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Matter Family History

Matter Name Meaning

German: topographic name for someone who lived by a meadow from Matte 1 + -er suffix denoting an inhabitant. English (Lancashire); Dutch (also De Matter): occupational name for a maker of mats from an agent derivative of Middle English matte Middle Dutch mat ‘mat’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Matte, Malter, Mutter, Latter, Motter, Mitter, Matters, Master

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Matter family from?

You can see how Matter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Matter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Matter families were found in USA in 1920. In 1840 there were 26 Matter families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 84% of all the recorded Matter's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Matter families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Matter surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Matter ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Matter. 22% of Matter men worked as a Farmer and 10% of Matter women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Matter were Truck Driver and Maid. .

View Census Data for Matter | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    22%
  • Laborer
    16%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    10%
  • Stenographer
    9%
  • Waitress
    7%
  • Maid
    6%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Matter family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 22,000 census records available for the last name Matter. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Matter census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Matter

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Matter. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Matter immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Matter. For the veterans among your Matter ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Matter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Matter family history

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What is the average Matter lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Matter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Matter in 1942 was 30, and 79 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Matter

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Matter family tree

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