Late 19th century; earliest use found in William Sanday (1843–1920), biblical scholar. From post-classical Latin Matthaeus Matthew (Vulgate; from Hellenistic Greek Ματθαῖος, variant (with change of suffix) of Ματθίας Matthias (Acts 1:23), shortened from Ματταθίας Mattathias (Septuagint; also Luke 3.25) from Hebrew Mattiṯyāh Mattithiah (1 Chron. 9:31), Mattiṯyāhū (1 Chron. 15:21), lit. ‘gift of Yahweh’) + -an.