Surname Lohren - Meaning and Origin
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Lohren: What does the surname Lohren mean?
The last name Lohren originates from Germany and is thought to be derived from the pre-Christian Germanic personal name of Loíren or Lohir, originally meaning "daring" or "fearless". This stemmed from the word ‘loh’ referring to courage, strength and protection. It is believed that the migratory clans of the Old Saxons carried this name to all parts of Germany through the centuries. The Lohren surname first appeared in records throughout Germany in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the original form of the name is thought to have been Lohrmann, which originated from Lohr, a place name for an area thought to relate to a defensive structure.
The Lohren surname was brought to America via early German and Swiss settlers who settled mainly in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina. Bearers of the Lohren name often settled in rural communities, many becoming small farmers. In recent years, the surname has also been seen in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, and South Africa.
The motto of ‘fortitude and courage’ which is associated with the Lohren name is thought to reflect the ancestry of the Lohrens and is often used to describe their courage and determination in overcoming difficult times.
Order DNA origin analysisLohren: Where does the name Lohren come from?
The last name Lohren is most commonly found in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2019 there were 1,527 individuals given the surname "Lohren", for a total population of 3,891 people in the United States with the surname.
The majority of those with the surname Lohren live in the Midwest region of the United States, specifically Minnesota and Wisconsin. It is also found to a lesser extent in other states such as North Dakota, Michigan, Iowa, and South Dakota. The surname is not as present in the Northeast or the West Coast of the United States.
In terms of origin, the surname Lohren includes spellings from a variety of Germanic languages. It is derived from head of household surnames, and typically referred to peasantry or temporary workers. It can be traced back to the Rudszat family from Silesia, in what is now present-day Poland. It is also associated with Oldenburg, as well as modern Germanic languages such as German, Dutch, and Danish.
The origin of the name often led to confusion with other similar sounding surnames, such as Lorenzen, who had a much larger population present in America at the same time. Additionally, there are spellings of the name with more than one "h", such as "Lohhren" or "Lohrenn".
Regardless of these variations, it is likely that the last name Lohren originated in Europe in the 12th century, and is still present, albeit in lesser numbers, in the United States today.
Variations of the surname Lohren
The surname Lohren has many variant spellings, from the bass German dialect forms Lorn and Lohr to the fully modernized Lawren, Lohran, Lorren, Lauren and Laren. There are also numerous other names that can appear to be linked to Lohren, including Lohse, Lavrenz and Lauersen, as well as Loran, Lorrenz and Lohrmann.
The surname can also take on a variety of different spellings and forms when it is used in other countries. In Switzerland, Lohren often appears as Lohrer or Lohres. In Sweden, the surname is more likely to be found spelled as Löhr or Lähr. In the Netherlands, the name can take on the form of Lohr or Lohren. Other variants of the name that are found in the Netherlands include Loor, Loorwijk and Louwen.
In Ireland, Lohren is notably written as Laurence. In the United States, the surname is less likely to be found spelled as Lohren but is still represented by several variant spellings, including Lawren and Lauryn.
In rare cases, Lohren is also used as a given name, particularly among those of Dutch heritage. In this case, the surname form of the name is also used, often with an additional "s" added at the end. Thus, the surname Lohrens is sometimes used as the given name Lawrence.
Famous people with the name Lohren
- Sebastian Lohren: is a German footballer who currently plays for KFC Uerdingen 05.
- Isabella Lohren: is a German film and television actress.
- Joachim Lohren: is a German sculptor who specializes in stone carving.
- Oda Lohren: is a Norwegian journalist and newspaper editor.
- Linda Lohren: is a German singer who participated in The Voice Kids.
- Katrin Lohren: is a German pop rock singer-songwriter.
- Joachim Lohren: is a German wildlife photographer and television presenter.
- Therese Lohren: is a Norwegian folk and pop/rock singer.
- Katarina Lohren: is a Norwegian jazz singer and bassist.
- Kurt Lohren: is a Swiss film producer and director.