Surname Luethgen - Meaning and Origin
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Luethgen: What does the surname Luethgen mean?
The surname Luethgen is a locational name derived from two possible locations in Germany; Lutgen in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lütgen in Saxony. It is likely that the surnames derived from the same root. It is likely that the original name holder was a person who lived near to one of these locations and assumed its name.
The suffix ‘gen’ is likely to indicate a connection with the area or place originally associated with the surname. 'Gen' is derived from the older German mistress term; 'genannter.' meaning 'abiding in mentioned place'.
The etymology of 'Lutgen' is uncertain. It may be derived from the Germanic term 'lutan' meaning 'shelter' or 'protect'. Alternatively it could be derived from the Middle Low German and Old Saxon term 'ludan' or 'luden' meaning 'people' or 'tribe'.
The surname Luethgen may be a combination of various words or place names. As such, the surname Luethgen will typically mean someone who originated from or stayed in either location. It is likely that the name Luethgen, in itself, refers to a person who takes solace or has settled at one of these locations.
Order DNA origin analysisLuethgen: Where does the name Luethgen come from?
The last name Luethgen is most common in Germany. According to the public database, Forebears, Luethgen is the 6,737th most common last name in the world, though it only ranks 1,122nd in Germany.
The region of Germany where the surname is the most popular is the north-central state of Niedersachsen. Here it ranks 276th and is most common in the district of Hamlin, which consists of the cities of Winsen (Aller), Soltau and Uelzen.
Luethgen is not only common in Germany however; it is also found in the Czech Republic and parts of the United States. In the Czech Republic, the most popular counties for the name are Ostravsky Kraj and Moravskoslezsky Kraj. In the United States Luethgen is commonly found in California and Illinois.
Altogether, there are approximately 160 people in the world with the Luethgen surname, spread out across Germany, the Czech Republic and the United States. This is a relatively small number of people, though not uncommon given the origin and global distribution of the name. As one of the oldest surnames in Germany, this small but connected group of people can pride itself on their shared history.
Variations of the surname Luethgen
The surname Luethgen (also spelled Lüthgen, Luthgen, or Lutgen) is believed to have originated from the Germanic personal name Leudiger, meaning "loud spear", and may have been derived from Gothic leut, meaning "people". Luethgen is an uncommon Germanic patronymic surname, with alternate spellings in other countries including Lüthje, Luthje, and Lutje.
In the Netherlands, related surnames in the Luethgen family tree include Lütje, Lutgen, Lutgendorff, Lutke, Luthardt, Lüthje, Lutje, Lutjeboer, Luttik, Lutzenburger, Lutzman, Lutzeyer, and Lutzing. The Dutch version of the name may have been derived from locational names such as Lüttgenwarft, Lutjestrom, Lottgenrode, or Lütgende in Germany, or Lütkenhoff, Lütgenbeck, Lüttchendorf, and Luthert in the Netherlands.
In America and Australia, the surname may be spelt Luthergen, Luthgen, or Lutgen. Variations of the name have added an "s" on the end, making the name Lutgens. In other parts of Europe, the name may also be spelt Letgen, Leutgen, Electronics, or Levye.
Regardless of the variation in spelling, the original bearer of the surname is believed to have been of Germanic origin, and the meaning of the name is believed to represent the qualities of strength, bravery, and forthrightness.
Famous people with the name Luethgen
- Bernd Luethgen, German soccer player
- William Luethgen, German politician
- Sven Luethgen, German writer and publicist
- Adelheid Luethgen, German tennis player
- Ulrike Luethgen, German singer and voice actress
- Hanno Luethgen, German sports commentator
- Christian Luethgen, German actor
- Robert Luethgen, German athlete
- Johannes Luethgen, German actor
- Christoph Luethgen, German astronomer
- Johann Luethgen, German painter
- Josef Luethgen, German politician