Surname Leuwen - Meaning and Origin
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Leuwen: What does the surname Leuwen mean?
The last name Leuwen is of Dutch origin and is derived from the word leeuw, which means "lion". This is a common surname, particularly among those of Dutch ancestry in the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States.
In the Netherlands, Leuwen has noted as a place name as far back as 1333, when it was recorded in the Archives of Holland and Zeeland as a village in Drenthe. The family name is believed to have originated in this area.
In Europe, the heraldic symbol of the lion is associated with power, bravery, and justice. It is no surprise, then, that those with the last name of Leuwen often lead lives of strength and courage.
In modern times, some members of the Leuwen family have been successful in business. Perhaps the most famous of these is Gilbert Leuwen, who made a fortune in the shipping industry.
Regardless of whether the Leuwen family originated in Europe or in a Dutch settlement in the United States, those who bear this last name continue to stand for courage and justice. It is a name that is far-reaching and stands for the qualities of strength, power, and ambition.
Order DNA origin analysisLeuwen: Where does the name Leuwen come from?
The last name Leuwen is primarily found in Europe today, specifically in the Netherlands and Belgium. Ancestry.com reports that the last name Leuwen is believed to have originated in The Netherlands, but it can also be found in Germany and Denmark. According to Whitepages.com, the name Leuwen is the 23,819th most popular surname in the United States of America.
While Leuwen is not a common occurrence in the USA, the Leuwens who do live there often originate from European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Ancestry.com's research reveals that those with the last name Leuwen also live in France, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
Geneanet.org, a family history website, reports that the origins of the Leuwen surname may be found in The Netherlands' northernmost province of Groningen or the northeastern province of Drenthe. The earliest recorded mention of the Leuwen surname dates back to 1630 when a person by the name of Frances Leuwen was documented in Groningen.
The Leuwens of the Netherlands often incorporate their last name into everyday life. For instance, a type of Dutch van with two doors is known as a “Leuwervan”. The Dutch Bridge Federation even coined a signature bridge bidding system called “Leuwen”.
In conclusion, the last name Leuwen is primarily found in Europe today, specifically in the Netherlands and Belgium, although it can be found in many other countries, including the U.S.
Variations of the surname Leuwen
The surname Leuwen is of Dutch origin and is derived from the Middle Dutch word “Leuwen” which means “a lion.” This surname is also spelled as de Leuw, van Leuwen, Ludwig and Luwenhaupt and variations including Lewin, Lewens, Lewyn, Louwen, Löwen, Lowen, Lowens, Lowin, Lowens, Lowhaus, Löwenhaupt, Loewen, Louwes and Luyken.
The most common variants of Leuwen are Lewin and Lewens which are Anglicized forms of the the surname. The Lowen and Loewen variants of Leuwen originated from the German versions of the name and Loewes and Louwes are Dutch variations. The German-Austrian surname Löwenhaupt was derived from Lowen and is basically a combination of the words “Lowen” and “Haupt” which means “head” in German. Ludwig is also a German variation of Leuwen. Luyken was a Dutch surname which probably originated from Lowen.
Today, this surname can be found in many parts of the world, most commonly in the Netherlands, Germany and the United States.
Famous people with the name Leuwen
- Evert van de Leuwen: Dutch politician
- Willie van de Leuwen: retired Dutch professional cyclist
- Gaite Jansen: Dutch actress with maternal surname Leuwen
- Erik Jan Leuwen: Dutch astrophotographer
- Jeroen Leuwens: Dutch journalist and business editor-in-chief
- Mathias Leuwen: German film producer
- Han van de Leuwen: Dutch lawyer and professor in public law
- Bert van de Leuwen: Dutch professional footballer
- Joris Leuwens: Dutch economist and professor at Tilburg University
- Jan van de Leuwen: Dutch entrepreneur and chess player