Most Matteis families now reside in the southern part near Naples in a town called Avellino.
The Matteis surname can be found in 48 Italian towns, whereas De Matteis which has the same origin is much more common and is present in 464 towns all over Italy, though it originates in Puglia (Southern Italy).
"Parentalia, inquam, unde Idololatriae malum caput extulit erroris.
Nam gulae suae causa primum coeperunt homines prandia mortuis praeparare, quae ipsi comederent.
Animae, Si quando extra portam cum obsoniis et matteis, tibi potius parentans ad busta recedis, aut a bustis dilutior redis.