Matvejs is the Latvian form of Matvey, which itself originates from the Russian form of the biblical name Matthew. This name traces back through the Greek Matthaios to the Hebrew Mattithiah, meaning "gift of Yahweh". Matthew, one of the twelve apostles and traditionally considered the author of the first Gospel, was a tax collector before following Jesus. The name appears in various forms across many languages and cultures, reflecting its widespread use due to the influence of Christianity. Etymology and Historical Development The ultimate root of Matvejs lies in the Hebrew name Mattithiah, which combines the element mattath meaning "gift" and the divine name Yahweh. In the New Testament, the apostle is called Matthew, derived from the Greek Matthaios, itself a Hellenization of the Hebrew. The name passed into Old Church Slavic and then into Russian as Matvey. In Latvia, where Russian cultural and linguistic influence is historically significant, Matvey was adapted to fit Latvian phonetics and grammar, yielding Matvejs. Notable Bearers Voldemārs Matvejs (1877–1914) was a Latvian artist and art theorist, remembered as a pioneer of the concept of faktura in art. He was a co-founder of the Union of Youth in 1908 and influenced the development of early Soviet avant-garde art. Despite his premature death, his writings on African art anticipated later modern scholarship. Other notable individuals bearing this name include Matvejs Kivīts (born 1993), a Latvian basketball player. Roots and Variants The name Matvejs shares its root with , a Latvian-specific adaptation, and is one of many regional forms of Matthew, including Matevos (Armenian), Matia (Basque), and Matthias (used in various Catholic and Protestant traditions). The Biblical form Mattaniah also shares the common element of "Yahweh’s gift". As a masculine given name in Latvian-speaking communities, Matvejs is less common today than its English or Russian counterparts, but it persists as a traditional Latvian identity marker. Meaning: "Gift of Yahweh" from Hebrew roots Origin: Hebrew form Mattithiah, via Greek and Russian Type: First name Usage Regions: Latvia Connection: Variant of Matthew (New Testament apostle)