mathia arms?

[Jock Scot]

Who can tell me where to find the arms of Mathia? I realize that arms belong to a person, and not to a family, but it's still interesting to learn about. Also, I read somewhere on the Web that the Mathia surname comes from the area around Lochalsh and the Hebrides. Does anyone know if this is true, or can you point me to an accurate website to investigate on my own?
Many thanks.

Not a name I am familiar with and one way or another, I have lived very near and travelled the areas you mention for over 70 years and have never come across the name. Well alright that is quite possible, so I did a quick check in the relevant telephone directories and there is no mention of a Mathia. Sorry.

[Chas]

Not a name I am familiar with and one way or another, I have lived and travelled the areas you mention for over 70 years and have never come across the name. Well alright that is quite possible, so I did a quick check in the relevant telephone directories and there is no mention of a Mathia. Sorry.

Jock's post got me thinking and searching.

From http://www.britishsurnames.co.uk/surnames/MATHIA

Today there are 18 people named Mathia in the UK

In 1881, at the national census, there were only 3. So they are breeding, but an increase of 15 in over a 100 years is not very impressive. More effort needed, I think.

Whereas there are currently 394 in the US but only 2 in Australia.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the quality of TV programs in these countries?

Regards

Chas

[piperdbh]

Thanks for all the responses. You're confirming what I had thought: that the websites I had read were trying to sell me something. Mathia is the Mrs.'s family name, and their understanding is that it comes from Germany, through Mat(t)hias.

[Standard]

I found a link to the "Ordinary of Arms" at the Boston Public Library link which you can view online, or are allowed to download as a .pdf
http://archive.org/details/ordinaryofarmsco00paul

[SlackerDrummer]

Thanks for all the responses. You're confirming what I had thought: that the websites I had read were trying to sell me something. Mathia is the Mrs.'s family name, and their understanding is that it comes from Germany, through Mat(t)hias.

Then everyone's looking in primarily British/Scottish armorials doesn't do you any good at all, does it?

I don't see a Mathia in Rietstap's Armorial, but look here for many possible alternatives prior to the surname settling on its final form.