is also found in the Portuguese form Mathias and in the Latin form Matthaeus.
In Galicia, eastern Spain, Maites is often spelled Mateos or Maíto, and is a common surname there. During the 19th century, the name of Mata/Matas proliferated, and today, it is not entirely clear whether the Mata/Matas surname comes from Maites, from Mateus or from some other origin.
In Brazil, Maites is often spelled as Mattes. This spelling variant is derived from the Dutch surname Mattheus, and is found mostly in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina. The variants found in Portuguese America are also often in the form Maíto.
Many of these surnames spread to the Caribbean and Latin America. In Mexico, there are several variations such as Mata, Matías, Maíz, Mayes, and Matiz. There is a lesser-known variant Mayas which is linked to the native Nahuatl language.
The Maites surname is also found in some places with the spelling Matais or Matys as well as other different spellings in various countries. Some other variants and spellings are also thought to have derived from the Portuguese word maites and include: Maiz, Maize, Maede, Madex and Maties.
Famous people with the name Maites
- Eugenio Maites, Venezuelan politician
- Belle Maites, Venezuelan fashion designer
- Jackson Maites, Venezuelan singer and songwriter
- Wilma Maites, Venezuelan singer and actress
- Juan Maites, Venezuelan actor
- Virginia Maites, Venezuelan fashion model
- Eduardo Maites, Venezuelan chef and restaurateur
- Jorge Maites, Venezuelan business leader
- Noel Maites, Venezuelan entrepreneur
- Carina Maites, Venezuelan artist and sculptor