Surname Lohof - Meaning and Origin
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Lohof: What does the surname Lohof mean?
The last name Lohof is of German origin, although its precise meaning is unknown. It may have originated independently, or been derived from a combination of two German words. It could have come from the German words “Loch” and “hof”—meaning “lake instance” or “lake farm”—denoting a dwelling place near a body of water. Alternately, it could have come from “Lowe” and “hof”, meaning “wood” or “forest”—suggesting a residence in the woods or the wilderness.
The surname apparently dates back to the medieval era in Germany. Early people with this last name likely lived in the northern part of the country. Over time, family members migrated to other nations, primarily in western and central Europe. For instance, the earliest American bearer of the name Lohof immigrated to Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s.
The current distribution of the name is quite widespread. It’s most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. There are also a significant number of Lohofs in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Those with the Lohof last name likely have a long and proud legacy, regardless of their precise roots. They probably descend from folks with the same independent spirit and hardworking nature that likely brought or kept their ancestors in the same area centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisLohof: Where does the name Lohof come from?
The last name "Lohof" is most commonly found in Germany, where it originated. Records indicate that this name dates back to the 12th century, when it may have been first used as a reference to someone from Loholt, an area in the Lower Rhine region. Records also indicate that the name is connected to a famous noble family from the same area. Other countries where this name can be found include Austria, Netherlands, France, Spain, and even some parts of the United States.
In Germany, the name is mainly found in rural areas including Saxony, Thuringia, and Bavaria, where there are still several families with this surname. In some of these locations, the name may appear in various forms or spellings, such as Lohe, Lohoff, or Lehof.
The name is also somewhat common in the Netherlands, where it is known as Lohof or Looijen. The latter is an alternate spelling which may also sometimes be found in Belgium.
As for the United States, the last name is most common in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin. It is believed that families with this name migrated to Britain in the early 17th century and later to North America in the late 19th century, settling mainly in the states of Michigan and Wisconsin.
Overall, the last name "Lohof" appears to be a relatively rare name, although it is still found in many countries including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and even the United States. It is likely that the name will remain in these countries for many generations to come.
Variations of the surname Lohof
The surname Lohof is believed to have its origins in Germany and is an Anglicized version of the German surname "Lohoff." The spelling of the surname has undergone various changes over time, with many variations of the name appearing today.
The known variants of Lohof include Lohofe, Lohoff, Lahof, Lahoff, Lahoffe, Loehn, Loehne, Luhf, Luhff, Lohfe, and Luhve.
Derived from these variants are a range of surnames including Lohm, Lohmann, Löhm, Löhman, Lehm, Lehman, Löhmer, Lehmer, Lehmann, Lohmeyer, Löhmeyer, Lohmayr, Löhmayr, Lehmayr, Lehmayer, Lehmayer, Lohmeier, Löhmeier, Lehmeier, Lahm, Lohmar, Löhmar and Lehmar.
Most of these variants represent a different spelling of the same surname, and whilst they may come from slightly varied locations and historical roots, they are all ultimately related. In some cases, the variants may even be interchangeable, with different spellings of the same variant being used at different times.
Although the surname typically had German roots, due to immigration and other factors, it is possible to find Lohoffs and their various variants in countries and regions all over the world. For example, the surname is found in the United States, Canada, Austria, South Africa, and elsewhere.
Famous people with the name Lohof
- Pieter Lohof: a Dutch actor, television presenter, radio host, and theatre director.
- Veronica Lohof: a Dutch track athlete who specializes in the sprints.
- Lukas Lohof: a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for SSV Jahn Regensburg.
- Julian Lohof: a German composer, musician and video artist.
- Anna Katharina Lohof: a fencer from Germany and Olympic champion in the sabre team competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
- John Lohof: a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played four seasons for the California Angels.
- Fabian Lohof: a German footballer who plays as a left back for SV Darmstadt 98.
- Michaela Lohof: a German ice dancer.
- Teemu Lohof: a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL.
- Heidi Lohof: a Dutch filmmaker and artist.