Surname von Lindern - Meaning and Origin
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von Lindern: What does the surname von Lindern mean?
The last name von Lindern comes from the German language and translates to "of Lindern," indicating that the family originated from and still has a connection to a place called Lindern. It is likely that Lindern was the ancestral home of the von Lindern family.
The name Lindern itself comes from the Middle High German “lintkran,” which means “swamp or marsh.” The suffix -ern is sometimes also found on place names that are low-lying or surrounded by water. Combining "Lintkran" and -ern means that the place name Lindern translates to a location that was subjected to frequent or permanent flooding.
The oldest reference to Lindern is a document that dates back to 1235 and locates the village near Osnabrück in Lower Saxony. It is likely that the Von Lindern family originated from this specific place and have since spread out across Europe.
The von Lindern family name is usually found among wealthy aristocratic families of German-speaking countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is possible that, as the family spread out farther and farther, they also adopted other last names or changed their name by adding the German suffix -er (meaning “from”) to their place name, indicative of their origin and social standing.
In modern times, von Lindern is a reminder of past generations and the strong family ties linking them all the way back to the ancestral home of Lindern.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Lindern: Where does the name von Lindern come from?
The last name von Lindern is commonly found in Germany, where it is considered an old nobiliary name. It is also found in Denmark, Sweden and Austria, though less frequently. The von Lindern family is said to have first emerged from Saxony in the late Middle Ages, and the earliest known mention of the name is in 1250.
It is not a very common surname today. In Germany, as of 2017, there are around 850 people with the last name. In Denmark, there are a few dozen people in the whole country, and similarly in Sweden and Austria.
The Von Lindern family is still a distinguishable entity in Germany, represented especially in the media, largely thanks to some of its notable members. Famous Von Linderns include German actor Aschen von Lindern and German publisher Dieter von Lindern.
Families with the last name von Lindern are likely to have a long-standing aristocratic history, tracing back their ancestry in the noble families of Saxony. As such, the name has come to represent a sense of prestige.
Thus, although today the Von Lindern name is not found widely, its history and association with nobility may still give it a certain amount of cultural relevance in Germany and the other countries where it is mainly found.
Variations of the surname von Lindern
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname von Lindern include von Lyndern, Lindern, von Linder, von Lindernen, von Linderns, and Linders. Additionally, variations on the spelling as Lindemann, Lynden, and Linden can be found in records.
Originally, the von Lindern surname originated in Germany in the 14th century and is thought to be derived from the German term for 'hazel bush' which is ‘Lind.’ As is the case with many Germanic surnames, those carrying this name could have descended from tribes and clans that lived throughout parts of Germany, where this term was used to reference an area of land inhabited by a particular clan.
The spelling of the name has since evolved, with some records offering alternative spellings like Lindernstein, Linderman, and Linten. Spellings of the name can vary significantly, depending on the family’s country of origin and time period. Similarly, the earliest incarnations of the surname can appear with the preposition 'von' or 'von der' in front of it, to signify a person's higher social status or denote a family of noble birth.
The von Lindern surname is now found throughout Europe but still has strong ties to Germany. In fact, the majority of individuals who carry the surname today are from Germany. With a history that dates back centuries, there's a good chance that multiple branches of those ancestors have since grown and spread across the continent.
Famous people with the name von Lindern
- August Wilhelm von Linder, German educational reformer.
- Karl von Lindern, Prussian general and cavalry commander.
- Princess Sophie von Lindern, German Princess and Duchess of Brunswick and Lüneburg.
- Holger von Lindern, German physician and professor of hygiene and public health
- Prince Ernst August, Duke of Brunswick and Prince of Lüneberg, paternal grandson of Karl von Lindern.
- Friedrich August von Lindern, German lieutenant.
- William von Lindern, German acoustician and paracoustician.
- Karl Theodor von Lindern, German painter and printmaker.
- Jean-Paul von Lindern, German author, journalist, and musician.
- Hans von Lindern, German scholastic philosopher.