Mathia - Matthia Family Organization: Difference between revisions

The Mathia - Matthia grouping of surnames covers, at the beginning of Western record keeping, several distinct genetic lines. The greatest numbers distributed throughout the world today come from the Polish (perhaps Kashubian) line and from the Bas Rhin (Alsace-Lorraine) line. There is no evidence that the two are connected, but we are trying to promote DNA testing among descendants. There is also another smaller group with origins in Slovakia. It is possible that the German tribe "the Matiaker," which settled by the Rhein and was mentioned by Tacitus in the listing of German tribes, was completely or partially conquered by the Romans under Caesar. With the vanquishing of the Romans by the Alemanni, the Matiaker came under their rule. In the end they were subsumed by the Franks. If this is the correct origin of the name, then the grouping in Poland may have resulted from a migration at the time of the Teutonic knights.