Surname Langenhorst - Meaning and Origin
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Langenhorst: What does the surname Langenhorst mean?
The last name Langenhorst is of German origin and translates literally to “long woods” or “tall woods.” This suggests that the original holders of this name had a connection to forests or a wooded area.
In Germany, Langenhorst is one of the more popular surnames. According to a study done in 1992, it was one of the top 78 most common surnames in the country. This popularity likely dates back to the Middle Ages, when surnames were first being adopted in this region.
The Langenhorsts were an important family in Germany by the 13th century, when the coat of arms of the Langenhorst family and various branch families were first described. This coat of arms features a black linden tree with three horizontal yellow stripes in each corner, and then a smaller black tree at the center of the shield. This shield was also incorporated into the Langenhorst family crest.
The English version of the name, “Langenwood”, survives to this day in some areas of Germany, although the Langenhorsts have since scattered around the world. Many have followed their German heritage and traveled to other countries in Europe, while others have made their way to North America, South America, and Australia.
Today, Langenhorst is still a popular name and is found in many places throughout the world. Although its fortunes have changed since its establishment in medieval Germany, it is one of the many ancient German surnames that have endured into the 21st century.
Order DNA origin analysisLangenhorst: Where does the name Langenhorst come from?
The last name Langenhorst is most common in its country of origin: Germany. Specifically, the name is concentrated in the western part of the country near the border with Belgium, in the region of North Rhine-Westphalia. According to a 2018 report by the Federal Office of Statistics, nearly 3,000 people living in Germany carry this surname. Outside Germany, its presence is relatively scarce; its highest concentrations are in the Netherlands, France, Finland, and the United States.
In the US, the 2000 census recorded 39 people with the last name of Langenhorst. It is most commonly found in the Midwestern states, with Wisconsin being the state with the highest number (15). Other states where the name has been found include Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Langenhorsts in America are probably descendants of immigrants who moved to the US during the 19th and 20th centuries.
In its origin country, the surname Langenhorst is combined with various other surnames such as Meyer, Klaassen, and Ostermann, which suggests that the Langenhorsts are descendants of old aristocratic families. The name is also related to the Langenberg branch of German nobility and are thought to have originated in Westphalia and are believed to date back to the early Middle Ages.
Overall, the name Langenhorst is still prevalent in Germany today. In other countries, however, its presence is quite small compared to its origins.
Variations of the surname Langenhorst
The surname Langenhorst is a toponymic surname derived from the Dutch word "langenhorst" which means "long woodlands". This name is common in the Netherlands, Germany, and parts of the United Kingdom as well. There are several variants of this name, such as Langehorst, Langenhorst, and Langehoorst, as well as many related spelling variations, such as Langenhoors, Langenhorst, Lattinghors, and Langhoors. Additionally, other related surnames exist such as Langert, Langeler, Langeveld, and Lambert. These surnames all have a similar origin and, as such, may have come from a common ancestor.
There is an English equivalent of the surname which is Langshaw. This is an Anglicisation of the original Dutch surname, and has been used by families which had emigrated to the United Kingdom. It is also sometimes found spelled as Langscaigh.
In Germany, one can find the surnames Langohr, Langhorst and Langguth, which are all dialectal variants of the original Dutch name. Additionally, in Belgium the surname Langeraar is common and is related to the name Langenhorst.
Finally, in the United States, the surname Lankaster is found. This is another Anglicised version of the original Dutch name. It is commonly found in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.
In summary, the surname Langenhorst is a toponymic surname which can be found used in various forms and spellings throughout the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States. Variants such as Langehorst, Langeraar, Lankaster, and Langscaigh, as well as several other related surnames, are all related to the original Dutch name.
Famous people with the name Langenhorst
- Jesko von den Steinen Langenhorst: German actor.
- Jan Langenhorst: Dutch politician and former Member of Parliament.
- Marisa Langenhorst: American actress and voice actress.
- Joe Langenhorst: Australian sculptor.
- Hans Langenhorst: Dutch Olympic sailor.
- Christoph Langenhorst: German writer, music producer and composer.
- Frank Langenhorst: Dutch Olympic skater.
- Carsten Langenhorst: German footballer.
- Eric van den Langenhorst: Dutch composer and multi-instrumentalist.
- Omid Langenhorst: German video game designer.
- Ingvar Langenhorst: German curator and documentary filmmaker.
- Annette Langenhorst: German psychologist and author.
- Wolfgang Langenhorst: German politician and former Member of Parliament.
- Julius Langenhorst: German songwriter and drummer.
- Carl Langenhorst: Dutch cyclist and two time winner of the Elfstedentocht.
- Cord Langenhorst: German physicist and professor.
- Peter Langenhorst: Dutch visual artist and filmmaker.
- Claudia Langenhorst: German architect and a Professor of Architecture.
- Wolfram Langenhorst: German entrepreneur and business executive.
- Mattis Langenhorst: German Roman Catholic priest.