Historical name of Metz.
Place where cultures meet.
Surname of families. |
History of the name Mettis
www.mettis.org
Mettis was, in the fifth century, the name of city now known as Metz. Mettis was earlier known as Goetterburg, translating in Latin as Divodurum, i.e. fortified sacred town, or city of God.
The city was the capital of the Mediomatrici, a Celtic people inhabiting the upper valley of the Mosella in northern Lotharingen (Lorraine), between the Treveri in the north and the Leuci to the south, an area referred to by Julius Ceasar as part of Gallia Belgica.
The name Divodurum Mediomatricorum (Sacred City of the Mediomatrici) contracted into Mediomatrix, then into Mettensis and in the fifth century into Mettis. It was invaded and destroyed by the Vandals in 406, rebuilt to be captured by Attila and the Huns in 451.
In the 6th century, Metz became the capital of Austrasia, the part of the Frankish empire that included regions today known as the Netherlands, Belgium, Champagne, Rhineland and Alsace.
In 843, Charlemagne's Empire was split between the three sons of Louis the Pious. His eldest son Lothair inherited the Middle Kingdom and his son Lothar II in turn inherited Lotharingia, which stretched from Metz to the North Sea. What is today known as Lorraine, with Metz as its capital, eventually became part of France, while Lower Lorraine transformed into the Low Countries (Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg).
Historically, the city Metz, being strategically positioned at the junction of major roads and rivers of Europe, was a facilitator of trade between various areas. Today, Metz remains a place where different cultures, languages, religions and ethnic backgrounds meet.
The name Mettis has been preserved as a family name. There are many variations of the surname, including Met, Mettes, Metius, Metz, Metts, Mets, Metten, Mettens, Metzmacher, Metzner, Metze, Metsch and many more. Possibly, they all originate from the city of Metz (or Mettis).
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