Mittag

Mittag is a German noun meaning noon, the middle of the day. It is formed from the idea of the middle of the day and is used in everyday language to denote midday. In German, Mittag appears in time-related compounds such as Mittagessen, which means lunch, and Mittagspause, a midday break.

As a surname, Mittag is of German origin and occurs in Germany and in other countries with German heritage. It can be found as a standalone surname or as part of longer, hyphenated names in some families.

Notable bearers and linguistic connections include Gösta Mittag-Leffler (1846–1927), a Swedish mathematician whose surname contains Mittag. In mathematics, the Mittag–Leffler theorem—named after him—is a fundamental result in complex analysis, illustrating how the term Mittag appears in scientific literature through this prominent surname.

In summary, Mittag serves as both a common German word for noon and a family name with cultural and academic associations, most prominently through its appearance in the compound surname Mittag-Leffler and the related mathematical theorem.