Surname Lutterberg - Meaning and Origin
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Lutterberg: What does the surname Lutterberg mean?
The surname Lutterberg is believed to have originated in the German-speaking region of Europe, with its earliest known recordings appearing in Saxony and Bavaria. It has been suggested that the name may derive from a combination of two German words, ‘lutt’ meaning wolf and ‘berg’ meaning hill or mountain. Therefore, Lutterberg could be interpreted to mean ‘wolf hill’, suggesting an ancestory from someone who lived on or owned a hill, inhabited by wolves, or could even infer that the person had wolf-like attributes or abilities.
The first recorded instance of the name appears in the 1236 register of deeds (Urkundenbuch) of the city of Freising, Bavaria, for Count Ulrich of Lutterberg. Alongside records of landowners, the register also records members of the lower classes, suggesting a wide spread of the name throughout the monarchy.
The Lutterberg name came to Britain in the 17th century, appearing on the muster rolls of the English border counties due to military enlistment. As a result of emigration, the name also spread to noble families in the US.
Today, the name is more commonly found in Germany, Austria and other parts of Central Europe, indicating that it is likely to be an old family name. It is still possible to trace records of individuals with the last name Lutterberg, illustrating the unique history of the lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisLutterberg: Where does the name Lutterberg come from?
The last name Lutterberg is widely distributed in Germany. It is particularly predominant in the Northern German states of Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, Saarland, and Lower Saxony. The name may also be found sporadically across the Netherlands, although its prevalence is lower than in Germany. More recently, the last name has spread to Britain and the United States, as well as countries in South America and Eastern Europe.
The exact origin of Lutterberg remains unclear. Historians have suggested several possibilities, including that it developed from a German personal name, derived from the Old High German name, “Lutari”, or that it originated from several small localities in Germany with the elements “Lutter” or “Lut[/plain]ter,” which are thought to refer to muddy or marshy water. The names of two medieval bearers of the name have also been cited as evidence that the name may have developed from an old Germanic root meaning “free person” or “belong to the people.”
What is undisputed is that the last name Lutterberg has a long history in Germany and has been part of German family trees for centuries. Although it has spread further abroad in more recent times, it is still most commonly associated with the Northern German states, where it remains both a common and a popular last name even today.
Variations of the surname Lutterberg
The surname Lutterberg originates from a place name of the same spelling which can be found in Lower Saxony, Germany. Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include the following:
Lutter, Lutterman, Luttermann, Luttermane, Leuther, Leuthner, Leuter, Luttmer, Luttner, Lutten, Lutterbarg, Lutterbergs, Lutterberg-Stempel, Lutterburg, Lutterbaur, Luterberg, Luttemann, Lutterer, Luttinger, Lutting, Ltterberg, Lutterback, Lutterbäcke and Lütterberg.
The root 'lut' in the various forms of the surname points to a stream known as 'Lutter'. All variants of this name are derived from the combination of the German words for a river or stream - 'Bach', 'Bäch' or 'Bäck' - and the stream itself - 'Lut', thus forming the name 'Lutter-Bach' or 'Lutter-Bäch' meaning the Lutter Stream, which survives today as the LutterBach River.
In the 14th century, the spelling of the stream's name evolved from its original form Luter, to its modern form Lutter with the 'er' being replaced with 'e', and then finally to its two syllable form 'Lut-ter'. This led to these variants and surnames becoming synonymous with Lower Saxony, the region in which the stream resides.
The Lutterberg last name is quite popular in Brazil, South America, as many people with German heritage emigrated to the country in the early 20th century. Additionally, a small former village near the namesake river in Germany also bears the surname.
Although most variants are borne by people of German origin, any variants of the surname Lutterberg are shared with people of different cultures, regions and backgrounds.
Famous people with the name Lutterberg
- John Lutterberg: John Lutterberg is a former professional American football player. He played college football at the University of Colorado at Boulder and went on to play 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a running back.
- Carsten Lutterberg: Carsten Lutterberg is a retired German cyclist who competed professionally in road racing between 1997 and 2002. He was a consistent performer on the international stage, competing in both the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia.
- Barbara Lutterberg: Barbara Lutterberg is a German soprano singer and voice teacher, who has performed in opera houses and concert halls around the world. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work as an opera singer and was named the Deutsche Oper am Rhein's "Voice of the Year" in 2015.
- Robert Lutterberg: Robert Lutterberg is a former German competitive figure skater who represented West Germany at the 1988 Winter Olympics. He is a two-time German national bronze medalist and has also won several international medals.
- Wilma Lutterberg: Wilma Lutterberg is a retired Dutch volleyball player who represented her country at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She also won the gold medal at the 1995 European Volleyball Championship.
- Henrik Lutterberg: Henrik Lutterberg is a retired German ice hockey player who competed in the 1987, 1994, and 1998 Winter Olympics. He was a member of the German National Team for 16 years and was part of the gold-medal winning teams at the 1987 and 1998 Olympic Games.