The surnames Matarese, Mataresi, Matarise, Matarrese, Matarresi and Materesi derive from the term matarrese or matarese, an archaic or dialect variant of the demonym materano, used to designate the inhabitants of, or people originating from, the city of Matera. In this case, the surname would have arisen from an ethnic nickname given to the founder of the line according to his place of provenance.

There is also an alternative reading which relates the surname Matarrese in particular to certain place names, such as Contrada Matarrese in the territory of Canosa (province of Bari) or Matarisi at Briatico (province of Vibo Valentia). Another hypothesis proposes a derivation from the Latin term matara, which means "javelin".

The surname Matarese has family cores in the Naples, Foggia and Catanzaro areas, besides having a scattered presence in the north and the centre-north of Italy. Mataresi, very rare, is characteristic of the Livorno area. Matarise is concentrated at Mesoraca, in the province of Crotone.

Matarrese, for its part, is widely spread in Puglia, especially in the provinces of Bari, Taranto and Brindisi. Matarresi is an extremely rare variant, recorded only in the province of Latina. Finally, Materesi, likewise infrequent, does not show a clearly identifiable area of origin.

Taken together, these surnames are considered mainly of toponymic or gentilic origin, linked to the city of Matera and its inhabitants.