Surname McMathon - Meaning and Origin

McMathon: What does the surname McMathon mean?

The surname McMahon originates from Ireland and is essentially an Anglicized form of the original Gaelic name "Mac Mathghamhna," which translates to "son of bear." It belongs to the category of patronymic surnames, where the identity of an individual derives from the father or a male ancestor. The McMahon surname primarily represents two distinct septs in Ireland, located in the regions of what is now County Clare and County Monaghan. Despite the similar spelling between McMathon and McMahon, McMathon does not appear to be a traditional or established surname and might be a misspelling or variant of McMahon or it could potentially derive from a different lineage altogether. It's important to engage with family history or genealogical records to understand the particular significance or origin of the surname McMathon.

McMathon: Where does the name McMathon come from?

The surname McMathon is of Irish origin. It is a variant of McMahon, derived from the Gaelic Mac Mathúna meaning 'son of the bear'. The McMahon clan was originally based in County Clare and County Monaghan in Ireland. It is important to note that the spelling McMathon is relatively uncommon, with McMahon being the more prevalent form. In fact, it may suggest a phonetic anglicization of the original Irish name by families that migrated, particularly during the massive Irish diaspora in the 19th century.

Today, descendants bearing the McMahon (and likely the rarer McMathon) name are dispersed widely, predominantly in English-speaking countries where the Irish diaspora settled, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. However, it is also common in Ireland itself, keeping strong connections with its historical roots. The name has been borne by many renowned individuals, including professional wrestlers, film and TV actors, politicians, writers, and sportspeople.

Variations of the surname McMathon

The surname McMathon has various alternative spellings and related surnames, not all of which may be directly related but may stem from a common origin or be result of phonetic similarities. Some of these include McMahon, MacMahon, Mahon, MacMahan, McMahan, MacMann, McMann, Machen, Mackonochie, and Mahan.

The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" in a surname is Gaelic for "son of" thus these variants may denote lineage. The name McMahon or McMathon is believed to originate from the Gaelic name "Mac Mathghamhna" where "mathghamhan" literally means 'bear'. Therefore, these surnames initially denoted the 'son of a bear', which more figuratively implies to being 'strong' or 'brave'.

Notably, variations can stem from anglicization or through translation when immigrants arrived in English-speaking countries - thus creating a range of spellings and surnames of the same, or similar, origin. It is also worth mentioning that different spelling variations may exist within a family due to literacy levels and localization. For example, siblings might adopt different spellings while placing importance on phonetic rather than the standardized spelling.

All of these variations reflect the rich history and evolution of Gaelic surnames over the centuries.

Famous people with the name McMathon

• David McMathon: David McMathon is an American actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his roles in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Just Add Magic, Cheaper By the Dozen 2, and more.
• Paul McMathon: Paul McMathon is an Australian tennis player. He has competed on the ATP World Tour and has represented Australia in the Davis Cup.
• Kerry McMathon: Kerry McMathon is an American track and field athlete, specializing in sprints, jumps, and long jump.
• Joy McMathon: Jot McMathon is a British actress best known for her roles in television series such as Coronation Street, Holby City, and The Bill.
• Mike McMathon: Mike McMathon is an American football player. He has played in the NFL for the Packers, Saints, and Panthers, where he was the starting quarterback for the latter two teams.
• Susan McMathon: Susan McMathon is a Canadian politician. She was the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Highwood from 2008 to 2019.
• Michael McMathon: Michael McMathon is an American actor and producer. He has appeared in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop II, Predator 2, Unnecessary Roughness, and 7even.
• Larry McMathon: Larry McMathon is a writer, producer, and director from Seattle, Washington. He has written, directed, and produced several award-winning films, including The Last Wild Reindeer, which was shortlisted for the Academy Awards in the Live-action Short Film category in 2010.
• Johnny McMathon: Johnny McMathon is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is best known for his performance with fellow blues artist, Taj Mahal.
• Roger McMathon: Roger McMathon is an American vocalist and songwriter. He has released several studio albums, most notably, Celebration of Life, in 1993.

Other surnames

McMath