Surname Landwehrt - Meaning and Origin

Landwehrt: What does the surname Landwehrt mean?

The last name Landwehrt is of German origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. It was used to identify a person who lived close to a border or a “landwehr” which was a type of defensive wall. This could have been built in response to an invader or used to protect a political boundary.

The name Landwehrt can also be interpreted as a military designation, as it suggested someone who served as a guard or soldier for a particular wall. In some cases it might have been used to distinguish between those in the military who served at the wall and the civilians who lived there.

In modern times, Landwehrt is predominantly a surname found among people of German ancestry and there are variations in its spelling, including Landwehr, Lanwehr, and Langwehr.

Landwehrt can still carry associations of defensive protection and a sense of patriotism, as it is representative of a long and proud German tradition. It is also a reminder of the strength that can come from being part of a community that stands together and celebrates unity in the face of opposition.

Landwehrt: Where does the name Landwehrt come from?

The surname Landwehrt is usually found in northeastern Germany and other parts of central Europe including Switzerland and parts of Austria. Landwehrt is a German surname created from the combined elements of the words "land" and "wehr." The easternmost region of Germany, where most Landwehrts are found, was a part of East Prussia until 1945 and was cut off by the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

The Landwehrt family is believed to have originated in northern Germany where the name “wehrt” was used to denote a person living on or near a guarded border. With the establishment of the German Empire in 1871, the name Landwehrt spread to other parts of Germany and eventually abroad.

The Landwehrts that emigrated abroad to the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia are of a much smaller population than those who stayed in Germany. The most common surname for Germans living in the United States is Miller, and according to a 1920 census, there were only 212 persons with the surname “Landwehrt” living in the U.S. at the time.

Nowadays, Landwehrts can still be found living in Germany, but the higher concentration of those with the surname is located in Switzerland and parts of Austria. With technology and social media being so widely used, it is easier to identify and locate Landwehrt family members living throughout the world.

Variations of the surname Landwehrt

The surname Landwehrt can have various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include:

Landwerth

- A variant of Landwehrt, this spelling is found in Germany and Austria.

Landweert

- This variant is found in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Landwert

- This German variant of Landwehrt appears to be the most popular form of the surname.

Landweir

- A rare variant of Landwehrt found in some parts of Europe.

Londwerth

- A variant form of Landwehrt which has been found in some family histories.

Lantwerth

- An old spelling of Landwehrt which was found in Germany during the 16th century.

Lontwerth

- This is another variant spelling of Landwehrt which is not widely used.

Lantwerdt

- A variant spelling of Landwehrt which is found mainly in Germany.

Lantwert

- This variant spelling of Landwehrt appears in family records from the early 20thcentury.

Lantzwerth

- A variant spelling of Landwehrt which appears in some European records.

Landwerdt

- This variant spelling is found mainly in Germany and Austria.

Lanwerth

- Another less common variant spelling of Landwehrt found in Europe.

Landwerder

- This is a German-based variant of Landwehrt which is not widely used today.

Löntwerth

- A variant spelling of Landwehrt which may be found in some family records.

Løntwerth

- This variant spelling of Landwehrt may be found in some Scandinavian records.

Landwirth

- This variant spelling of Landwehrt is found mainly in Germany.

Landwerts

- This variant spelling of Landwehrt is rare and usually found in old records.

Lanthwerth

- This variant spelling of Landwehrt appears in some old documents.

Famous people with the name Landwehrt

• Frank Landwehrt: associate province archivist from the State Archive Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
• Laura Landwehrt: Canadian figure skater and four-time Canadian national Champion in Freeskating.
• Bill Landwehrt: American football player for the New York Giants in the NFL.
• Mandy Landwehrt: Vampire Diaries actress.
• Karl Landwehrt: retired German football defender.
• Julia Landwehrt: German freestyle wrestler.
• Aaron Landwehrt: Swiss Paralympic sailing champion.
• Orrin Landwehrt: fictional character from the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.
• Willi Landwehrt: German politician, member of the SPD party.
• Scott Landwehrt: American cartoonist, illustrator, writer and publisher.

Other surnames

LandwehrLandwehrjohannLandwehrkampLandwehrmannLandwehrmeierLandwehrsLandwehrschneider