Surname Landis - Meaning and Origin

DNA Discoveries: Reclaiming Lands of ‘Landis’ and Transcending Boundaries of Self-Identity

The iGENEA DNA test I undertook was an eye-opener on many levels, profoundly shifting how I perceive my own personal identity and heritage, with a special focus on the 'Landis' surname.

X. Landis

Landis: What does the surname Landis mean?

The surname Landis has origins in Switzerland and is derived from the High German "Land" meaning "country" or "territory" and "easum" meaning "at home". Thus, it can be translated to "dweller in the country" or "one who is at home in the country". The name may have been used to distinguish individuals who lived in the countryside rather than in a town or city. Over the years, variations of the name have emerged, including Landiss, Lantze, Landes and others. Although originally Swiss, the name is also common in Germany and among Amish and Mennonite communities. It spread to the United States and other parts of the world through immigration.

Landis: Where does the name Landis come from?

The surname Landis is of German origin. It especially originates from the southwestern Germany, particularly in the region of Baden-Württemberg. The name Landis was firstly used as a nickname for a person who owned a large tract of land or a landlord. The name is derived from two old Germanic words, "landa" which means “land” and "hûs", which means "house".

The Landis surname is relatively common in countries with a significant population of German descent. It is especially common in the United States, where it was introduced by German immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 1980 US Census, Landis was the 2,466th most common surname. Pennsylvania, due to its historically large population of Germans (known as Pennsylvania Dutch), is one of the states with a pronounced concentration of individuals with the Landis surname. However, it is not limited to Pennsylvania, and it can be found spread throughout various regions of the United States, as well as in other countries worldwide. Overall, the last name Landis is far from being one of the most common surnames, but it is still prevalent in several regions.

Variations of the surname Landis

The surname Landis is of Swiss, German, and Alsacian origin, primarily recognized as a Swiss-German Mennonite surname. There are several variations and spellings of 'Landis' resulting from immigration, translation, and regional differences.

Some common variants include Landes, Landys, Landiss, Lantis, Lantz, Lanz, and Landrus. The endings -is, -es, and -us are fairly interchangeable. The spelling 'Landes' is particularly common in French-influenced regions, and 'Lantz' or 'Lanz' is more prevalent in Germany. Altered spellings like 'Landiss' and 'Landys' might've occurred due to a linguistic shift or error in record-keeping.

Spelling variations were common even within the same family or individual's lifetime in the past. For example, someone with the surname 'Landis' might have it listed as 'Landes' on one document and 'Lantz' on another. It's also important to note that many variations of 'Landis' could be surnames developed independently from distinctly different geographical regions or familial origins. Therefore, not everyone with a 'Landis' variant may be interconnected genealogically.

Surname variations can be a fascinating gateway into understanding the history, migration patterns, and possible spelling transformations of a lineage.

Famous people with the name Landis

• John Landis: John Landis is an American film director, screenwriter, actor and producer who is known for his work in the horror/comedy genre, best known for directing the films An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, The Blues Brothers, and Michael Jackson’s music video for “Thriller”.
• Jeffrey Landis: Jeffrey Landis is an American actor from Cleveland, Ohio, best known for his role as Will Robinson in the television series Lost in Space (1998–2004).
• Josh Landis: Josh Landis is an American musician, record producer, and composer, who has composed and produced multiple Hollywood feature films.
• Max Landis: Max Landis is a screenwriter best known for his works Chronicle (2012) and American Ultra (2015).
• David Landis: David Landis is a retired American professional basketball player who played four seasons in the National Basketball Association.
• Gary Landis: Gary Landis is a professional mountain bike racer and downhill world record holder from Newport Beach, California.
• Lloyd Landis: Lloyd Landis was an American screenwriter best known for writing twelve films for the Our Gang series.
• Lee Landis: Lee Landis is an American actor, chef, and entrepreneur, best known for his roles in the films Dear Dictator (2017) and Treachery (2014).
• John W. Landis: John W. Landis is an American philosopher, author, and professor of philosophy at Indiana University Southeast.
• Tom Landis: Tom Landis is an American political commentator and founder of the website The American Spectator, a conservative weekly magazine in the United States.

Other surnames

LandiLandimoreLandin