Surname Lowther - Meaning and Origin

Lowther: What does the surname Lowther mean?

Lowther is a surname of English and Scottish origin. It is believed to derive from the Old Norse word lóði, which means a pit or ditch. This was used as a topographic name, indicating a family living near a pit or ditch, and was later used as a surname.

The surname has regional variations, such as Lodder in the East Midlands, and Lowthers in northern England and South West Scotland. Though the spelling Lowther is chiefly found in Cumberland and Westmorland, two counties along the border of England and Scotland.

Lowther can also be a habitational name, referring to a local landmark, a house near a pit or trench. It is likely derived from one of the numerous places named Lowther, which are found in Cumbria, on the borders of England and Scotland.

Other possible origins for this surname include a nickname for someone with a dejected or depressed countenance, from the Old English word lēow (flat, depressed). There is records of individuals with this surname prior to the Norman Conquest, such as Alin Le Loother, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273.

In later records, Lowther is mainly associated with Cumberland and Westmorland. Notable historic bearers of this surname include William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale, (1757-1844). He was a British politician and friend of William Pitt the Younger.

Lowther today is especially common in northern England, but can be found all over the English-speaking world.

Lowther: Where does the name Lowther come from?

The last name Lowther is still very common today, with families having formations that stretch across the world. It appears most often in Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, and the United States.

In the United Kingdom, Lowther is most commonly found in the areas of Cumberland, Westmorland, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. During the 19th century, many people with the Lowther surname were highly involved in the agricultural industry. It is likely that the majority of people who still bear this name today are direct descendants of these farming families.

The Lowther surname is also very prevalent in Ireland, particularly in counties Cork, Tipperary, and Kilkenny. It is believed that the Irish Lowthers descend from a number of different Lowther families from Scotland, England, and Wales.

In Canada, the Lowther surname is mainly found in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Many people with the Lowther surname in Canada are of Scottish origin. In fact, in the Saskatchewan's Lowther Settlement, many descendants of Scottish Lowther settlers still reside.

In the United States, the Lowther surname is most common in California, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Virginia. It is believed that the ancestors of most American Lowthers immigrated from Ireland or the UK to start a new life.

Overall, the Lowther surname is still widely represented throughout the world, particularly in the areas of western Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Variations of the surname Lowther

The Lowther surname has many variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin. Generally, these variants are a result of the surname “Lowther” being spelled variously throughout history due to regional dialects and linguistic trends.

Common variants of Lowther include Lowther/Loweather, Louther/Luther, Lauther/Lother, Lothere/Lothereth, and Lorther. Many of these variants originated from old Scottish and English dialects. The Louther variant, for instance, is based on a Scots variant of the older English term “Lother”. The Lothere variant is similarly based on an older English term, while Louther is thought to also possibly have a relation to the O’Murchadha clan of Ireland.

The spelling variations of Lowther are usually the result of phonetic changes within regional dialects. For instance, Lowther could be spelled “Loweather” or “Luther” due to a shift in pronunciation from “lough” to “loo” in some areas. Similarly, the spelling variation “Lother” is a result of an old dialectical pronunciation of “loughther”.

The Lowther surname has been linked with several other surnames of the same origin, including Luter, Louther, Louthurst, Louthren, Lothereth, Lotherin, and Lotheridge. The Luter surname is thought to be a variant of Lowther, while the Louther name is thought to come from a variant of the Lowther name. The Louthurst and Louther surnames, on the other hand, are thought to be variants of the same name, and to descend from the Lowther family tree.

Famous people with the name Lowther

1.Adam Lowther: American Air Force veteran and former director of the Air Force’s Center for Strategic Deterrence Studies. 2.Earl Lowther: English professional golfer. 3.Frederick Lowther: British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament from 1892 to 1895. 4.Charles Theodore Lowther: Canadian Lieutenant Governor. 5.Edward Lowther: British surgeon and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. 6.Montagu Lowther, 7th Baron Lymington: British peer and baron of Lymington. 7.John William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater: British politician and former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 8.Christina Lowther: British film and television producer, best known for her work on Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005). 9.Philip Aslop Lowther, 4th Earl of Lonsdale: British nobleman and cricketer. 10.Lady Emily Augusta Lowther: daughter of William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale. 11.John Lowther, 1st Viscount Lowther: English politician, son of William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale. 12.Cecil Lowther: British Conservative Party politician and Member of Parliament from 1922 to 1945. 13.William Lowther, 1st Earl of Lonsdale: English nobleman and landowner. 14.Henry Lowther, 3rd Earl of Lonsdale: British nobleman, soldier, cricketer and landowner. 15.Michael Leyland Lowther: British field marshal. 16.Kirby Lowther: American modern pentathlete. 17.Mabel Lowther: English countess and peeress. 18.Harry Lowther: British screenwriter. 19.Victoria Lowther: American singer-songwriter. 20.Edwin Lowther: American professional golfer.

Other surnames

Lowthe