Surname Loof - Meaning and Origin
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Loof: What does the surname Loof mean?
The last name Loof is of Dutch origin and is generally found in the northern and eastern parts of the Netherlands. The meaning of the name is derived from the Old Dutch word "lof", meaning praise or honor. The name Loof is commonly associated with the van den Lof family, which is a common surname in the Netherlands with numerous branches.
There are many variations of the name Loof including "Loef", "Leof" and "Liv". These other forms of the name are not necessarily related to the Dutch word for honor as there are several other possible origins. The name could originate from the Old French word "loup", which means wolf; or it could come from the Old High German word "loub", meaning "courage" or "power". It is also possible that the name Loof is derived from the Old English word "lyft", which means gentle or lenient.
The name Loof is a well-experienced and common name in history, with many notable figures having the surname. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally used as a byname to identify someone as the son of someone, commonly a father with the name "Loft". Over time, the patronymic surname has evolved to become a given name in its own right.
Overall, the last name Loof has evolved over time and may have several different meanings and origins, however the most common meaning is derived from the Old Dutch word for praise or honor.
Order DNA origin analysisLoof: Where does the name Loof come from?
The surname Loof is most commonly found in Germany today. According to genealogical research, the surname can be traced back to the German region of Schleswig-Holstein, a former Danish-ruled area located in the northern part of the country. This region bordered Denmark for many centuries and was the seat of several German noble families who used the surname.
It is believed that the name Loof originated from the geographical region of Loof, which was located in the southeastern area of Schleswig-Holstein and is now part of the town of Molfsee. According to records, Loof was a small village that was known for farming and fishing and had a small population until the late 19th century.
Currently, the surname Loof can be found in parts of Germany, particularly in the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Schleswig-Flensburg, and Hamburg. It is also reported to be present in other parts of Europe, such as in the Netherlands and Switzerland. In the United States, there are only a few dozen families with the name, according to US Census data.
The meaning of the surname Loof is unclear today. While some sources suggest that it may be derived from the their geographic origin, it is impossible to know for sure. Nevertheless, the surname is still very rare and only present in a few countries.
Variations of the surname Loof
The surname Loof is a variant spelling of other surnames of the same origin such as: Loeff, Leuf, Löff, Loef, Leoff and Loff.
The Dutch and German variant of these surnames are most common and originate from a German word known as ‘löffel’ which is literally translated to mean ‘spoon’.
The ‘L’ spelling was from North German regions while the ‘oeff’ spelling was used in South German regions.
‘Leuf’ and ‘Leoff’ are other spellings used of a similar origin particularly in North and Central German regions.
The surname Loof and its other spellings can also be found in other European countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland.
In the Netherlands, the surname Loof is considered to be a patronymic surname meaning that it was typically derived from a father’s first name.
The ‘Loff’ surname is believed to have originated in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France in its original form and was spelt as ‘Loffe’.
In Ireland, the surname Loof is believed to be an anglicization of other surnames such as ‘O Lougfhionn’ meaning ‘ descendant of Lougfhionn’ and ‘de Labhfhionn’ meaning ‘descendant of Labhfhionn’.
Overall, there are a variety of variants and spellings of the surname Loof which originate from different regions in Europe but have a similar connotation of ‘spoon’.
Famous people with the name Loof
- Haritz Loof: German football player
- Maria Loof: Swedish field hockey player
- Joen Loof: Danish actor
- Foris Loof: American singer/songwriter
- Fabian Loof: Swedish ice hockey player
- Fredrik Loof: Swedish sailor
- Jonathan Loof: Swedish guitar player
- Mikael Loof: Swedish Constitutional Law professor
- Carina Loof: Swedish politician
- Tove Loof: Swedish singer/songwriter
- Jesse Loof: Australian-born lawyer
- Oscar Loof: Swedish ice hockey player
- Anna Loof: Swedish Olympic softball player
- Staffan Loof: Swedish Olympic rider
- Robert Loof: Swedish football coach