Surname Linthecum - Meaning and Origin
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Linthecum: What does the surname Linthecum mean?
The last name Linthecum can be traced to the English surname Linticum, which originated from Lincolnshire. It is derived from the Old English "hlin", meaning hill, and "cium", meaning valley or enclosure. The Linthecum surname was originally found in the northern part of England, in places like Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.
The Linthecum surname represents a family that dates back centuries, as it has been recorded in various old documents. In England, surnames were acquired in several ways, including by a patronymic naming system, signifying a father’s occupation or lineage. Thus, the Linthecum family could have had a father who made his living in the valley.
During the Middle Ages, the Linthecum family was associated with several towns throughout England, including Mowbrey, Oswestry, and Selby in Yorkshire. Variations of the surname Linthecum include Lintcombe, Linthom, and Lentingum.
Today, the Linthecum family is widely dispersed, but the original sense of the name is rooted in the actual geography of Northern England. It’s a reminder of not just a place but also a way of living that harkens back to the Middle Ages.
Order DNA origin analysisLinthecum: Where does the name Linthecum come from?
The last name Linthecum is relatively uncommon today. It is mainly found in the United States and Canada. The 1990 census in the U.S. showed that only 430 people with the surname took part. The vast majority resided in North Carolina, with other small communities in Florida, Pennsylvania, California, and New York.
When researching the history of the surname, the origins appear to be the German language. For example, Linthecum appears to be a blended form of the German words, Linsen (linen) and Thumm (authority). It was likely a descriptive name given to a person who was either an authority figure in the linen industry or someone who attended to such tasks.
The name can also be found in the United Kingdom, mainly in northern England and Scotland. While still scarce in these countries, there are more people with the surname in England than in the U.S. and Canada combined.
Overall, Linthecum is a unique name, typically associated with the United States and Canada in modern times. Historical research shows that its German origins go back centuries, with more individuals with the name found in the U.K. at present.
Variations of the surname Linthecum
The surname Linthecum is a variant of the English name Lincum, also found in other spellings such as Lintecome, Linthcum, Linticum and Linticumme. This surname is commonly found in England, especially in the East Anglia region.
Generally, the variations of this name are regional and cultural in nature. Variants such as Lintecume and Lintcumme, for example, are mainly found in Cornwall and Devon in the south-west of England. The variants Linticum and Lintecome, on the other hand, are mainly found in the Leicestershire area of England.
The surname can also be found in a handful of other countries where English people have settled, such as Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States, among others. In addition, there are a few surnames that might be derived from the original Linthecum, including Linthecome, Lintikum, Lintam, Linthe, and Lintle.
In a few cases, the name may have been Anglicised from other languages, including Scandinavian versions such as Lundecombe and Icelandic and Norwegian Lutheran names such as Lutecum and Lutcum.
Overall, Linthecum is a relatively rare surname, but its variants and spellings are scattered in various areas around the world.
Famous people with the name Linthecum
- Tevita Linthecum: Fijian rugby league player who currently plays for the North Sydney Bears in the NSW Intrust Super Premiership.
- Norma Linthecum: American artist known for her watercolor and mixed media paintings and drawings.
- James Linthecum: American author of poetry and fiction, who was nominated for the American Book Award in 2000 for his novel Invisible Country.
- Chris Linthecum: American actor best known for his role as Donny in the popular TV series The Office.
- Leslie Linthecum: Canadian Paralympian who competed in wheelchair racing at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games.
- David Linthecum: Former professor at the University of California Berkeley best known for his research on cell death and the role of the mitochondria in programmed cell death.
- Sean Linthecum: American football player who played for the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League.
- Dan Linthecum: Irish professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Munster Rugby team in the Pro14.
- John Linthecum: American politician and mayor of Key West, Florida, from 2004 to 2012.
- Ruth Linthecum: British author and ordained Anglican priest best known for her works on Anglicanism, spirituality and nature.
Other surnames
Comments or additions to the name "Linthecum"
26.03.2024
I come from a large group of "Lincicum" spelled descendants of this surname traced all the way back to 1785 when the spelling was 'Linthicum. We're in SW Wisconsin. Very cool to learn we hale from English/Scotch descent versus German, from what my father made me believe...