Mateo
A Spanish surname and given name ultimately from Matthew, meaning “gift of the Lord.”
The #2,623 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 22,461 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Mateo comes from the Spanish form of Matthew, ultimately from Hebrew Matityahu, meaning “gift of Yahweh” or “gift of the Lord.” Through Greek and Latin Christian tradition, the name spread widely across Europe as a personal name and later became a hereditary surname. In surname use, it is usually patronymic: originally identifying someone as the son or descendant of a man named Mateo.
History
The name is common in the Hispanic world both as a given name and as a surname. As a surname, it developed in the usual Spanish way from a father’s personal name rather than from an occupation or place. Related forms such as Mateos also appear in Spanish tradition, and the name has spread to many parts of the Americas through Spanish-speaking migration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Matthew-related names are especially widespread in Christian naming traditions because of the apostle and evangelist St. Matthew.
From the historical record
“Rodolfo Lobú Eulojio 2.0 Rodriguez Mateo Serrano Vitalicio J. Vasquez Juan E. Delgado Victoriana Vasquez Eliseo Cruz Virjinia T. Vasquez”
— Diccionario de los apellidos