Surname Laabs - Meaning and Origin

Laabs: What does the surname Laabs mean?

The last name Laabs is a German surname. According to German genealogy records, the surname is a patronymic name derived from the personal name “Labe” which was popular throughout German-speaking areas in the Middle Ages. The surname is a variant of the German word “laube”, which means “dwelling” or “estate”, and as such suggests someone who dwelled on their own estate.

The surname appears to have evolved further over the centuries, taking on various other variations such as “Lebes” and “Laups”. The first record of the name Laabs was in 1648, in the Saxon town of Grimma which is located in the Eastern Saxony region of Germany.

The Laabs surname is primarily found in Germany where it is one of the leading surnames in the country, and is also widely spread in other parts of Europe. There is a smaller population of Laabs found in the United States. The family name typically has no connection with nobility and was commonly adopted by farmers, craftspeople, traders and laborers across Germany and Europe.

In modern times, Laabs is still a common surname in Germany. An estimated 1600 people bear Laabs as their last name, so its popularity hasn't declined over the centuries. It's a strong indication of the ties and deep roots that the German people have to their ancestral surnames. The Laabs last name is just one of the many patronymic surnames that can still be found today!

Laabs: Where does the name Laabs come from?

The last name Laabs is most common today in Northern Germany, specifically in the regions formerly part of West Germany. This includes the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hamburg. Laabs also appears in considerable numbers in the U.S., specifically in Wisconsin and Minnesota, as many German immigrants settled in those states.

In regards to its origin, the name "Laabs" likely originated from the middle-low German word "Labs," meaning 'river basin.' This indicates that the bearers of this common last name likely lived in the banks of a river or in the vicinity. In the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, for instance, there is a place called "Labskausen," which is derived from the same root.

It is not unusual to find "Laabs" as an addition on first names, especially in the form "von Laabs." This is because the family with the last name Laabs were once members of the aristocracy in certain parts of Germany, although the nobility status has been lost throughout the centuries. In some cases, this addition on first names still stick to certain families as a sign of organizational loyalty or as an homage to a family ancestor.

Variations of the surname Laabs

Laabs is a surname of German origin and is believed to have been created from the first name ‘Labs’, an ancient personal name derived from the Germanic language. It is also thought to have been derived from ‘Luppus’, which is from Latin and means 'wolf'.

The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Laabs are most commonly found as Labes, Labus, Lapes, Laabs, Laib, Laibs, Laibsch, Laube, Laubes, Laubisch, Labbe, Labbes, Labisch, Labuhn, Labusch, Labuschke, and Libes.

Other variants include Lapps, Lappes, Leips, Lems, Lubs, Labisch, Lapitsch, Lapuhn, and Libisch. There are very few families with this surname still living in Germany. Those families that remain are mainly found in the North-Eastern and Western parts of the country.

The surname is also found in the United States, particularly in the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and North Dakota. It is believed that many of the families bearing the Laabs surname emigrated from Germany to the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The variants Labbe, Labbes, Labisch, Labuhn, Labusch, Lapitsch, Lapuhn, and Libisch may also be found in the United States, and are believed to be derived from a combination of the surname Laabs and other surnames.

Laabs is considered to be an uncommon surname and many of its variants are rare. However, it is a common name throughout Germany and across North America.

Famous people with the name Laabs

• Chuck Laabs, former pitcher for Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics.
• Robert Laabs, former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder.
• Nadja Laabs, German swimming champion.
• Frederick Laabs, US Congressman from Wisconsin's 5th District.
• Deb Laabs, American Television personality.
• Brooke Laabs, American actress and model.
• Paul Laabs, American football halfback in the National Football League.
• Christian Laabs, German sprint canoeist.
• Derek Laabs, Canadian football defensive back.
• Courtney Laabs, American film actress.
• Jack Laabs, ice hockey player and coach.
• Ryan Laabs, music producer and audio engineer.
• Bjorn Laabs, professional soccer player.
• Nathan Laabs, basketball player in the German League.
• Diana Laabs, German figure skater and Olympian.
• Elena Laabs, Russian figure skater.
• Maurice Laabs, German soccer player.
• Evie Laabs, author and poet.
• Wolfgang Laabs, German composer and conductor.

Other surnames

Laabes