Surname Löhken - Meaning and Origin

Löhken: What does the surname Löhken mean?

The last name Löhken is of German origin, and it occurs mostly in northern Germany, especially in the western part of the country. It is derived from the ancient German word "Loh," which means "forested" or "wooded." It generally indicated that a person who bore the name was from or had a connection to some kind of a wooded area. It can also be derived from the Old High German word "Lochon," which means "lair." The English surname Logan is believed to be derived from a similar root.

The surname Löhken is not quite common, but there are a few people who bear it. There are several variations of the spelling, including Lohken, Luehken, Luekhon, Luecken, and Lühken.

The name is believed to be occupational in nature, and it relates to hunters and foresters who lived in forests. It is likely that these people either owned a hunting ground or served as hunters for a noble family in the Middle Ages. The name emerged in the records of nobility in the 15th century. In modern-times, it is often encountered as a surname of landowners and merchants in northern Germany.

Overall, the last name Löhken is a reflection of the forests and hunting grounds of northern Germany during the Middle Ages. It reflects the struggles and aspirations of people who made their livelihood from such activities.

Löhken: Where does the name Löhken come from?

The last name Löhken is most commonly found within the German-speaking countries of Europe, particularly Germany and Austria, as well as some Nordic countries, including Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. It is uncommon to find Löhken outside of this region.

Within Germany, Austria, and the Nordic countries, the last name is less grandly distributed. In Germany, it is most commonly found in the regions of Lower Saxony, Niedersachsen, Brandenburg, and Thüringen. In Austria, it is primarily located in the western state of Vorarlberg and the southern state of Carinthia. In the Nordic countries, it is primarily found in the maritime provinces of Norway.

The surname Löhken is thought to have originated from a place name or job or trade item such as the Middle High German word “löhe” or “lohe” which referred to a metal smith or one who worked with clay or pottery. It was likely the name of a person who lived in an area known by this name, or who practiced the profession.

According to anecdotal accounts, the Löhken family are descendents of a specific group of settlers who moved south from Norway during the Migration Period in the 5th and 6th century. It is thought that the surname descends from a clan line whose name is derived from Old Norse—”holm” (island) and “kin” (family).

In conclusion, the last name Löhken is not found outside of Europe, and is primarily found in Germany, Austria, and the Nordic countries within a somewhat localized range. It is believed to have originated from Middle High German, and was likely the name of a person already known by this name or who practiced a certain profession. Anecdotal accounts suggest it is descended from a clan of settlers who moved south from Norway during the Migration Period of the 5th and 6th century.

Variations of the surname Löhken

The surname Löhken is derived from the Old German words “loh” and “ken” meaning “low elevation” or “low meadow”. It is mostly found in the Netherlands, where it has numerous variants and spellings. These include Loeken, Loheken, Logeen, Loehen, Lohken, Lowken, and Lueken.

In the Dutch language, the Loeken variant of the name is the most common. This variant is also found in low numbers in Belgium, Germany, France, and the United States. In German, the most common variant is Löhken. It is also found in the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as in France, Sweden and Norway.

In England, the spelling of Löhken has been adapted to Lowken. This variant appears most commonly in Scotland, where it is also spelled Loughken and Loughkin. In Ireland, the variants Leary and Lorkin share a similar origin with Löhken.

In Italy, the surname Löhken is found in the form of Luchini. In Spain, the surname is found as Luchena. In Hungary, a variant of the surname exists in the form of Lukács.

The Scandinavian countries also have variants of the surname. In Sweden, the name appears as Lövken and Lövkins; in Norway, it is found as Løken and Løvken; and in Finland, the form is Lööken. In Denmark, the name appears in the forms of Lohken and Loehken.

Other variant spellings of the name can be found in America and Canada, where it appears as Locken, Loken, Lokken, and Lakan. In Australia, the name is found as Leucken and Leuken.

Famous people with the name Löhken

• Markus Löhken: Markus Löhken is the President of Deutsche Asset Management, a division of Deutsche Bank.
• Pia Löhken: Pia Löhken is a German fashion designer known for her sophisticated and minimalist clothing.
• Nina Löhken: Nina Löhken is a Swedish actress who has appeared in films such as Internship (2013), Cologne (2016), and Lina (2018).
• Ralph Löhken: Ralph Löhken is a German sound designer and film composer who has collaborated on soundtracks for films such as Largo (2010), Zero Trace (2015), and Until We Die (2016).
• Stefan Löhken: Stefan Löhken is a German financial advisor and author who wrote “Reform der Mensen und Wohnheime Deutscher Studenten im Ausland” in 2006.
• Gerd Löhken: Gerd Löhken is a German winemaker and married to Brigitte Löhken, the founder of the winery Löhken & Ancker in the Mosel Valley.
• Arend Löhken: Arend Löhken is a Dutch actor who starred in the films Das letzte Lied (2012) and Op zoek naar Zoggel (2017).
• Henrik Löhken: Henrik Löhken is a Danish filmmaker and photographer, known for his works The Olive Tree (2015) and Navel (2016).
• Philipp Löhken: Philipp Löhken is a German cyclist who won a bronze medal in the team trial event at the 2018 UCI Road World Championships.
• Sönke Löhken: Sönke Löhken is a German politician who currently serves as a Member of the European Parliament.

Other surnames

Lohkemper