What is the origin of the surname Madsen?

Question

I am trying to learn more about a certain character.

I thought that finding out about his ethnic background might provide me with additional insight into his behaviour, in much the same way I would be concerned if someone named Corleone or Tataglia moved in next door to me.

If you think my remarks are racist, please let me know.

It is a cardinal sin to be politically incorrect in Canada.

Answer 1

Surname: Madsen

This famous surname derived from Mattathiah is recorded in over two hundred and fifty different spellings ranging from Mathieu of France to Macieiczyk of Poland. From medieval times it has been recorded in every part of Christendom. Its popularity throughout Europe first as a baptismal name and then later as a surname dates from the 11th century when Crusaders, otherwise known as the "Knights Templar", returning from one of their many expeditions to the Holy Land, gave it to their sons in commemoration of the fathers (unsuccessful) attempt to free Palestine from the Muslims. The origination is from the Hebrew male given name "Mattathiah" meaning "gift of the Lord", and it is recorded in the famous Norman-English Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Matthaeus' and in the French spelling 'Mathieu'. Neither of these recordings are surnames, but names of priests. Early examples of the surname recordings include Heinrich Matthaus of Uberlingen, Germany, in 1382, John Mathows of Whitby, England, in 1395, the patronymic Hugh Mathewman in the 1379 Poll Tax rolls of England, and a similar Clewi Mathisen of Freiburg, Germany, in the year 1475. Samuell Matthews was one of the earliest settlers in the New World of America. He is listed as 'living at the plantation by James Cittie' (Virginia), in February 1623. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alan Mathew, which was dated 1260, in the Assize Rolls of Cambridge, England. This was during the reign of King Henry 111, known by the nickname of 'The Frenchman', who reigned from 1216 to 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Answer 2

The origin of a surname will go back hundreds of years.  For analogy purposes, a person named Madsen (in the US) might be Caucasian,  or they may be African American.  The reason for this being that most African Americans in the US will sadly have slave ancestry, while the Caucasians will not.  They share a surname.. but the background is completely different.  This is absolutely not saying that either one has any particular personality characteristics.

The point I am hoping to make here is that surname has NOTHING at all to do with either ethnic issues, nor will it be applicable to personality or behavior.  I don't find the question to be racist.. I would suggest that it does have a lot of stereotyping and preconceptions.  Someone named Corleone is not going to be automatically a gangster. It might be safe to say that they would likely have Italian heritage, but that is as far as you might go with it.

Since you specified that you are hoping to understand a behavior question.. with all respect, the person's surname is completely irrelevant.