Surname Loße - Meaning and Origin

Loße: What does the surname Loße mean?

The last name Loße is of German origin, and is derived from the German word “los”, which means “free” or “unrestricted”. The surname Loße was likely given to an ancestor who was either a freedman or someone who had gained his freedom through a special privilege.

In some cases, the surname Loße may have been derived from the continuous estates of the Freiherr (or Baron) von Loße. It is believed that the estate was established in 1666 by Baron Friedrich von Loße and was later passed down to generations of the family. At some point, family members or servants of the von Loße family may have adopted the surname.

In modern day, the name Loße is still used in Germany and Austria. Individuals with the Loße surname are typically found in the western regions of Germany, such as the regions of Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. Aside from Germany, the surname is also commonly found in countries which have a large population of people of German descent, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina.

The surname Loße is associated with a legacy of freedom, strength and courage as it was derived from an ancestor who gained his freedom. This name is a reminder of the importance of breaking away from restrictive situations and pursuing the freedom to achieve one’s goals.

Loße: Where does the name Loße come from?

The surname Loße is a relatively uncommon surname mostly concentrated around western Germany today. Onomap research indicates that it is more common in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia.

The origin of this surname is thought to have Germanic roots, specifically traced back to the ancient Germanic personal name "Lothar". Similar Loße surnames were recorded in the centuries before modern day Germany existed. Records from the 14th through 17th centuries indicate prominent families with the Loße surname originated from Prussian and Pomeranian regions; a region encompassing large parts of what makes up western Germany and Poland today.

Specifically within Prussia, Loße was recorded in the city of Greifswald in 1626. In 1712, the name is found used at the churches in Lübbenau and Jabel in Brandenburg. It is quite likely the grandfather of this name had migrated north and then east from the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, where Loße was one of the most popular surnames by the end of the 18th century. Since then, the surname has become sparsely spread across western parts of modern day Germany, and other parts of Europe.

Today, Loße remains a relatively uncommon name. Over the centuries the spelling has evolved, and there are notable modern variations that the name is given and spelt, such as Loss, Loß, and Löser.

Variations of the surname Loße

The surname Loße (pronounced "Loss-eh") is an occupational surname of German origin. It is derived from the old German "lorean", meaning “one who cuts, chops or shapes”, and typically refers to someone who worked in a wood-related industry, such as milling or carpentry.

Variants of the surname Loße include: Lowse, Losse, Loose, Loss, Lose, and Lohse.

Spelled differently, the surname Loße can also be found as: Lorse, Lack, Locke, Log, Logs, Lows, Luce, Luck, and Luk.

Surnames that have the same origin as Loße include: Lorentz, Lorenz, Lorsch, Lorch, Lortz, Lauer, and Luedecke.

The surname Loße is uncommon and can be found mostly in parts of Germany and Austria. It can also be found throughout the United States, as several individuals bearing the surname emigrated in the 19th century. The majority of Loßes living in the U.S. today can trace their ancestry back to German-speaking parts of the European continent.

Famous people with the name Loße

• Jakob Loße: German post-Impressionist painter who studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts.
• Helmut Loße: German voice actor best known for his portrayals of comic book villains.
• Karl Loße: German cinematographer who co-founded Ufa-Film GmbH, the largest German film production company of the silent era.
• Johannes Loße: German conductor and worked as an orchestra musician for several symphony orchestras in his lifetime.
• Andrea Loße: German actress, primarily featured in theater productions, notable for her portrayal of ‘Murke’ in the 2019 production of ‘Time of Troubles in Murk’.
• Gregor Loße: German Alpine skier who competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics and held numerous titles in his tenure as a downhill racer.
• Nikolas Loße: German documentary director who has won various awards for his work, most recently for his film 'The Underdog’.
• Florian Loße: German discus thrower who set several world records worldwide in his event.
• Ursula Loße: German hurdler who is currently the world record holder for the women’s 400 meter hurdles.
• Gottfried Loße: German literary historian, author of numerous works on the German dramatist Friedrich Schiller, and former rector of University of Basel.

Other surnames

LößelLößer