Surname Løch/Løk/Leuche - Meaning and Origin
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Løch/Løk/Leuche: What does the surname Løch/Løk/Leuche mean?
The last names Løch/Løk/Leuche are all variations of the same Norse word, which translates to "loft". This refers to either a high place, such as a hill or a balcony, or to a room in a building, such as an upper floor or attic. This suggests that the families that adopted this name may have come from a high-sitting area or home.
The word is also closely related to the old Norse word loki, meaning “to store in a loft.” Therefore, the last name Løch/Løk/Leuche could have been a way of indicating a particular occupation or lifestyle, such as a grain-storer. This would have been a prestigious and important position within a community, as the ability to store grain and other important resources was integral to a successful village.
The name is also closely related to the Chistian word leuce, meaning “to make white”, or a bleaching profession such as a cloth-dyer. This would suggest that this family specialized in the bleaching of textiles. Again, this would have been a highly respected skill within a village or town - another reason why those possessing the name would have been held in high regard.
In all likelihood, the family adopting the name Løch/Løk/Leuche were proud of their skill or origin. Therefore, the translation of the name “loft” would have been an apt one for their particular circumstances.
Order DNA origin analysisLøch/Løk/Leuche: Where does the name Løch/Løk/Leuche come from?
The last name Løch/Løk/Leuche is most commonly found in Scandinavia, and more specifically Norway. According to the Norwegian National Population Register, it is the fourth most common surname in the country.
The origin of the name is debated. It could have come from an Old Norse word meaning “lock” or from a Middle Low German word meaning “meadow”. In addition, the name could be related to a personal name such as Ludwig, which means “warrior” in German.
In Norway, the surname can be found infrequently in Norway, as well as in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. It is more common in the United States, where it is found in all fifty states and ranks in the top three thousand surname rankings.
The name Løch/Løk/Leuche is also found in Poland and other parts of Eastern Europe, where it may have been introduced by migrants from Scandinavian countries.
Today, the surname is most often written in its simplest form as “Løk”, although the name may be spelt differently due to regional variations.
Variations of the surname Løch/Løk/Leuche
The surname Løch/Løk/Leuche is a Danish surname derived from the Old Danish words ‘Leug’ or ‘Leughe’, which mean ‘a flame’ or ‘to burn’.
Variants of this surname include Lok, Lock, Lokae and Luck, and all derived from the same root word. In some cases, the ‘Loo’ spelling has been replaced with ‘Lee’, making Løch, Løk, and Leuche variants of the same origin.
One other common variant of this surname is ‘Löck’, which is a Scandinavianized version of the name that is likely derived from ‘Lök’, and is found in Norway and Sweden. This variant is found in Icelandic, and is also used in some parts of Denmark.
This surname has also been found as ‘Luche’ in Germany and Austria, suggesting a possible Germanic root for the name. It was likely adapted to the local language and customs.
Surnames derived from this root include Luciotti in Italy, Leucht in Germany, Laache in France, Lucchese in Italy, and Lukacs in Hungary.
The surname Løch/Løk/Leuche is found throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. Though rare, at present, all these surnames stem from the same Common Germanic and Old Danish root.
Famous people with the name Løch/Løk/Leuche
- Joachim Løch: contemporary Norwegian former associate professor from the NTNU and an expert in geotechnical engineering.
- Christian Løk: Scandinavian engineer who helped create Norway's first wireless phone and push for the introduction of the GSM standard.
- Geir Løch: Norwegian former football player who made 24 appearances for the Norwegian national team.
- Vanessa Løchen: Norwegian singer-songwriter and guitarist.
- Steinar Løk: former Norwegian football forward and head coach.
- Magnar Løk: Norwegian cross-country skier and bronze medalist of the 1956 Olympic Winter Games.
- Sverre Løk: Norwegian businessman and philanthropist.
- Kristin Løk: Norwegian footballer who has made over 200 appearances for the Norwegian women's national football team.
- Knut Løk: Norwegian politician who has served as Minister of Finance, Minister of Education and Research, and Minister of Petroleum and Energy.
- Rune Løch: Norwegian snowboarder who has represented Norway in the Olympics and placed fourth at the 2002 Olympics.