Surname Ludewigs - Meaning and Origin
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Ludewigs: What does the surname Ludewigs mean?
The surname Ludewigs is of German origin and is derived from the personal name Ludewig, which is a diminutive of the name Ludwig. The German word "wich" is often added to a personal name to form a diminutive, which in the case of Ludwig, gives us Ludewig. The name itself is derived from the Germanic elements ‘hlud’ meaning ‘fame’ and ‘wig’ meaning ‘warrior’. This roughly translates to the name meaning ‘a famous warrior’.
The surname began to appear in records from the late 13th century, when many people began to take on hereditary surnames that were often based on their occupation, place of origin, physical features, or a patronymic name. In this case, the Ludewigs would be a patronymic name meaning ‘son of Ludewig’. The family name would be spread gradually throughout Germany, as families emigrated to different parts of the country.
Today, the surname is relatively widespread throughout Germany. It also exists in other countries, such as the United States, where it was brought over by German immigrants in the 19th century. There is also evidence of the surname being used in countries such as Austria, Denmark and Sweden, which indicates that the name was likely adopted by people of other nationalities who had married German spouses.
Order DNA origin analysisLudewigs: Where does the name Ludewigs come from?
The name Ludewigs is most commonly found in Germany, specifically Bavaria. The name is derived from the German word for 'loud,' laut, and wigs, which means 'fighting.' It is an occupational surname, and historically the name would have referred to a fighter, usually in the service of a lord. It is also possible that some variants of the name refer to a steward, which today is the German word for a responsible and trustworthy servant.
Outside of Germany, the last name is still rare but can be found in parts of Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and even the United States. It is believed that the first Ludewigs family to emigrate to America arrived in the early 19th century from Bavaria and settled in Missouri. Since then, approximately 15,000 individuals bearing the last name have been counted in the United States.
Although the Ludewigs surname is not as common as it once was, especially in Europe, it continues to be used throughout Germany and in some countries across the globe.
Variations of the surname Ludewigs
The surname Ludewigs is a German surname of South German and Swiss origins. It is derived from the given name Ludwig and is commonly found in Bavaria and parts of Switzerland. Variants of the name include spelling differences such as Ludvig, Ludovig and Lewedigs, and surnames of the same origin include Louewig, Ludewick, Ludvig, Ludwik and Ludwigsen.
The variant spelling Ludvig is of Dutch and Scandinavian origin and appears primarily in Holland, Belgium and Denmark. Though appearing to have the same meaning, it is a distinct variation of the surname Ludewigs.
Louewig is a rare spelling variant with a much lower frequency of occurence than the other variants. It is mainly seen in Northern Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Ludewick is another spelling variant found mainly in Southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Ludwik is a Polish variation of the name and is also rarely used. It too is found mainly in Germany and other parts of Central Europe.
Ludwigsen is an alternative surname derived from the given name Ludwig and is common in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and sometimes Germany and Austria. It is sometimes used interchangeably with Ludewigs or is employed as an additional surname.
Generally, variants and surnames of the same origin trace back to the same roots but may have emerged over time due to regionalisation of spelling, and use of dialects and languages not necessarily related to the original root source.
Famous people with the name Ludewigs
- Gert Ludwig: German footballer
- Carter Ludewig: Canadian soccer player
- Schalke 04 Ludwig: German footballer
- Ellen Ludewig: German theatre actress
- Reinhard Ludewig: German speed skater
- Amadeus Ludewig: German sculptor
- Toni Ludwig: German theatre actress and singer
- Theodor Ludewig: German classical composer
- Heinrich Ludewig: German poet
- Johann Ludewig: German violinist