Surname Landes - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Landes: What does the surname Landes mean?
The surname Landes is of German origin and it translates to "countries" or "lands" in English. It is likely a topographic name for a person who resided or owned land near a territorial border of a country or region. Alternatively, it might also be an occupational name for someone serving as a countryman, a provincial governor, or official. Names were often attributed based on a person's occupation, place of residence, or a significant characteristic. It's worth noting that the meaning of a surname can vary based on the geographic region and historical context it originates from.
Order DNA origin analysisLandes: Where does the name Landes come from?
The surname Landes is of French origin. It is derived from the region named “Landes” in southwestern France. The name translates to 'land' or 'heath' in French, and it was usually assigned to families that resided in or were somehow connected to this region.
The surname has spread to many parts of the world through migration, especially during colonial periods. Today, it is common in the United States, specifically in Pennsylvania which has the highest number of people with the Landes surname. It's also prevalent in other areas with French influence or a high number of French-descendants such as Canada and parts of Europe, including France itself. However, distribution of this name may vary within each country depending on the local population's ancestry. In general, Landes is not a very common surname globally.
Variations of the surname Landes
The surname Landes originates from German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) cultures. It is a topographic name for someone who lived on an uncultivated or fallow piece of land.
Variations and similar surnames include Landis, Land, Lander, Landesman, Landers, Landez, Landas, Landess, Lantis, Landus, Lantus, Landys, and Landies. Anglicized versions of the name may also use Landis or Lands. Jewish families may separately have adopted the name when surnames became obligatory, so you might also see spelling variations based on phonetic translations into different alphabets or languages.
In terms of spelling, Landes is already quite concise, but it could possibly be spelled as Landez or Landis. However, these changes may significantly alter the origins and meanings of the name. As for related surnames, any name that refers to landscape features, or translates to 'land' in other languages, could potentially share a similar root or concept, such as the English 'Land', the Dutch 'Lande', or the French 'Deslandes'.
Finally, there may also be derivations of these surname variations depending on region and dialect, creating a large potential family of connected surnames.
Famous people with the name Landes
- Elizabeth Landes: American writer and actress best known for her children’s book series, the Landes Adventure.
- John Landes: English disc jockey most noted for playing early hip-hop and soul music in the UK.
- Albert Landes: Austrian jurist and theoretical philosopher.
- Marta Landes: French painter and sculptor best known for her hyperrealist paintings.
- Joslynn Landes: US Beach Volleyball Olympic athlete, winning silver at the Rio de Janeiro games.
- Connor Landes: US actor and musician best known for his role in the 2016 comedy movie Dude Bro Party Massacre 3.
- David Landes: American historian and economic historian best known for his seminal work The Wealth and Poverty of Nations.
- Don Landes: American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.
- Louise Landes Levi: American poet, musician, and scholar whose work explores approaches to mysticism and healing.
- John Landesco: American crime commissioner known for publishing The Imposition of Police-Community Relations in 1929.