Surname Lightning - Meaning and Origin
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Lightning: What does the surname Lightning mean?
The surname Lightning is of English origin and is generally understood to refer to someone from an area with frequent lightning storms in England. However, there is some debate as to the exact origin of the name.
Some believe it may be derived from the Old Norse word "Leikun" which refers to a place with frequent lightning strikes. This could then be shortened to "Lein" or "Leinig" which subsequently evolved into the surname "Lightning". Another possible suggestion is that the surname may have been derived from the Middle English word "Lighten" and the Old English word "Litening", both meaning zigzag or swift, reflecting the speed at which lightning bolts travel through the sky.
In any case, the name Lightning has remained a popular choice for many generations, and reflects the importance of the dynamic power and beauty of the sky.
Order DNA origin analysisLightning: Where does the name Lightning come from?
The last name Lightning is believed to have originated from Old English, Anglo-Saxon origins. The name is believed to have originated from "Light in", which was a nickname for a fast, swift runner.
Today, the last name Lightning is most commonly found in the United States, Australia, and Canada. In the United States, the last name is evenly spread between several states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. The last name can also be found throughout Canada, particularly in Ontario and the Maritimes.
In Australia, the last name Lightning is most commonly found in Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia. It is estimated that there are around 100 people with this surname in Australia.
The last name Lightning is also found in other countries such as New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, and England. In general, Lightning is a relatively rare surname, but it remains more prominent in North America and Australia.
Variations of the surname Lightning
Lightning is an English surname most likely derived from "welling," which is a topographic name used to refer to someone living near a spring or a stream. Variations on the pronunciation and spelling of the surname, as well as related surnames, include:
• Lightening
• Lighthing
• Lichtning
• Lichtnig
• Lightnig
• Ledesma
• Lelong
• Lioghtninc
• Lighting
• Lightnynge
• Lytning
• Lyghtning
• Leighton
• Leyton
• Lighton
• Lightbody
• Lyghtnynge
• Leightonne
• Ledgemon
• Ligthon
• Lategan
In addition to the variants spelling, the surname has several distinct origins. It may derive from Old Norse terms for ‘Ljótr’ which means ‘ugly’ or ‘fierce’ or ‘hateful’, or from Old Norman terms for ‘Luchtuing’ which means ‘belonging to the people of the household’, or from Old Germanic terms for ‘Leyhtren’ which means ‘lightning’.
The surname can also sometimes derive from various Slavic, Greek, or Latin names like Luchtenstein (which is a derived from Slavic roots meaning ‘light stone’ or ‘gem’) or Lyghtnig (a Latin-based term for ‘lightning’).
The surname Lightning has various other spellings like Ligthon, Lighthing, Leighon, Lightbody, Lightnynge, Lioghtninc, and Lategan. Other surnames of similar origin include Ledesma, Lelong, Leighton, Leyton, and Lighton. All of these surnames can be traced back to one common surname of English origin, Lightning.
Famous people with the name Lightning
- Patrick Lightning (former professional Canadian ice hockey player and coach)
- Siobhan Lightning (Ojibway author, scholar and Media Activist from Wasauksing First Nation, Ontario, Canada) 3.046Oswald Lightning (Gwich’in language activist from Tsiigehtchic, NWT, Canada)
- Candace Lightning (Grammy Award-nominated Native musician and Sovereignty Support Organization founder)
- Ryan Lightning (American award-winning chef, food truck owner, and owner of a food-processing business)
- Sam Lightning (New Zealand-born animator, art director, and film-maker)
- Pooky Lightning (Navajo singer, flutist, and powwow emcee)
- Emma Lightning (New Zealand Purakau Māori storyteller and educator)
- Ann Dean Lightning (Indigenous Canadian playwright, spoken word artist, and storyteller)
- James Lightning (member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, tribal historian, lecturer, and author of several books about Native American history)