Surname Loewen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Loewen: What does the surname Loewen mean?
The last name Loewen is of German origin and is thought to have derived from the German word "Löwe", which translates to "lion". The name likely began as a nickname for a fierce warrior, and then eventually became a surname.
Loewen is a popular surname in Europe, especially in Germany and the Netherlands. Historically, the Loewen surname was associated with people who had great strength and courage, similar to a lion.
Today, the last name Loewen can be found in countries all over the world, such as Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. In some cases, the spelling of the name has been changed slightly to Lowen or Lowin for ease of pronunciation, yet it still retains its original meaning.
Outside of its association with the lion, Loewen can also be interpreted to mean 'minstrel', or 'happy'; both of which are characteristics that have been linked to the name throughout the years.
No matter how Loewen is spelled or what it is interpreted to mean, the surname is a symbol of strength and courage and is an important part of many family histories.
Order DNA origin analysisLoewen: Where does the name Loewen come from?
The last name Loewen is most commonly found in Germany, the Netherlands and certain parts of the United States. In particular, the Loewen surname is found in large numbers in Black Sea region of Germany, in the Netherlands, and also among German-speaking Mennonites living in Canada and the United States.
In Germany, the Loewen family name originated in Alsace-Lorraine and is derivative of "Leo" which is Latin for "lion". The lion of course was known as a symbol of strength and glory in Medieval Europe and was also associated with the ruling classes of German nobility.
In Holland, the Loewen surname is associated with the Jewish community in Amsterdam, which started in the mid-1600s. Loewen is a very common Jewish surname today, and often also appears in records kept by rabbinical courts.
In the United States, the Loewen surname is associated primarily with German Mennonites, who arrived in Pennsylvania and other Midwestern states in the 18th century and today form a large part of the Amish-Mennonite population.
Today, the Loewen surname can be found throughout the world in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, South Africa, and Australia.
Variations of the surname Loewen
The German surname Loewen has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of the variations include Löwen, Lowen, Lövin, Löwenstein, Loeben, Labin, and Lewin.
The surname Loewen, as well as its variants, is a topographic name from Middle High German loy, meaning “meadow” or “clearing”, or a nickname from Old High German liwo, meaning “lion”. In some cases, the surname may have arisen as a habitational name from any of various places, such as Moosloewen, which was recorded in 1371.
The Loewen surname is especially common in Germany, where it is one of the most many popular surnames. Surnames Löwen, Loeben, and Lewin are all rare, however, they are all Jewish surnames originating from Germany.
The surname Loewen is also found in different parts of the world, such as in Dutch, which records the name as Loewen but also as Leunen, Leuneman, and Loenen, as well as in German-influenced regions as Loewenstein and Lowenstein, or the more unusual Löwengard and Lewingard.
Several alternative spellings and surnames of the same origin may have arisen from the adoption of the spelling used in a particular country when the name was emigrated there. For example, the surname Loewen may have been changed to Lowen or Löwen when the family emigrated to the English-speaking countries, or Loewenstein to Lowenstein.
Thus, there are many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the German surname Loewen.
Famous people with the name Loewen
- Jesse Loewen: Canadian television actor, best known for roles on the shows Heartland, The Girlfriend Experience and Vagrant Queen.
- Jean Loewen: Canadian politician who represented the electoral district of Carrot River Valley in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1995 to 1999.
- Grant Loewen: Canadian former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2003, and is a three-time North American Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion.
- Messiaen Loewen: Canadian reality television star best known for having appeared in the first season of The Amazing Race Canada.
- Marijke Loewen: Canadian cross-country skier who represented Canada at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
- Brent Loewen: Canadian football quarterback who played three seasons in the Canadian Football League.
- Ian Loewen: Canadian former National Lacrosse League defenseman who played from 2004 to 2007 for several different teams.
- Jacob Loewen: Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.
- Kayla Loewen: Canadian beach volleyball player who represented Canada at the 2014 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Poland.
- Kenn Loewen: Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League from 1976 to 1988 with six different teams.