Surname Losen - Meaning and Origin
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Losen: What does the surname Losen mean?
The last name Losen has many potential origins. The most common is that the name is of Germanic origin derived from the Middle High German meaning ‘dear or beloved’, as a diminutive of the name ‘Lothar’. It is also possible that the name is of French origin, as a variant of the name ‘Lorin’ which means ‘from Lorraine’, a region in France on the western border of the German empire during the Middle Ages. Other variant spellings of the name Losen often found in Germany include Loesen, Losenhagen, and Losenmüller.
The name Losen has spread throughout Europe since at least the Middle Ages, with the name recorded in Moravia in the mid-1400s and in Denmark by the mid-1500s. It has since become more widespread, particularly in Germany. Today, you can find the Losen surname throughout Germany, as well as in the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and the United States. In the United States, the Losen surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, and Wyoming.
While the modern Losen surname doesn't share a single definitive origin, it likely has its roots in the Middle Ages when Europe was divided into the many city-states, duchies, and empires of the era. No matter its origin, the name has gained an honorable reputation throughout centuries and continents, becoming a symbol for loyalty and affection, as well as durability and strength.
Order DNA origin analysisLosen: Where does the name Losen come from?
The last name Losen is commonly found in Germany, Finland, Sweden, and other Nordic countries. It is of German origin and is derived from the Middle German name Lohe, which is in turn related to the word for ‘forest’. Losen is also found in Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, where it has been adopted as a surname from migrants originating in Germany, Finland, and Sweden.
In Germany, there are no population centers where the surname is especially common, but it occurs with relatively high frequency in the northwestern part of the country, particularly in the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) and the nearby region of Westphalia.
In Finland, Losen is especially found in the region of Ostrobothnia (Pohjanmaa in Finnish), in the northwest of the country along the Swedish border.
In Sweden, the surname is widespread throughout the country but is more common in the northern and southwestern regions.
In the United States, the surname Losen is not especially common, but it did see an influx of Swedish migrants late in the 19th century and is thus found among some Americans of Swedish descent today.
Variations of the surname Losen
The surname Losen has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. According to some surname dictionaries, some variants include Loshen, Loshon, and Loshinsky. Variant spellings can include, but are not limited to, Loosen, Loosin, Looson, and Loosyn.
Surnames derived from Losen include Loshonov, Leithner, Lehsen, Lakosan, Lashon, Loiseau, Lishansky, Leyshon, Lashen, Loshen, and Laishon. All of these surnames are derived from the Heinz name, which means "Mouse Tale."
The first known documented usage of the surname Losen can be traced back to the early 16th century in Prussia. The written record dates from 1579 when Johann Losen was alive in Gross Wokern, Prussia. Currently, the surname is most commonly found in Russia, the United States, Romania, Ukraine, and Israel.
Due to Losen being a relatively uncommon surname, it can be difficult to trace its exact origins. To further complicate matters, some of the variants may keep the same spelling but be pronounced differently. For instance, the Russian version may be pronounced “LOH-son,” and the Slavic version may be pronounced “LOH-shen.”
In conclusion, the surname Losen has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These variants include Loshen, Loshon, Loshinsky, Loosen, Loosin, Looson, and Loosyn. The surname is originally derived from the Heinz name, with the first documented usage in 1579 in Prussia. Today, it is primarily found in Russia, the United States, Romania, Ukraine, and Israel.
Famous people with the name Losen
- Dr. Barry Losen, CEO of Vermont Psychotherapy Associates.
- Anne Losen Lineen, Vice President at HealthPartners.
- Henry Losen, American actor who starred in films such as "Alyson's Closet" and "Little Secrets".
- Jennifer Losen, actress known for her roles in "Hansel and Gretel Get Baked" and "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone".
- Jürgen Losen, German actor and director.
- Andreas Losen, German CEO and co-founder of the internet provider M-net.
- Janet Losen, former professor of Architecture at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
- Niklas Losen, retired Swedish ice hockey player.
- Christian Losen, Danish composer and violinist.
- Lars Losen, Norwegian politician and former member of the Norwegian Parliament.