Surname Lykens - Meaning and Origin

Lykens: What does the surname Lykens mean?

Lykens is a surname of English origin, and it is derived from a geographical locality. It originated from a place called Lykens in England. The meaning of the place name Lykens is not well-defined. The surname may have been given to individuals who lived in or were associated with this location. Over time, surnames became necessary because as populations grew, it became more common for people to have the same given names. So, surnames were adopted to differentiate people for both social and official reasons. Remember, most surnames were developed a long time ago, so their original meanings might have changed over time or may no longer be relevant in today's context. Similar to other surnames, the spelling might also have shifted over the centuries based on phonetic changes. As a result, Lykens may have variations in spelling such as Lyken, Likens or Lycan.

Lykens: Where does the name Lykens come from?

The surname Lykens is of Dutch origin, derived from an old Dutch word "lijken," which means "to look like" or "resemble." It is believed to have been a patronymic name, given to children based on the name of their father or an ancestor.

It appears the surname was brought to the North American continent mostly by Dutch immigrants in the 17th and 18th century. The first recorded instance of the name is among these early settlers in New York and Pennsylvania colonies.

Today, the name is most common in the United States, particularly in areas with a history of Dutch settlement. Pennsylvania, in particular, appears to have a relatively high concentration of individuals bearing the surname Lykens. There's even a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, named Lykens.

While there is a reasonable amount of people with the surname Lykens in the US, it is still considered relatively uncommon and is ranked low in terms of frequency. Outside the United States, the name Lykens is quite rare.

Variations of the surname Lykens

Lykens is a surname with potential derivations from different European roots. It could be a variation of the Dutch surname Lykens, originating from a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Lieke". Variations could include Lykins, Lyken, Lykens, and Likens.

In some instances, Lykens might also be a variant of the German surname Luyken, which is derived from the personal name Luke; in this case, other spellings could be Lükens, Lücken, or Loukens.

The name Lykens could also be an anglicized version of various surnames from other languages. For instance, the Norwegian surname Lykken, the Danish surname Lykkesen, or the Belgian surname Lycke could all potentially yield the surname Lykens when anglicized.

In the US, the "s" at the end of surnames, such as Lykens, often indicates plurality or possession, suggesting the name might refer to "those of Lyken" or "Lyken's family." Ultimately, the variations, spellings, and origin greatly depend on the ancestor's original spelling, given regional and dialectical differences, common spelling changes over time, and immigration records.

Famous people with the name Lykens

• Gaius Julius Lykens: Roman Soldier (wrote about military exploits in a biography)
• William C. Lykens: Civil War Union Brigadier General
• Joshua Lykens: Member of the New York Assembly in the 1800s
• Paul Lykens: American actor (known for roles in Scandal TV show and Static Shock Cartoon)
• Jonathan Lykens: Chef and author of several cookbooks
• Catharine Lykens: Classical pianist and professor of music
• Willard Lykens: Bishop of the United Methodist Church in the late 19th century
• Barry Lykens: Host of the singing competition show The Voice
• Charles Lykens: College Football Coach and scout
• Abigail Lykens: American film director and screenwriter

Other surnames

Lyken