Surname Lütke - Meaning and Origin
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Lütke: What does the surname Lütke mean?
The last name Lütke is of German origin and is related to the Dutch surname Luttikhuizen. The primary meaning of the name derives from the Old Dutch word 'luttik', meaning 'little'. It is also thought to originate from the German word 'Lütken', which means 'small garden'. The suffix 'ke' is typically a North German diminutive, often implying endearment, so the literal translation of Lütke is 'small garden of love'.
The surname is often associated with vanity, especially in terms of material wealth. Historically, it has been used as an honorific to denote those of higher social rank in Germany, and as such can be seen as indicative of success or affluence.
The Lütke family are particularly known for their association with the brewing industry. Johann Adam Lütke was the founder of the Dortmunder Actien-Brauerei (a pale lager brewery that was popular throughout the 19th century) in 1851 and is credited with perfecting the manufacturing process for pilsner. During the German period of industrialization, the Lütkes were successful entrepreneurs and renowned for their production of beer.
The last name Lütke has been relatively common in Germany, largely due to its association with wealth and social status. Even in countries outside of Germany, the last name is still widely recognised and sometimes even associated with an individual's success or standing within a community.
Order DNA origin analysisLütke: Where does the name Lütke come from?
The last name Lütke is today mainly found in northern Germany, particularly in the regions of Hamburg and Lower Saxony. The highest concentrations of Lütke are in the towns of Buxtehude, Sittensen, and Zeven in Lower Saxony, and in Garstedt and Pinneberg in Schleswig-Holstein, just north of Hamburg.
The name is also found throughout Dortmund, Emden, Birkenfeld, and Quakenbrück in North Rhine-Westphalia, the largest and most populous state in Germany. Additionally, Lütke is also found in the Polish city of Wrocław (formerly known as Breslau).
The name is believed to originate in the Middle Ages, and is thought to derive from a personal name such as Ludger, Lüdger, or Ludolf. It may also have originated from the Old High German word for 'loud',though low German variations of the word—Lütke or Lutke—are more common.
The Lütke surname appears in records from the 1400s, when it was used by a family living in Vreden, in modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia. Descendants of this family adopted the Lütke spelling, which was adopted by other families in the area in subsequent generations.
Today, Lütke is a fairly common name in Germany and Poles, and there are many people with this surname living all across the country. It is also becoming increasingly common in other parts of Europe, notably the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
Variations of the surname Lütke
The surname Lütke is derived from the German given name Lütke, and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Lüdtke, Lüdke, Lütkemeier, Lüke, Lücke, and Lüdkemeyer.
The variation Lüdtke is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Lüdick or Lüdetke. Lüdicken, or Lüdetke was a popular German given name in the Middle Ages and this surname was found throughout Germany at the start of the 19th century. The alternate form of the surname Lüdtke is also in existence and is found in some locations, usually as a variant for the more common surname Lütke.
The surname Lütkemeier is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Lütke Maier, which was derived from Lütke and Maier, both of which were common medieval German given names. The surname Lütkemeier was found mainly in Prussia, with other occurrences located in Poland and elsewhere throughout Europe.
The alternate spelling of the surname Lüke is a variant of the surname Lüdtke, which is derived from the given name Lüdicians. The surname is found mainly in northern Germany.
The surname Lücke is a variant of the surname Lukas and is also derived from the given name Lüdicke. This variant is found mainly in western Germany.
The surname Lüdkemeyer is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Lüdke Meyer, which was derived from the given name Lüdke and Meyer, both of which were common German given names. The surname Lüdkemeyer is found mainly in Prussia.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Lütke, including Lüdtke, Lüdke, Lütkemeier, Lüke, Lücke and Lüdkemeyer. All of these variations are derived from given names commonly found in medieval Germany.
Famous people with the name Lütke
- Tobias Lütke: Tobias is a German-Canadian entrepreneur, who co-founded Shopify Inc. in 2004. He is the CEO and founder of Shopify, the largest e-commerce platform for small and medium-sized businesses.
- Jan Lütke: Jan is a German professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Eisbären Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He has also represented the German national team at various international tournaments.
- Uwe Lütke: Uwe is a German handball player who has represented Germany on the international stage in both club and national team competitions. He has also coached teams in the Bundesliga and handball-Bundesliga.
- Sabine Lütke Eschen: Sabine is a German actress and singer, best known for her roles in the TV series ZDF-Fernsehgarten, Lindenstraße and Unerhört. She has also appeared in multiple feature films.
- Martin Lütke Schwarz: Martin is a former German footballer, who played for the German national team and clubs including Eintracht Braunschweig and SpVgg Unterhaching. He now works as a coach at the academy of Jahn Regensburg.
- Michael Lütke: Michael is a German professor of organic chemistry and former rector of the University of Greifswald. He was also a member of the FDP in the Landtag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- Jens Lütke: Jens is a German artist, photographer and writer, known for his photographs of the Arctic landscape. He has exhibited his work in both Germany and internationally, and has authored multiple books.
- Horst Lütke: Horst is a former German footballer and coach. He played for many clubs including Eintracht Braunschweig and Holstein Kiel, and also served as the head coach for Jahn Regensburg and Hannover 96.
- Ferdinand Lütke: Ferdinand is a German artist, painter and sculptor, based in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia. His works have been exhibited in multiple galleries and museums, and featured in publications including Zeit Online and Monopol.