[1] This English personal name is ultimately derived from the Biblical Hebrew מַתִּתְיָהוּ (mattiṯyāhū), which means "gift of God".
[3] Two different Scottish Gaelic surnames have been Anglicised Matheson.
One such surname is Mac Mhathghamhuin (Clan Matheson), which became Anglicised Matheson on account of its similar sound.
[4][5][6][note 1] Another Gaelic surname Anglicised Matheson is Mac Matha.
[4] This Gaelic surname is derived from the patronymic form of a Gaelic form of Matthew[4][5][10] (for example, the modern Scottish Gaelic Mata and Matha are cognates of the English Matthew).