Surname Löer - Meaning and Origin
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Löer: What does the surname Löer mean?
The last name Löer (also spelled Löwer, Löhrer, and Löhrer) is a Germanic surname of Germanic origin. It is derived from a nickname based on the Middle High German word lôh, meaning “pulley” or “pulley puller”. As a surname, it is likely derived from an occupational name, given to a person who operated pulleys or ropes, or to someone with an exceptionally strong back.
In some cases, the surname may refer to someone who operated a crane, or a light ascender, a pulley-like machine used by masons and stonecutters to raise objects into position on a building. The surname is also found among several Jewish families; in this context, its original meaning may have been “swindler”, referring to someone who makes money by “lifting” items for personal gain.
As, the occupation associated with the surname is no longer in use today, the surname is now more easily associated with someone’s surname than an occupation. Still, it is a fairly common surname, with many present-day Löer families tracing their roots back to Germany and Eastern Europe. Many Löer descendents have spread across the globe, such as in the United States, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Interestingly, the British version of the name is predominantly Löwer.
Order DNA origin analysisLöer: Where does the name Löer come from?
The last name Löer is common in northern Germany, particularly the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Hamburg. It is also very common in the Netherlands, with large concentrations in the provinces of Groningen and Gelderland. According to the German surname database, the name is most likely derived from the old Germanic name Lohar, meaning “woodworker” or “axe-bearer”.
The name is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages, before becoming popularized in the Netherlands and Germany in the 16th through 19th centuries. Although the exact origins of the name are unknown, there is evidence to suggest that the name originated in the Netherlands, as the surname is most commonly found in Groningen and Gelderland provinces in the Netherlands.
The name has seen its share of modification as it spread across Europe, with some variations from country to country. In northern Germany, it is found as Loer, Loher, Loeer, and Lerner. In the Netherlands, the name is often spelled as Löer, Loeer, Loer, Loer, Looer, or Loher. In Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the name has been recorded as Löhrer.
The family name is still relatively common today, with approximately 6,000 reported individuals with the last name in the Netherlands alone, and an additional 1,100 in Germany. With the proliferation of digital records, we can expect to see a further rise in the popularity of the name around Europe in the coming years.
Variations of the surname Löer
The surname Löer has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spelling is Löer, but it is also found spelled as "Loer," "Lohr," "Loer," "Loehr," "Laer," "Luer," "Ler," and "Lehr."
The variants of the name Löer originate from two sources. The first root is German, coming from the Old German name "Hlodawehr," which is derived from the masculine personal name "Hlodawig," which is composed of two elements, “hlod,” meaning “renown” or “glory” and “awir/wer,” meaning “protection” or “defenses.”
The second origin of the name is Dutch, and this comes from a Dutch name meaning "the lord's hill." This Dutch name is derived from “loei,” meaning “lord” and “hor” meaning “hill.” The modern day variants of this name include: Lohr, Loer, Loehr, Laer, Luer, Ler, and Lehr. All of these variants originate from these two sources.
The surnames that are derived from the root name Löer include "Löers," "Löressen," "Löersma," "Löerdmans," "Löersdr," "Löerstra," and "Löersman." In English, the more common variants of these names include: "Lowers," "Lowerman," "Lorsen," "Lorsma," "Lerdman," "Lessen," "Lessma," and "Lehrman."
In conclusion, the surname Löer has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, with roots in both Germany and the Netherlands. The modern variations derive from two sources, the German "Hlodawig" and the Dutch "loei/hor," both of which mean “renown/protection” or “lord’s hill,” respectively. Common surnames derived from Löer include: Löers, Löersma, Löerdmans, Löersdr, Löerstra, Löersman, Lowers, Lowerman, Lorsen, Lorsma, Lerdman, Lessen, Lessma, and Lehrman.
Famous people with the name Löer
- Lars Löer: German actor and director
- Thorsten Löer: German soccer player
- Mathilde Löer: Danish Olympic rower
- Leonhard Löer: German professor and theologian
- Katarina Löer: Former mayor and Swedish politician
- Elin Löer: Swedish singer and songwriter
- Wilhelm Löer: German physicist and engineer
- Odin Löer: Swedish judoka and Olympic athlete
- Christian Löer: German theologian and former professor
- Christoph Löer: German canoeist and Olympic athlete