mattis

Mattis is a surname and, less commonly, a given name used in various European and North American contexts. It is often treated as a variant of Mathis or Matthias and is commonly linked to the given name Matthew, with the lineage thought to reflect a patronymic form meaning “son of Matthew” or a related derivation. The name appears in English-speaking countries as well as in parts of Europe, and it can be found in genealogical and onomastic sources as both a family name and a personal name.

The most widely known bearer of the surname is James Mattis (born 1950), a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2017 to 2019. His public profile has made the name recognizable in contemporary politics and military affairs, though usage of Mattis also appears in other contexts and among various individuals who bear the surname.

Variants and related forms of the name include Mathis and Matthias, which may reflect regional spellings or linguistic shifts over time. In onomastic references, Mattis is typically treated as a distinct surname with its own historical occurrences, rather than as a direct substitute for Mathis or Matthias.