Welcome to the Maddison/Matthewson Y-DNA Research Project

This project is dedicated to the study of paternal Y-DNA lineages associated with the surnames Maddison, Matthewson, and related variants that are historically rooted in the counties of Durham and Northumberland.

Documented variants of the surname include Mathewson, Matheson, Matteson, Madison, Madyson, and Madson, among others. Between the years 1500 and 1800, multiple distinct branches of these surnames emerged. However, not all can be conclusively traced to a single common ancestor, suggesting that these families may have had separate and independent origins despite adopting similar surname forms. The evidence points to a patronymic origin, possibly of continental European derivation, with early instances of the surname—including Madysonne, Madison, and Maddison—recorded in Durham as early as the 12th century, particularly in Stanhope. The form Matthewson and its variants appear to represent a Latinized interpretation, frequently encountered in ecclesiastical registers, with some families later adopting Maddison in English usage. Conversely, regional migration between Durham and Northumberland, combined with local dialectal influences, appears to have facilitated the interchange of the forms Maddison and Matthewson across county boundaries.

A well-documented Maddison lineage in Durham rose to prominence with the marriage of William Maddison of Allergill to Joanna de Merley, coheiress of her uncle William de Merley of Unthank Hall. Certain pedigrees further suggest that William Maddison was descended from the Knights of Belasyse and the early Lords of Houghton-le-Spring. From this line emerged notable descendants, including Sir Edward Maddison of Fonaby, Lincolnshire, and several merchant aldermen of Newcastle upon Tyne, commemorated on the Maddison Monument at St Nicholas’ Church. Another significant branch remained in Stanhope with verifiable descendants continuing into the 19th century. While numerous other branches are believed to have originated from this prominent family, documentary gaps before the mid-16th century prevent definitive proof of kinship with other contemporary Maddison lineages.

Over time, families bearing these surnames spread beyond Durham and Northumberland, establishing themselves throughout the British Isles and, subsequently, across the wider world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand.