Matthiessen is a Danish-Norwegian patronymic surname meaning "son of Mathies" (equivalent of the Biblical Μαθθαιος, cf. English Matthew). Several spelling variants are used, including Matthiesen, Mathiesen, Matthissen (UK), Matthisen and Mathissen. A similar diversity of forms exist for the parallel given name Mathias. There are several people with the surname Matthiessen:
Augustus Matthiessen (1831–1870), British physicist and chemist, notable for Matthiessen's rule C. M. I. M. Matthiessen (born 1956), Swedish linguist Francis Otto Matthiessen (1902–1950), U.S. literary critic Frederick William Matthiessen (1835–1918), Industrialist, philanthropist, and former Mayor of LaSalle, Illinois Peter Matthiessen (1927–2014), American novelist
See also