Matstrup

Matstrup is a Danish toponym used for one or more small rural localities in Denmark. The name is part of a common pattern in Danish place names, where the suffix -strup denotes a village, farmstead, or settlement.

Etymology and meaning. The form Matstrup combines an element that historically appears in Danish toponyms with -strup, a suffix traceable to Old Danish and Old Norse meaning village or estate. The exact origin of the first element can vary by locality, but the combination typically points to a small agricultural settlement.

Geography and administration. In each case, a locality named Matstrup describes a modest cluster of houses and surrounding farmland. Such places are usually embedded in a parish and fall under a Danish municipality for local governance. Settlement patterns tend to be rural, with land use focused on farming and related activities, and residents often commuting to larger towns for services not found in the village itself.

History. Villages with the -strup suffix commonly have medieval origins and can reflect historical landholding, farming practices, and parish organization. Over time, many Danish rural communities underwent changes due to agricultural modernization, road development, and municipal reforms, while retaining traditional street plans and building styles.

See also. Strup, a broader toponym element common in Denmark; List of Danish place names with the suffix -strup.