Surname Löhe - Meaning and Origin
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Löhe: What does the surname Löhe mean?
The last name Löhe is of German origin and is a locational name derived from the towns of Löh and Löhe located in Bavaria and Saxony respectively. The name likely originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a hill, from the Middle High German “lohe” meaning “hill.” As a surname, it first appeared in the Bavarian region of Swabia in the 16th century and is still common throughout Germany today.
The Löhe surname can also be found in other parts of Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, Norway and Denmark. The Norwegian Löhe branch is descended from a former cavalry captain in the army of King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, who moved to Norway in the late 1600s and is today one of the oldest and most respected Norwegian families.
Those with the name Löhe have typically made their mark in many walks of life, from being scholars to owning large businesses. For example, German theologian Friedrich Wilhelm Christoph Löhe was the founder of the German Evangelical Association, while Richard Löhe became a successful business man and philanthropist in Norway.
The Löhe surname is a proud one and its proud bearers have all contributed something positive to society and live up to the original meaning of the name – “hill” – in one way or another.
Order DNA origin analysisLöhe: Where does the name Löhe come from?
The last name Löhe is common mostly in Germany with concentrations in Lower Saxony and Bavaria. This name is commonly found in families that trace their ancestry to the Prussian pietistic movement. Lutheran minister Wilhelm Löhe (1808-1872) was a key figure in this movement and is seen as a driving force in its spread across Germany.
The last name can also be found in other parts of Europe and other countries such as the United States, Australia and Canada. There is a number of immigrants to these countries that trace their last name to the Prussian movement, with descendents often using the spelling Loehe and Lohe.
The Löhe family has a long history in Lower Saxony, with numerous entries of the name recorded in the region in documents which date back to the Middle Ages. Records also show that several generations of the Löhe family were associated with the city of Munster, with records being found in the Munster city archives and also in the files of the main church in the city.
The Löhe family is an example of a pervasive surname whose widespread prevalence continues to this day. It is testament to the power of one man’s legacy, Wilhelm Löhe, and the influence of the Prussian pietistic movement. The last name may appear in many different variations and in countries across the world, the legacy of Löhe and his work lives on.
Variations of the surname Löhe
The surname Löhe originated from the Germanic language, which is derived from the name "Lōh", meaning hill. Variants, spellings, and surnames related to the same origin are Lewe, Lööwe, Lemhe, Lohew, Lone, Lohe, Lohme, Lohm, and Louw.
The variant Lewe comes from the German form of the name, and can be found from the Netherlands to Estonia. Lemhe is a form of the name, which is most commonly associated with Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Lohew has seen more usage in the United States, and is possibly a variant of the Dutch form of the name, Loehwe.
Lone is a Danish variant of the name, and can be found in Denmark around the towns of Aabenraa, Haarby, and Sønderborg. In addition, the Norwegian form of the name is Lohne or Loehne, which is spelled differently yet has a similar pronunciation to the other variants.
Louw, from Prussia and Netherlands, is yet another form of the name, and this Carrier variant is associated with a Low Germanic dialect. The German form, Löwe, is the form which appears most commonly in Germany and is found in the town of Dortmund.
Overall, the surname Löhe is derived from the Germanic language, but due to emigration from the old country many of its variants, spellings, and surnames have been spread around the world. In the United States, Lohew and Louw are the most prominent form of this surname, while Denmark sees the most usage of Lone and Norway the most of Lohne. Other forms include Lemhe, Loehwe, and the most common form, Löwe.
Famous people with the name Löhe
- Wilhelm Löhe: German Lutheran theologian and co-founder of the inner mission movement in Germany (1808-1872).
- Adolph von Löhe: German court chaplain, civic leader, and educational pioneer (1812-1875).
- Justus Wilhelm Löhe: German pastor and founder of the evangelical mission movement (1808-1872).
- Kurt Löhe: German Lutheran theologian and hymn writer (1890-1969).
- Peter Löhe: German politician and Minister of Education in Bavaria (1814-1881).
- Robert Löhe: German jurist and historian (1883-1970).
- Dietrich Löhle: German professor of theology and professor emeritus at Heidelberg University (1937-).
- Wilhelm Löhe: German Protestant theologian and one of the founders of the Alliance for German Evangelical Churches (1845-1908).
- Nikolaus Löhe: German lawyer and politician in the Rhineland-Palatinate (1935-2016).
- Johannes Löhe: German Catholic theologian and professor at the University of Tübingen (1858-1935).