Surname Löhner - Meaning and Origin

Löhner: What does the surname Löhner mean?

The surname Löhner is a German name derived from the Middle High German term for "innkeeper". This was a profession which involved managing a comfortable, hospitable boarding house or guesthouse for travelers, providing meals, beverages and other comforts. The word was also extended to refer to taverns, bars and liquor sellers.

In some cases, the surname was occupational in nature and derived from people who worked in the hospitality industry, though it was not exclusive to those professions. The name has several variant spellings, such as Löhner, Lohner, Loehner, Liehner and Lienner, all of which involve the change of a single letter or diacritical mark.

The surname is common, mainly in Germany and the German-influenced parts of Europe such as Austria, Bohemia, Poland and Switzerland. The surname Löhner also appears in other European countries, as well as in the United States and other locations.

The name Löhner is steeped in German culture and history and is a reminder to people of their German roots and their place in a long and interesting history. The name still proudly adorns many a business in the hospitality industry, continuing to remind us of its origins.

Löhner: Where does the name Löhner come from?

The last name Löhner is one of the most common surnames in Germany, Austria, and the surrounding German-speaking countries. It is especially common in German-speaking Switzerland, where it ranks as the country’s 133rd most common surname. In Austria, it is particularly prominent in the region of Vorarlberg, where it is the 6th most common last name. In Germany, it is widely found in the north and northeast, and also in Bavaria and parts of the Rhineland.

Löhner is derived from the German word lohnen, which means “to reward” or “to pay.” As such, it likely originally described a person in service to a noble family who was in charge of distributing wages or other rewards to the other servants. Over time, the name was passed from generation to generation until it ultimately became widespread across much of the Central and Western European region.

The surname is found today in numerous different countries, from the Netherlands to Germany to the United States. In the United States, it is particularly common in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and Michigan, all of which have significant German-speaking populations. Outside of the United States, however, it is most frequent in German-speaking countries and in nearby regions with a strong German influence.

Variations of the surname Löhner

The surname Löhner is a Germanic name of occupational origin, derived from the German word "Lohner", meaning "miner". The spelling of the surname varies between dialects and countries, appearing as Lohner, Loehner, Lohners, Lohnik, Lohner, Loner, Lonner, Lonor, Lóor, and Löhner. There is also a variant pronunciation, "Lühner," which is pronounced with a more guttural sound than the original "Löhner."

In some cases, the surname can be spelled phonetically as "Lawhner" or "Laurer," while some immigrants to the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries altered the spelling to "Loner."

Depending on the region, the surname may be associated with different lineages. In certain parts of Germany, for example, it is associated with some of the earliest miners of the region and their descendants. In other parts of Germany, the surname is associated with miners and smiths.

In addition to the various spellings and pronunciations of the surname, there are several additional surnames of the same origin, such as Loehnert and Lonnerstedt. These variants are thought to be related to the original "Löhner" surname due to their similar sound and meaning.

The descendants of those who carried the original Löhner surname can be found across many countries in Europe, as well as in the United States, Australia, and Canada. As such, the surname and its variants are a common and widespread occurrence across the world.

Famous people with the name Löhner

• Edith Löhner: Edith Löhner was a German cello and piano performer, composer, teacher and conductor.
• Eugen Löhner: Eugen Löhner was a German physicist and inventor. He was instrumental in creating a quartz clock in 1933, and is considered one of the pioneers of quartz watch technology.
• Franz Löhner: Franz Löhner was an architect and art historian in the 19th century who worked on restoring old buildings and focused on conservation and understanding the history of architecture.
• Friedl Löhner-Beda: Friedl Löhner-Beda was a poet and writer from Vienna, born in 1901. He was known for his involvement in Jewish social welfare organizations and wrote poems on the concept of "community".
• Friedrich Wilhelm Löhner: Friedrich Wilhelm Löhner was an Austrian composer, author, and conductor active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He wrote music for several plays, operas, and ballets.
• Karl Löhner: Karl Löhner was a politician in the Bavarian Social Democratic Party who served as a Member of the German Parliament between 1912-1918.
• Max Löhner: Max Löhner was a German architect and professor at the Bauhaus in Weimar, primarily working in the field of graphic design and typography.
• Richard Löhner: Richard Löhner was an Austrian pioneer of television who developed and patented the first electronic television system, called GEMA TV, in 1927.
• Wilhelm Löhner: Wilhelm Löhner was a German mathematician and astronomer who studied the theory of potential functions. He is credited with inventing the eponymous Löhner's Potential Function.

Other surnames

LohnertLöhnert