Surname Lütken - Meaning and Origin
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Lütken: What does the surname Lütken mean?
The last name Lütken is derived from the Middle Low German and Old Danish word meaning 'little person'. It is believed that the surname originated as a nickname for a small individual. The surname is quite common in Denmark and Northern Germany.
The earliest recorded use of the name in Denmark dates back to the 16th century. During this time, Lütken became quite a common surname among coastal towns and villages. Lütken families from these areas mainly worked as fishermen and farmers and could be found in places such as Slesvig, Oldenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and the island of Föhr.
Many members of the Lütken family have made an impact on their homeland throughout Danish history. In the 19th century for example, Hans Lütken became a notable Danish botanist. He was responsible for discovering several species of flowers and plants that are native to the country.
Another prominent member is Jens Lütken, a sculptor and carver from Skagen. He is considered one of the leading figures of the Romantic Skagen movement and his works can be seen in various public and private collections.
Those with the last name Lütken often bear a shared sense of pride in their heritage. Combined with these notable figures, those with the surname are proud of their Scandinavian roots.
Order DNA origin analysisLütken: Where does the name Lütken come from?
The last name Lütken is most common in the countries of Denmark and Germany, particularly in the northern and western parts of the country. It originates from a patronymic naming system, and translates to mean "son of Lütke", with Lütke being an old Germanic name.
In Denmark, the last name is most prevalent in the North Region, followed by the Region of Southern Denmark. It is especially strong in the cities of Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense, and Struer. It is also seen in small numbers in the rest of the country, but is more prominent in the northern regions.
In Germany, the last name is most common in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen, and Lower Saxony. It is also somewhat common in the western states of Baden-Württemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia.
On a global scale, Lütken is a reasonably common last name, but it is much more concentrated in Northern Europe. It is estimated that there are at least 24,000 people with the last name Lütken living in Denmark and Germany combined. However, the actual number could be much higher because of the number of people with the surname who now live outside of these countries.
Variations of the surname Lütken
The modern spelling of the surname Lütken is derived from the German language, where it is sometimes translated as Lucken or Luckenbach. This surname can be found in Germany, Denmark, and other Northern European countries. Other variants and spellings of the surname include Lutken (also seen as Lütken or Lütkenberg in Germany), Lucken, Luckenbach, Luetke, Lütke, Lütjebach, Lüdtke, and Lütkenhagen.
Most of these variants are derived from the original German word "Lütken," which is derived from the Old Germanic “lutōn” meaning "angry, fierce." This meaning is quite common among surnames in the translated German language. In Denmark, an early spelling of this surname was seen as Lütkesen, and this spelling is still seen today.
The most common spelling of the surname Lütken found in Germany is Lucken, while the slight variation of Luetke is found most commonly in the United States. The spelling of Lütke is highly popular in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
All of the variants and spellings of the surname are ultimately derived from a single original meaning, although the spelling may have changed slightly over time in order to fit language customs. The spelling Lütken is used the most throughout Germany, Denmark, and other German-influenced countries in Northern Europe.
Famous people with the name Lütken
- Gordon Lütken: an American physicist who was a principal designer of the Space Shuttle.
- Henning Lütken: a Danish actor.
- Ludwig Lütken: a Danish botanist who specialised in ferns.
- Ole Lütken: a Danish politician of the 19th century.
- Frants Lütken: a Danish astronomer and professor of mathematics.
- Emil Lütken: a Danish ceramicist who worked in various genres of pottery.
- SVL von Lütken: a German entomologist who specialised in beetles.
- Viggo Lütken: a Danish painter and illustrator of the 19th century.
- Rasmus Lütken: a photographer from Denmark who was active in the 1860s.
- Jørgen Lütken: a Danish architect of several churches built in the 19th century.