Surname Löff - Meaning and Origin
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Löff: What does the surname Löff mean?
The last name Löff is a German surname that derived from the word "Löwe" which means "lion". The name is thought to have been originally attributed to someone who had characteristics that resembled a lion, such as courage and bravery. The earliest records of this surname come from the 14th century, when heraldic symbols of the Lion were commonly used by German noble families.
The meaning behind the lion symbol is particularly important for the Löff family, who were associated with the knightly Order of the Lion of the Rhine. This was a medallion bestowed upon them by the Roman Catholic Church to honor their commitment to fighting the French during the Rhineland campaigns in the 16th century.
Over the years, the Löff surname has spread across Europe and can be found throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and more recently, the United States. Today, bearers of the name often proudly display the Lion symbol of the Order on their family crests or coats of arms.
The unavoidable association of the Löff name with the brave and noble Lion symbol makes it an interesting and meaningful name that is both particularly German and universally understood.
Order DNA origin analysisLöff: Where does the name Löff come from?
The last name Löff is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is estimated there are about 8,000 bearers of this name living in those countries today. The Löff family name is found most widely in the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
The origin of the Löff name is believed to be from the regions in Central Europe where German is spoken. It is thought that the origination of the name can be derived from a nickname given to a person with certain characteristics. For example, a person may have been given the nickname “Löff” if they were known as an eager worker or for their boisterous attitude.
The name is also found in other central European countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as in the Netherlands. Additionally, many Löffs have emigrated to countries like the United States, Canada, and England. It is estimated that today there are about 1,000 families in the United States who carry the Löff name.
In modern times, the Löff surname continues to be associated mainly with Central Europe, though it can now be found worldwide. Its numerous variants, such as Loff, Loeff, Löf, Loffen, and Loffe, attest to its spread over the centuries from its origins in Germany and Austria.
Variations of the surname Löff
The surname Löff is derived from Middle High German and is a habitational name for someone who lived near a loof, a hill or mound. Variants of this surname include Loff, Loeff, Loffe, Louff, Louffe, Louf, and Loufe.
As the surname originated in the German language, it can sometimes be written with an umlaut, translating to Löff. This is also a variant spelling of the surname and is often seen in households with German heritage.
German surnames often have spelling variations due to word conversion in different countries. Some variant spellings for Löff include Loff, Loffel, Loffele, Loffen, Loffens, Lohff, Lohffe, Lohf, Lohfe, Loeff, Loeffe, Loef, and Loefe.
The surname has variants from other language backgrounds too, including Löf (Swedish), Loffo (Italian), Leuf (Yiddish), and Lefku (Greek). It also extends across into English, with variant spellings of Louf, Luff, and Loft.
Löff has many other surnames based around the same origin. These include Loffler, Löffler, Loefler, and Loefeler (all German), Leuffen (Dutch), Leufen (Low German), Loven (Scandinavian), and Lofgrin (Jewish). These alternative versions of the same name have been created as a result of changes in the language over the centuries.
Famous people with the name Löff
- Mia Löffelbein: German actress and one of the co-founders of the production company OISPO Film & Media Agency.
- Nina Löff: German journalist, currently a columnist for Hamburger Abendblatt.
- Friedrich Löffler: German physicist who worked on thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, heat transference, magnetism, quantum mechanics and acoustics.
- Kurt Löffler: German playwright and theater director known for his contribution to the growth of artificial intelligence.
- Willi Löffler: German composer, pianist, and conductor who wrote numerous concert pieces and film scores.
- Rolf Löffler: German football player who played for BFC Dynamo and the East German national team.
- Karl Friedrich Löffler: German linguist and phonetician who made contributions to the International Phonetic Alphabet and the field of phonetics.
- Martin Löffler: German sculptor known for his pieces in bronze and marble.
- Josef Löffler: German painter and illustrator who did many pieces depicting forests and other landscapes.
- Thomas Löffler: German novelist, poet, and journalist who won the European Union Prize for Literature in 2004 for his novel Journey to the End of the Century.