Surname Looß - Meaning and Origin

Looß: What does the surname Looß mean?

The last name Looß is of Germanic origin and is believed to have been derived from an old Germanic personal name, Lowis, which translates to “renown warrior”. Alternately, the name could have been derived from a place name in Germany. It is also found in some current German surnames, such as Lohse and Loos.

In its various forms, the last name Looß is often used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. According to surname distribution maps, it is most common in the northern and eastern regions of Germany. It is also found in parts of the Czech Republic and Hungary. Over the centuries, the surname has variously been pronounced as LOO-se, LO-se, LO-es, and LUCH-se, though LOOS is its most recognized form.

There appears to be a sizable population of people with the surname Looß in the United States as well, as a result of Germanic immigration. A quick search of surnames in America reveal Looß families concentrated heavily in the midwestern states, such as Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana.

Overall, the last name Looß is a proud Germanic name that evokes a warrior-like strength of spirit and character. Despite its various origins, it stands for a rich history and heritage among its numerous bearers today.

Looß: Where does the name Looß come from?

The last name Looß is a German surname that has origins in the regions of Silesia and West Prussia, which are now parts of Poland. It has also been found concentrated in some areas of the Czech Republic, although it is largely thought to be extinct in either of these places. The Last name is, however, still common today in Germany. The concentration of people named Looß is highest in the state of Hesse, where there are around 3,000-4,000 people with the surname, most of whom live in the urban areas of Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Mainz. Looß is also a common surname in Bavaria, where over 1,200 people are found throughout the state. Other parts of Germany in which the surname is found include Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württemberg, although in lower numbers. There is even an instance of the surname in the U.S., with a small group of individuals living in the west-central part of Minnesota, the result of a single family emigrating from Germany in the mid-19th century. Overall, the surname Looß is still relatively common today in Germany.

Variations of the surname Looß

The surname Looß (or Loos) is a spelling variation of the German name Löhß. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German loh, meaning ‘barn,’ and the suffix -ß, which implies ‘servant.’ As a result, this surname originated from someone who worked as a servant or laborer in a barn.

The variants, spellings, and surnames within the same origin for Looß/Loos are numerous. In German, it is spelled as Löhß, Lohs, Loes, Löhs, Lohss, Lohß, and Lohns. Other forms from Germany include Loose, Loosem, Losse, Lossem, and Lohes. Furthermore, German-speaking countries such as Austria and Hungary have alternative spellings for the same name such as Laus, Lohsz, and Lohse.

The name also appears in different spellings after immigration. In the United States, for instance, family names such as Lohs, Losh, Loss, and Luss have been adopted by the descendants of those with the original surname after leaving Germany. Other surnames from the same origin include Loawe, Looses, Lohjes, Low, Loll, Lahs, and Lauss.

The surname Löhß (Looß/Loos) is relatively widespread in the German language, and its variants and other surnames that share the same origin can be found in a majority of German-speaking countries and other countries with German immigrant populations.

Famous people with the name Looß

• Gustav Looß: Austrian actor and director
• Oskar Looß: German author, film director and screenwriter
• Stefan Looß: German ice hockey player
• Heinz Looß: Austrian ski jumper
• Annemarie Looß: German film director
• Wolfgang Looß: Austrian visual artist
• Jeannot Looß: Austrian actor, singer and musician
• Jörg Looß: German boxer and coach
• Gábor Looß: Hungarian footballer
• Fabian Looß: German actor, composer and music producer
• Pierre Looß: French sculptor, art historian, curator and arts councilor
• Helen Looß: Dutch singer and songwriter
• Emil Looß: Austrian figure skater
• Christian Looß: Swiss journalist
• Johannes Looß: German racing cyclist
• Manu Looß: German footballer
• Harry Looß: Austrian skier
• Wilhelm Looß: German ski jumper
• Utz Looß: German writer
• Carlos Looß: Spanish footballer

Other surnames

LooßeLooßmann