Surname Löwen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Löwen: What does the surname Löwen mean?
The last name Löwen is of German origin. Historically, it is a habitational surname that is derived from the German word "Löwe," which translates to "lion" in English. This surname was likely given to the earliest bearers as a nickname or symbol of bravery and strength. It may also have been adopted by those whose job involved caring for, or hunting, lions.
The word "Löwe" is derived from the Latin "leo," which is itself derived from from the old Greek word "λέων." This word has much deeper historical roots, stemming from the Proto-Indo European *leuk-, meaning “light." This kindled the idea of the lion being the "king of the beasts" and a symbol of strength.
The Löwen surname is also found outside of Germany, such as in Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe. This could stem from the fact that the Biblical figures of Judah and his fellow Tribes of Israel are often compared to lions – which was partially responsible for many Jewish families adopting the name.
The surname Löwen is today found in countries across Europe, including Norway, Austria, and Hungary. This bears testament to its long and widespread history, connecting people across cultures and through time with its unique symbolism. Its connotations of bravery and strength are certainly something of which to be proud.
Order DNA origin analysisLöwen: Where does the name Löwen come from?
The surname Löwen is derived from the German word for lion, and is most common in parts of Germany and Austria.
In Germany, the last name is mainly concentrated in the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. These regions are in the middle and eastern parts of the country, which was once the heart of the German Empire.
In Austria, the last name is most common in Vienna and the surrounding states of Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Styria. This is likely due to the fact that much of Austria's population is descended from Germanic peoples who settled here during the Middle Ages.
The last name is also quite common in Switzerland, mainly in the German-speaking cantons such as Zurich, Bern, and Basel-Stadt.
Outside of Europe, the last name Löwen can be found in North and South America, Australia, and South Africa. These regions are mainly populated by German immigrants who travelled there during the 19th and 20th centuries in search of a better life.
Overall, the last name Löwen is a quite common Germanic surname, mostly found in countries where Germanic populations have a particular presence.
Variations of the surname Löwen
The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Löwen are: Lowen, Löwin, Loewin, Loewen, Löffener, Löfener, Löffener, Loewener, Leveen, Leveyne, Levien, Levine, Lewann, Lewen, Lowey, Löwy, Lowin, Lowyn, Loewy, Loewan, Loewann, and Loewyn.
Lowen is the German spelling of the surname, as Germany is where the surname originated. It is derived from the word “löwe” which means lion in German, and was used as both an occupational surname for people with lion-based professions or titles, and a nickname for a fierce or brave individual. The other variants of the surname are related, some of which are anglicised spellings, such as Levien, Lewen, and Lowey, while others are derivations of the German spelling such as Löwy and Lowyn.
The surname can also appear in various forms, such as Loewin or Loewen, which refer to a variant of the original spelling followed by the addition of an n or an e. This is common for surnames derived from a place or animal names, as the addition of specific letters to the end of a name can denote a relationship to the original source. For example, the addition of “er” to the name Löffener or Löfener means “of the lion”, while the addition of “en” to Loewy or Lewann means “related to”.
Lastly, the surname can also appear with the variants Leveen, Leveyne, and Lewann, which refers to the original German spelling with the addition of a specific letter at the start of the surname. This is a technique used in some countries in order to localize a foreign surname, in this case it is the letter “L” in order to make the surname easier to pronounce in English.
Famous people with the name Löwen
- Adam Löwen: Swiss professional ice hockey forward who plays for HC Lugano of the National League (NL).
- Tobias Löwen: German architect and urban planner.
- Matthias Löwen: former German professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
- Franz Löwen: Austrian-American businessman and inventor.
- Robert Löwen: former German footballer who played as a defender.
- Oliver Löwen: German former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
- Hermann Löwen: German judoka who competed in the men's half-lightweight category at the 1972 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal.
- Ernst Löwen: East German politician held ministerial roles from 1959 onwards in various governments of the German Democratic Republic.
- Hans von Löwen: German mathematician and historian, who served as a professor of history at the University of Berlin.
- Jürgen Löwen: German football coach and a former player.