Surname Lenser - Meaning and Origin
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Lenser: What does the surname Lenser mean?
The surname Lenser is of German origin, and is believed to originate from a profession – the word lanser being a derivation of the German word lanceren, meaning ‘to peddle’. It is possible that early Lensers were itinerant merchants that traveled from place to place, selling items to people in their own local area.
The name Lenser can also be a form of the name Landser, which was a German occupational surname for someone living amongst the poor, in barren land, along the Rhine. This surname is likely derived from Old High German landa, meaning ‘soil’ or ‘land’ and sar meaning ‘living in’.
Whether it is from the profession of the itinerant merchant, or dwelling among the poor, the surname Lenser has been an integral part of German family history for centuries. It has also spread to other countries around the world, through migration. Today, the name is often found in the U.S., Canada, and other nations settled by German immigrants.
The surname can also be found as Lanser, Lancer, Lenzer, and other variants, although the origin and meaning remain the same. It is a tribute to the early Lensers who were willing to endure difficult conditions to support their families and create the names we know today.
Order DNA origin analysisLenser: Where does the name Lenser come from?
The last name Lenser is most commonly found in a few European countries. In Germany it is the 125th most common surname. It is most densely populated in the northwestern portion of that country, with cities like Bremen, Hamburg, and Berlin having higher concentrations of Lensers. Additionally, Lenser is an uncommon but not unheard of surname in Austria. In Switzerland, the surname Lenser is most common in the eastern cantons. The last name is also common in the Netherlands and South Africa.
The origin of the surname Lenser is thought to have come from the Middle High German word “lenser,” which was a term used to refer to both a minstrel and someone who played a lute. It's likely that this term was taken as a surname by someone in the music-making or performing arts field. It is also said that Lenser is a variation of the surname Lensing, which originates from a medieval given name.
In the United States, the last name Lenser is a bit less common. It is found in small numbers in many states, with the highest concentrations being in the Midwest and Great Plains regions. In this area, it is most commonly found in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Missouri.
Overall, the last name Lenser is somewhat uncommon in today’s world with its highest concentrations being found in a few European countries, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the Midwest United States.
Variations of the surname Lenser
The surname Lenser is of German origin, and is found in any combination of spelling variations, including Lenser, Lencer, Lenzer, and Lenczer. It is derived from the Old German word ‘Lenz’, which means long. This was typically added to the end of nicknames, and also served as a suffix in names like Lensmann, Lensberger, and Lenske.
The English variants of Lenser are Lencer and Lencer, and several other surnames, including Leensman, Lencman, Linsinger, and Lesiner. Dutch variants include Lenser, Lencsers, Lensen, and Lenssers, while variations of the German form, Lenser, include Lensers, Lencser, Lensners, Lenschers, Lenscher, and Lensker. Other German variants include Lentser, Lenscherr, Lenzser, Lenzeer, and Lenzner. The Appalachian variants are Lenser, Lenzer, Linczer, and Linzer, while French forms are Lancer, Langers, and Lancier.
Other spellings include Lenser, Lunser, Lavser, Lenter, Lundzer, Lynser, and Letser. The patronymic surname is Lenzerowitz, and the spelling with the umlaut is ‘Lenßer’.
Lenser is also a common surname among Ashkenazi Jews, derived from the Yiddish name ‘Lenz’ and is the surname of famous American singer and actress, Bette Midler.
The Lenser surname can also be used as given names in some places around the world.
The Lenser name is still common in Germany, Austria and the United States, and can be found in Jewish, Dutch, German, English and French speaking countries.
Famous people with the name Lenser
- Bruce Lenser: American actor and comedian.
- Jim Lenser: American sportscaster and former Major League Baseball pitcher and outfielder.
- Jason Lenser: Australian soccer coach and former player.
- John T. Lenser: former National Football League running back and current United States District Judge in South Dakota
- Freya Lenser: award-winning German actress and film producer.
- Helmut Lenser: German politican and former Chairman of the Bavarian State Parliament.
- Mandy Lenser: television and radio host as well as producer.
- Frank Lenser: American-born German naval officer.
- Jacobs Lenser: Swedish attorney and politician.
- Greg Lenser: retired American professional basketball player.