Surname Los - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Los: What does the surname Los mean?
The last name Los is believed to be of German origin and derived from the Middle and High German name Loose. The Loos families were known to be living in Hesse and Westphalia by as early as the 13th century, where the name would have been used to identify people associated with the ‘Laus’ stream, which is derived from the Old German word ‘Lau’, meaning ‘monk’.
In some cases, the last name Los can also be derived from the French name Lou, meaning ‘man’; and the Spanish name Loo, meaning ‘meadow’ or ‘field’. In fact, this is thought to be the case in many Latin American countries, where the last name Los is associated with Spanish settlers and people of Latin American descent.
As the Los surname is relatively widespread across Europe, there are currently no clans or septs that can be associated with this specific name. However, there have been numerous distinguished individuals who have borne the name – such as Conrad Los, a German theologian and minister who served as the president of the Heidelberg University in Germany from 1745-1748; and Margarethe Los, the German-born American painter, who became widely respected for her landscape and still life paintings.
All in all, the last name Los is a unique and varied one, with origins in several distinct cultures. No matter how it has arrived in families, the Los name has been shared by many notable individuals and remains popular to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisLos: Where does the name Los come from?
Los is a fairly common surname today primarily found in Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. While the origin of this name is uncertain, it is thought to possibly come from the Spanish verb losar, meaning “to lose” or a Latin word for “leaf” (lucus). Within the United States, the surname Los is most frequently found among Hispanic populations, particularly those of Mexican origin, while a smaller presence can be seen throughout other Latin American countries.
Its prevalence in certain countries can be attributed to the Spanish colonization of the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries. During this period, Spanish soldiers, priests, settlers, and other immigrants to the region brought their surnames and culture with them, often adopting or creating new surnames to mark their belonging to a certain destination or region.
In most cases, the surname Los can be traced back to Spanish nobility, such as the Losada family, possibly brought to Latin American countries by the once-spanish colonizers. However, the origin of this surname is not definitive and no clear source of the name has been established.
Nowadays, Los is a commonly seen surname in many Latin American countries, including Mexico, Chile, and Argentina. It can also be seen among European and Hispanic immigrant populations in the United States. Despite the uncertain origin of this name, it continues to be used by a large number of people in multiple countries.
Variations of the surname Los
The surname Los is of Czech, Slovak, and Ukrainian origin. It is derived from the root word L'os, which means ‘deer’ and often was used as a descriptive nickname for one who had a peaceful or gentle demeanor. The variants and spellings for the surname Los include Loos, Lohs, Loll, Loes, and Loss.
Surnames of the same origin as Los can include Lojz, Laš, Lavs, Lès, Laz, Léz, Las, Less, and Levy. These surnames are derived from the same Czech, Slovak, and Ukrainian roots as Los and also have similar meanings, such as rabbit, hare, and fox.
Other surnames with the same origin are Lazar and Laszlo, which come from the same Slavic root as Los, namely Lesh. Lazar also has Jewish roots and while Laszlo has both Czech, Slovak and Hungarian origins.
Interestingly, some Italian and Portuguese surnames also derived from the root word L'os. These include Luzzi, Lueso, Luzzatto, and Lusso which all mean ‘the deer’ and ‘enticing’ in the respective languages.
There are also a few more obscure surnames originating from the same root as Los, such as Lusa, Luse, and Luci. These names are typically found in regions of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Belarus and have various meanings such as ‘lion’, ‘light’, and ‘lightning’.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Los. From Eastern European roots, up to Jewish, Italian, Portuguese and even rarer Belarusian, it is fascinating to see how the name has shifted across nations and languages for centuries.
Famous people with the name Los
- Paulina Los: Chilean television presenter who became popular in Colombia in the early 2000s.
- Diego Los: Spanish hockey player and Paralympic champion.
- Alfonso Los: Spanish professional footballer.
- George Los: American politician who served in the Wisconsin House of Representatives.
- Richard Los: American real Estate Executive and CEO.
- Carlos Los: Spanish former cyclist.
- Bernard Los: Belgian footballer who played in the 1980s.
- Christian Los: Austrian footballer.
- Éric Los: Canadian ice hockey player.
- Rafi Los: French singer.
- Mari Los: Mexican singer and songwriter.
- Stephen Los: American film and television actor.
- Emiliano Los: Argentine football manager and former player.
- Gustavo Los: Uruguayan writer.
- Roger Los: French cyclist.
- Raymond Los: Canadian animator.
- Jan Los: Dutch cyclist.
- Dalton Los: American football coach and former player.
- Monique Los: French painter.
- Reiko Los: Japanese actress.