Discover people named Kerstin Mathesdotter

The last name Mathesdotter has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden, where it is derived from the patronymic naming tradition, meaning "daughter of Mathes" or "daughter of Matthew." The name Mathes itself is a variant of the biblical name Matthew, which means "gift of God" in Hebrew. Historically, surnames in this region often reflected lineage, with "dotter" indicating a female descendant, thus linking the name to familial heritage. Variations of Mathesdotter can be found in different Scandinavian countries, such as Mathesdatter in Norway and Mathesdóttir in Iceland, where the suffixes change according to local linguistic customs. These variations maintain the same fundamental meaning, emphasizing the connection to the father’s name while adapting to regional phonetics and grammar. The use of such surnames highlights the importance of ancestry and familial ties in Scandinavian culture.