Mathiesen family

The Mathiesen family is a Norwegian family of Danish origin whose historical prominence arose from commercial, landed, and political activity rather than from a consumer-facing brand. The family tradition is traced to Jørgen Mathiesen, a merchant from Copenhagen who died in 1656. His grandson, also named Jørgen Mathiesen, was born in 1663 and later settled in Norway, where he served as bailiff in Helgeland. Subsequent generations developed interests in timber commerce and landownership, helping establish the family among Norway’s notable business families. A central part of the family’s economic history was its participation in Tostrup & Mathiesen. The Mathiesens became co-owners of the enterprise in 1842. In 1892, the Tostrup family sold its shares, leaving the Mathiesens in control and leading to the renaming of the company as Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk. The enterprise linked the family to forestry, timber processing, industrial operations, and the management of substantial landed resources. From the 1990s onward, most of the company’s activities were taken over by Moelven Industrier, marking a major transition away from direct family control of the business activities that had defined its industrial position. The family also owned Linderud Manor in Oslo, an estate that formed an important part of its landed identity and historical association. Members of the family combined commercial roles with public service and political activity. Haagen Mathiesen was known as a timber merchant, ship-owner, and politician. Haaken C. Mathiesen and Haaken L. Mathiesen were landowners and businesspeople, while Christian Pierre Mathiesen represented the Conservative Party in Norwegian politics. Jørgen Mathiesen, who lived from 1901 to 1993, continued the family’s association with landownership and business. The Mathiesen family should therefore be understood as a historical Norwegian family network and business dynasty, not as a conventional standalone product brand. Its significance rests on the relationship between family capital, forestry and timber commerce, estates, industrial ownership, and civic life. Publicly available reference material identifies the family’s historical origins, principal business association, estate ownership, and selected members, but does not establish a current consumer brand, present-day operating company, listed security, official website, or contemporary executive structure.

The Mathiesen family originated in Denmark and became established in Norway through the migration of Jørgen Mathiesen, the grandson of the Copenhagen merchant Jørgen Mathiesen who died in 1656. Born in 1663, the younger Jørgen settled in Norway and served as bailiff in Helgeland. His descendants later developed commercial interests in timber, a sector that became the principal foundation of the family’s economic prominence. The family’s business history is closely connected with Tostrup & Mathiesen. The Mathiesens became co-owners in 1842, combining their interests with those of the Tostrup family. In 1892, the Tostrup family disposed of its shares, and the Mathiesen family became the controlling family group. The company was then renamed Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk. Through this enterprise, the family was associated with forestry, timber trading, industrial activity, and the administration of extensive landed resources. The family’s role extended beyond commerce. Haagen Mathiesen was identified as a timber merchant, ship-owner, and politician. Haaken C. Mathiesen and Haaken L. Mathiesen were landowners and businesspeople. Christian Pierre Mathiesen pursued a political career with the Norwegian Conservative Party. Jørgen Mathiesen, who lived from 1901 to 1993, was also associated with landownership and business. These careers illustrate the combination of private enterprise, estate management, shipping, and public participation that characterized the family’s historical profile. Linderud Manor in Oslo was another significant family possession. The manor connected the Mathiesens with the history of Norwegian landed society and remains part of the family’s documented historical identity. Genealogical and heraldic works have treated the family and its related lines, while historical studies have examined the relationship between Linderud and Eidsvoll Verk. From the 1990s, most of the activities of Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk were taken over by Moelven Industrier. This represented the gradual transfer of the family’s principal industrial and forestry-related activities into a larger corporate structure. The available reference material does not provide a clear account of the family’s current business organization, ownership arrangements, or an active corporate brand operating under the family name. Accordingly, the Mathiesen family is best documented as a historical family and business dynasty rather than as a currently identifiable commercial brand.

• 1990

  Most industrial activities transfer to Moelven Industrier

  [1]Mathiesen familyen.wikipedia.org

  Most of the activities associated with the family enterprise were taken over by Moelven Industrier, reducing the family’s direct role in the industrial operations described in the historical record.

• 1892

  Company renamed Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk

  [1]Mathiesen familyen.wikipedia.org

  After the Tostrup family sold its shares, the Mathiesen family became the controlling owner and the company adopted the name Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk.

• 1842

  Mathiesen family becomes co-owner of Tostrup & Mathiesen

  [1]Mathiesen familyen.wikipedia.org

  The family entered shared ownership of Tostrup & Mathiesen, beginning its documented association with the enterprise that later became Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk.

• Jørgen Mathiesen establishes the family’s Norwegian line

  [1]Mathiesen familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jørgen Mathiesen, a grandson of the Copenhagen merchant of the same name, settled in Norway and became bailiff in Helgeland. Later descendants formed the Norwegian family line associated with timber commerce and landownership.

A historically prominent Norwegian family and business dynasty associated with forestry, timber commerce, landownership, shipping, and political life.

• Forestry and timber

  Timber and forest products

  Timber commerce was the principal business activity associated with the Mathiesen family. Across successive generations, the family’s commercial position was tied to forest resources, timber trading, and the industrial management of related assets. The available sources describe this activity historically and do not establish a current product portfolio sold under a Mathiesen consumer brand.

• Industrial enterprise · 1892

  Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk

  Mathiesen Eidsvold Værk was the principal enterprise associated with the family’s later business identity. It emerged in 1892 after the Mathiesens acquired the Tostrup family’s shares in Tostrup & Mathiesen and renamed the company. Its historical activities were connected with forestry, timber, land, and industrial operations. Most of those activities were later taken over by Moelven Industrier during the 1990s.

• Estate

  Linderud Manor

  Linderud Manor in Oslo was an important estate owned by the Mathiesen family. It represents the family’s landed and historical dimension rather than a manufactured product or commercial service. The manor has also figured in genealogical and historical literature concerning the Mathiesen family and related lineages.

1. 1Mathiesen familyen.wikipedia.org