Maaßen

Maaßen is a surname of German origin. It is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Mathias, which is a form of Matthew. The "-ßen" suffix indicates "son of". Therefore, Maaßen literally means "son of Mathias". The name is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the northern regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Maaßen include:

Hans-Georg Maaßen (born 1962) is a German lawyer who served as the President of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesverfassungsschutz) from 2012 to 2018. His tenure was marked by controversy regarding his handling of far-right extremist investigations and his public statements on political matters.

The Maaßen surname, while not exceptionally common, is a recognizable part of German nomenclature. Its origins are rooted in the widespread popularity of the biblical name Matthew, adapted into the Germanic form Mathias. The surname's prevalence in northern Germany reflects historical settlement patterns and linguistic developments within the region.