mahtan

masculine name. ?Forger Smith

Father of Nerdanel, said to be a great smith (S/64). The meaning of his name is unclear. Its initial element may be the root √MAK “forge metal”. Its final element is most likely the suffixal form -tan of tamo “smith”.

Conceptual Development: In notes from 1968, Tolkien instead used the name Sarmo for the father of Nerdanel, but Christopher Tolkien retained Mahtan in the published version of The Silmarillion (PM/366).

Mahtan

Mahtan

Mahtan's name seems to come from a root MAK, meaning "to handle", with special reference to the arts and skills of making, plus the active ending -tan. The name must have a connotation like "Wright, Smith, Maker".[source?]