Surname Leithe - Meaning and Origin
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Leithe: What does the surname Leithe mean?
The last name Leithe is a toponymic surname, meaning it is derived from the name of a place or region. It is thought to be of German origin, coming from the Old High German terms ‘līti’ meaning “meadow” and ‘hōwa’ meaning “hill”. The original bearers of the surname were likely inhabitants of a meadow on top of a hill.
Over time, the surname became popular in countries like the United States, England, Canada, and Germany. In some European countries, Leithe is still specifically associated with the Saxon Landwehr region of Germany, but in some countries, the name is applied more generally to anyone with a German heritage.
Today, the surname Leithe is common in North America, especially the US. It is the 9,094th most popular surname in the United States, with approximately 3,556 people bearing the name. It is also among the 200 most-common last names in Germany.
Leithe is a wonderful variant of a very old German surname. Bearers of the name can take pride in their heritage and the centuries of people who have come before them.
Order DNA origin analysisLeithe: Where does the name Leithe come from?
The last name Leithe is most common in Scandinavia. According to MyHeritage, over 60% of people with the last name Leithe live in Norway and Sweden.
The name is thought to be of Germanic origin, and is a combination of two words: leite, meaning Lightning, and heid, meaning Righteous. Leithe roughly translates to Righteous Guardian. It might have originally referred to a protector or nobleman who had the courage and strength to protect those under his care.
Leithe is a relatively rare name. It has been around since at least the 13th century, when it can be found in records from Old Norse Norway. In modern times, it is usually found in Norway and Sweden, though some people with the last name may also be found in other countries such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Finland.
As of 2020, there are fewer than 3,000 people who share the last name Leithe. It is mainly concentrated in the central parts of Norway and Sweden, though there are some instances of people with the last name in more remote areas, such as Finland and elsewhere.
Variations of the surname Leithe
The surname Leithe has several variants and spellings, as well as a few surnames of the same origin.
The most common variation of Leithe is Laythe, although other variations such as Leit, Leight, Leiten, Layth, and Leite also exist. These forms are generally found in Germany and Scandinavia, along with the variants of Leitha and Laithe.
In addition to the various spellings, there are also several surnames of the same origin. These include Letsch, Lietsch, Littsch, Litt, Lets, and Leyss. These are all derived from the Germanic first name Liut which means “people”.
Leithen is another variant of the surname Leithe. This spelling is commonly found in Austria and Switzerland.
The surname also has Scottish roots and is often spelled either “Leith” or “Leeth”. These spellings are usually associated with the Clan Leith, which is a Scottish clan that comes from the lands of Largie and Kilmarnok. The Leiths were a powerful family in Scotland for centuries, with records dating back to the 12th century.
Leithe can also be found in Ireland and England. In Ireland, it is spelled as “Lieth”, while in England it is spelled as “Leethe” or “Leithe”.
Overall, the surname Leithe has a diverse range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, suggesting that the Leithe family has been present in many parts of Europe for centuries.
Famous people with the name Leithe
- Tore Leithe: Norwegian football defender
- David Leithe: Swedish pop and country multi-instrumentalist and songwriter
- Lars Leithe: Norwegian archaeologist
- Jan Ove Leithe: Norwegian politician
- Tor-Øyvind Leithe: Norwegian professor of architecture
- Kari Leithe: Norwegian journalist
- Kjell Leithe: Norwegian former cross-country skier
- Anne Leithe: Norwegian dancer and choreographer
- Sofie Leithe: Norwegian swimmer and Paralympic athlete
- Trygve Leithe: Norwegian former ski jumper
- Nicky Leithe: Norwegian model
- Leif Leithe: Norwegian former downhill skier
- Erik Leithe: Norwegian courtier
- Olav Leithe: Norwegian former politician
- Hugo Leithe: Norwegian former Nordic combined skier
- Oleksandr Leithe: Ukrainian chess grandmaster
- Jakob Leithe: Swedish ice hockey player