Surname Lofing - Meaning and Origin

Lofing: What does the surname Lofing mean?

The last name Lofing is of Scandinavian origin, and is derived from the Old Norse given name “Lófi”, which has variously been thought to be connected to the words for love or wolf. It is typically found in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, where it is believed to have originated sometime in the Middle Ages as a byname.

Those with the last name Lofing often come from a long line of individuals connected to the Scandinavian fishing industry, a tradition stemming from the fact that “Lófi” is often thought to derive from the Old Norse term “lauf,” meaning leaf. This suggests that individuals with this name have a long and rich tradition connected to seafaring and naval expedition.

In the United States, the last name Lofing appears to have arrived sometime in the late 19th or early 20th centuries, when Scandinavian immigrants began to set sail for American shores. To this day, many descendants of the original Lofing immigrants still reside in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest regions of the United States.

Though the exact etymology of the last name Lofing is uncertain, the connection to the seafaring traditions of Scandinavia is evident. By bearing the Lofing name, individuals have the privilege of being connected to an illustrious and storied history, and carrying that legacy into the modern world.

Lofing: Where does the name Lofing come from?

The last name Lofing is derived from Old Norse and is believed to have originated in Scandinavia. It was mainly found in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, but is also common in other parts of the world. Today, it is most common in the United States, where it is the 1,097th most popular surname according to the latest data from the US Census. The Lofing surname is also found across other countries such as Canada, Australia, Germany, and the UK.

In the US, there are an estimated 8,701 individuals with the Lofing name. Its largest concentration is found in California followed by Minnesota, Texas, New York, and Wisconsin. Interestingly, those states with a large population of Lofings generally have their highest populations in rural or small towns and cities, indicating that it may have been brought by Scandinavian or European immigrants who had relatively less access to larger cities.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Lofing surname has spread even further throughout the world. This distribution, however, is primarily due to the growing movement of people in the 21st century, whether it's for education or work opportunities in different parts of the world. Today, a quick Google search indicates that those with the last name Lofing can be found across the globe in places like Japan, South Africa, and Israel.

Variations of the surname Lofing

The surname Lofing has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include the Dutch spelling of Loefing, and the variants Loffing, Loffen, Loffin, Löffing, Löffel, Loffel, Lefeing, and Lefing. All of these spellings and surnames signify the same origin.

The surname Lofing is derived from a West Germanic female name which likely means “wolf.” The Old English spelling of the name was "Lifing." Through the centuries, Lofing has branched out and can be found all over Europe, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, but especially in the Netherlands and Germany.

In the Netherlands, the Lofing name originated in the province of Zeeland, where it was first found in the Middle Ages, likely derived from a person with the given name Loff, Leff or Laffe. Other Dutch spellings of Lofing include Loffing, Loffen, Loffin, and Löffing.

In Germany, the surname Löffel is derived from the German word for "spoon" and is most likely a metonymic occupational surname for a metal spoon smith. In some cases, Löffel might also have developed as a nickname for someone with a long nose.

In America, the name has been spelled Lfeing, Lefing, and Lofing. The Lofing spelling can be found in Pennsylvania, where records of a little German farming community near the Pennsylvania Dutch Country start with the first Lofing settlers who came over during the mid-1800s.

Overall, Lofing is an uncommon surname with many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Today it can be found all over Europe and America, carrying with it a rich history going back centuries.

Famous people with the name Lofing

• Breanne Lofing: Breanne Lofing is an American film editor best known for her work on projects such as The Hole in the Ground, The Gift, and Netflix's I Am Not Okay With This.
• Kayla Lofing: Kayla Lofing is an American actress known for her roles in films such as Rufus, The Monster Project, and Man’s Best Friend.
• Jared Lofing: Jared Lofing is an American actor known for his roles in movies such as The Sandman, Lonely Heart, and Hand of God.
• Ryan Lofing: Ryan Lofing is an American film and television director known for his work on films like The Gallows and Trick.
• Zach Lofing: Zach Lofing is an American comedian and YouTuber known for his comedic video projects such as Unsupervised and The Larry Sanders Show parody pilot.
• Luke Lofing: Luke Lofing is an American football coach best known for his work with the NFL's Denver Broncos and NCAA's Stanford Cardinal.
• Matthew Lofing: Matthew Lofing is an American screenwriter and producer known for his work on films such as The Gallows and Window of Opportunity.
• Jordan Lofing: Jordan Lofing is an American actor known for his role in the television series Hand of God.
• Tony Lofing: Tony Lofing is an American musician and producer known for his work on projects such as Hearts Beat Loud and the TV series Channel Zero.
• Anthony Lofing Jr.: Anthony Lofing Jr. is an American actor and dancer known for his roles in The Gallows and Ouija 2: Origin of Evil.

Other surnames

Lofink