Surname Leinkauf - Meaning and Origin
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Leinkauf: What does the surname Leinkauf mean?
The last name Leinkauf is of German origin and is derived from the Old German words “lein” meaning “small” and “kauf” meaning “purchase”. Thus, the name can be interpreted as “buyer of small things” and was probably an occupational surname for someone who worked as a retail merchant or peddler.
The first record of the Leinkauf name was documented in 1253 with one Ulrichus Leinkauf living in Brandenburg, Germany at the time. Since then, the name has been documented in Germany and other European countries for centuries.
Today, the Leinkauf surname can be found in various countries throughout the world such as the United States and Canada. It is a popular name among those descended from German and other European immigrants who kept their name as a sign of connection to their homeland and their family’s history.
The Leinkauf surname demonstrates the unique heritage of those who descended from European immigrants. Its meaning contributes to understanding the family’s history, as it is a reminder of life centuries ago of individuals who were involved in daily trades and activities. The Leinkaufs provides an insight into the lives of the people who were brave enough to leave home and begin their journey to a new and different land.
Order DNA origin analysisLeinkauf: Where does the name Leinkauf come from?
The last name Leinkauf is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a very common and popular German surname. The geographic distribution of people with the last name Leinkauf is concentrated mostly in North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony, two of the sixteen states of Germany. According to data from the United States, Leinkauf is the 1716th most common last name in the United States.
In addition to Germany, the surname is also found in parts of the United States, The Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. Its origin is believed to be Germanic, with the earliest recorded spellings being Leinkof and Leinkouf. The spelling of the name may have changed over time.
The meaning of the name is believed to come from Old German and is thought to mean "Lein" meaning linen, and "Kauf" meaning purchase or trade. It could also mean a combination of a nickname for a person who sold linen garments, or a descendant of a person who was in the linen industry.
As its modern day distribution is concentrated mainly in Germany, the surname is common today in locations such as Nordrhein-Westfalen, Niedersachsen, Bremen, Schlesvig-Holstein, Hamburg, Berlin, Baden-Wurttemberg, and others. In the United States, states such as Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and radius of states surrounding them have more concentrated populations of people with the last name.
Variations of the surname Leinkauf
The surname Leinkauf is a German occupational surname that originated in the Middle Ages. It comes from the Middle High German word "leinkaufen", which literally translates to "buy low" and refers to a merchant who bought goods or materials at discounted prices. The spelling of the surname Leinkauf has many variations and variants across the centuries, including Loydkauf, Laikaup, Layckoff, Leynckaup, Laynekoff, Laynekauf, Ly neck off, Lainkoff, Lenckoff, Linekauf, and Lienkauf. Some of these variants may be more common in certain areas of Germany or other countries.
Surnames derived from the same root include Lewkopf, Lehneckoff, Lenkoff, Lenckauf, and Linkoff. These variants often originate from the same central German source, usually as a result of spelling errors that occur during the transcription of records such as the census or birth and marriage certificates.
In addition, the surname Leinkauf can be found with different spellings in other parts of Europe, including Latin Europe (Leinkovius) and Slavic Europe (Lenkavov and Lyankov). The variants of Leinkauf can also be found in England and the United States. Some of these variants include Lenkaup, Layncoup, Laymankauf, Linckhoff, Loykauf, and Lainkauff.
In conclusion, the surname Leinkauf is an occupational name that originated in the Middle Ages in Germany and has many variants throughout different parts of Europe. The spelling of the name and its variants can vary depending on the time period, geographic area, and language of the records.
Famous people with the name Leinkauf
- Hildegard Leinkauf (1925-2009): Renowned German historian and a leading expert on the Roman Empire
- Dr. Wolfgang Leinkauf (1956-present): Award-winning research scientist and emeritus professor at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, University of Tuebingen
- Klaus Leinkauf (1955-present): Noted German actor and director
- Mathias Leinkauf (1790–1848): Prominent German theologian, professor and author
- Johannes Leinkauf (1712–1787): Noted German pastor and active participant of the early Enlightenment movement
- Herman Leinkauf (1887-1945): German World War I hero and recipient of the Iron Cross
- Nico Leinkauf (1997-present): German professional soccer player for Hannover 96
- Karl Leinkauf (1850-1916): Prominent German lawyer and diplomat who held many important posts in Russian Empire
- Ursula Leinkauf (1929-2015): Pulitzer Prize-winning German-American journalist