Mathisen is a Norwegian surname meaning "son of Mathias." It is one of many Scandinavian patronymic surnames formed by adding the suffix -sen (equivalent to -son) to a given name. As of January 2014, 7,669 people in Norway bear this surname.
The root of the name Mathias is itself a variant of Matthias, a New Testament name. The biblical Matthias, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot after the betrayal of Jesus (Acts 1:15-26). The name ultimately derives from the Greek Ματθίας (Matthias), a variant of Ματθαῖος (Matthaios), itself from the Hebrew Mattityahu meaning "gift of God." The name had royal associations in Hungary, borne by kings including Matthias I Corvinus (1443–1490), a notable reformer and patron of the Renaissance.
Distribution and Variants
The Mathisen surname is almost exclusively found in Norway, though it may appear among Norwegian diaspora communities. Cognate patronymic surnames based on Mathias or its equivalents occur across Europe, including the Armenian Matevosian and Matevosyan, Bulgarian Mateev and Mateeva, Catalan Mateu, Croatian Matić, as well as other forms common in Scandinavia like Mathsson and Mathiessen in Sweden and Denmark.
Notable Bearers
According to available records, many Norwegian athletes, musicians, and politicians carry the name. Notable examples from Wikipedia include:
- Alexander Mathisen (born 1986), Norwegian footballer
- Arild Mathisen (born 1942), Norwegian footballer
- Oscar Mathisen (1888–1954), Norwegian speed skater and world record holder
- Leo Mathisen (1906–1969), Danish jazz pianist and composer
- Hans Mathisen (born 1967), Norwegian jazz guitarist
- Bente Stein Mathisen (born 1956), Norwegian politician
The name spans diverse fields from football to music, illustrating its commonness in Norway.
Key Facts
- Meaning: Son of Mathias
- Origin: Norway, patronymic surname
- Root Name: Mathias (variant of Matthias, ultimately from Greek Matthias, Hebrew Mattityahu)
- Usage: Primarily Norwegian; also found in Danish forms like Mathiesen
Roots
Other Languages & Cultures
Sources: Wikipedia — Mathisen