Mattsson

Mattsson is a Swedish patronymic surname meaning "son of Matts". It is formed by adding the suffix -sson ("son") to the personal name Matts, a variant of Mats, which is itself a Swedish and Norwegian short form of Matthias. Ultimately, the name traces back to the Greek Ματθίας (Matthias), a variant of Ματθαῖος (Matthew), which appears in the New Testament as the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot.

Distribution and Variants

The surname Mattsson is most commonly found in Sweden, where patronymic naming traditions historically prevailed. Before the adoption of inherited family names, Swedish children took their father’s first name plus -son (for sons). Mattsson belongs to a widespread family of Scandinavian patronymics equivalent to the English Matthews or Mason. Related forms in other languages include Bulgarian Mateev and Mateeva, Catalan Mateu, Croatian Matić, Serbian Matijević, and Croatian Matković.

Notable Bearers

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Mattsson, particularly in Scandinavian fields of sports and entertainment. André Mattsson (born 1980) is a Swedish ice hockey player. Arne Mattsson (1919–1995) was a Swedish film director known for pioneering Swedish crime films. Helena Mattsson (born 1984) is a Swedish actress who has appeared in international productions. Magnus Mattsson (born 1999) is a Danish footballer. Markus Mattsson (born 1957) is a Finnish ice hockey player. Per Mattsson (1948–2025) was a versatile Swedish actor. Stein-Erik Mattsson (born 1959) is a Norwegian lawyer, journalist, and comedian. Additionally, Frank Mattsson (1868–1924) was a Finnish composer better known under his pseudonym Oskar Merikanto. Lars Eric Mattsson is a Finnish musician active in rock and metal genres.

Meaning: "son of Matts"
Origin: Scandinavia (Sweden)
Type: Patronymic surname
Usage Region: Sweden, Finland, Norway

Distribution and Variants

Notable Bearers

Roots

Other Languages & Cultures