Apparently, the Mattocks surname is Welsh in origin, according to many surname books--one such book being, "The Growth of Family Names".  The original spelling of the name was Madoc or Madog, which was the name of an ancient Welsh prince, who just may have discovered our land, America, in the year 1170 AD.  This is all according to legend, but there is monument in Mobile Bay, Alabama, thanking Prince Madog for being here and leaving the Welsh language with the Mandan Indians.

The Mattocks name is patronymical, meaning it was named for Madog.  Of course, the other variations of the name also derive from the same Madog.  We are supposedly all one big happy family.  Mattocks has also been said to mean "beneficial" or "good".

A Colonel Fletcher B Maddox, Jr, published a story in "The Sun" submitted a paper on the name, basically on the spelling, Maddox and explained where some of the family came from--It was originally entitled, "The Maddox Family of MD", by Chesley B Maddox, Jr.  Their version has the family coming from LLanfynach, Wales, where they held Lordships prior to the fall of Charles I.  They also held land at Maesmawr on the Usk River before William I was born.  Apparently,  the family was one of the bravest in town.  It was William II (Rufus) who took the land from our family.  It is here that we find, Thomas ap Jenkin Madog refused to surrender to Rufus, but he would to the King of England only--but the King allowed him to keep his lands.

Several generations of Maesmawr was mixed of British and Welsh blood.  The greatest alliance being the marriage of John ap Howel ap Madog, who was steward to the Duke of Buckingham and Lord of Brecknock to Mallt, daughter of Sir Howel Y Fywall.  Sir Howel was so good with his battle axe during the battle of Cressy, that Edward III gave him the knighthood, pension and daily mass to be served before his battle axe.

 In modern times, we have some famous and interesting people and items--Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves, Congressional Medal of Honor winner, General Charles Porter Mattocks of the 17th Maine (civil war),  the USS Maddox (civil war battleship) and the Mattock pick axe.  What a combination!!  Only this family could harbor such a diverse  grouping such as these.
 
 

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