Surname Luther - Meaning and Origin

Tracing the Luther Lineage: An Enlightening Journey Through iGENEA DNA Analysis

iGENEA's DNA analysis provides an extraordinary journey back in time, tracing the story of the surname Luther. From Central European origins to a proud lineage that spans centuries, the test unravels the diverse tapestry of history, migration and health genetics associated with the Luther family.

Z. Luther

Luther: What does the surname Luther mean?

The surname Luther is of German origin, derived from the given name Luther from the Old German "liut-her", which is a compound of "liut", meaning people, and "heri", meaning army. Thus, the implied meaning is "people's army". This last name is most famously associated with Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation. Also, it could possibly be an occupational name derived from the word "lute", indicating a lute player. The name is prevalent in Germany and the United States. However, the meanings of surnames can often vary based on region and time in history, and therefore it might differ in other contexts.

Luther: Where does the name Luther come from?

The last name Luther originates from Germany, and it is considered to be a topographic surname. It is derived from the Old German word "liut," which means "people," and the suffix "her," which implies aristocratic status or leadership. This surname was popularized by Martin Luther, the theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.

Today, the surname Luther is commonly found in the United States, particularly in the Midwestern states where a significant portion of the population has German ancestry due to historical immigration patterns. Besides the United States, the surname Luther has a presence in Germany and other countries with a history of German immigration, such as Canada, Brazil, and Australia. It is also relatively common in some countries in Africa because of the influence of Lutheran missionaries, most notably in Namibia, which was a German colony. According to recent statistics, the United States has the highest concentration of people bearing the Luther surname.

Variations of the surname Luther

The surname Luther has several variants and alternative spellings derived from multiple languages, particularly English and German. It originates from the pre 7th century Olde French "luitier" or the Olde High German "liut-heri". These names were originally introduced into Britain by the Normans after the 1066 conquest.

Some of this surname's forms include: Luthar, Luter, Luther, Lother, Lutter, Luthard, Luthardt, and Luthy. Some surnames that can be considered variants due to derivation from the same root or meaning include Leuter and Leuther.

The surname has also been interpreted as a professional surname for a lute player or maker, as "lute" in German is spelled "laute", which closely resembles "luther".

The most notable figure with the surname Luther was Martin Luther, the German theologian who led the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. There are also many variations of surnames that were influenced by him as a homage, such as Martens, Martinson, Martinelli, and Martin.

It's important to note that exact spelling variants can vary widely due to the multitude of languages involved and respective changes in alphabets and phonetics. Regional differences in pronunciation and spelling can create further variants of the surname Luther.

Famous people with the name Luther

• Martin Luther: Reformation figure and German monk
• John Luther: British actor
• Ruby Luther: American actor
• Kurt Luther: American computer scientist and professor
• Matt Luther: American actor and singer
• Jillian Luther: Canadian basketball player
• Tim Luther: American actor
• Dick Luther: American jazz musician
• Tiger Luther: American football player
• Nick Luther: American golfer
• Kelly Luther: American professional golfer
• Amber Luther: American singer and songwriter
• Melissa Luther: Canadian real estate agent
• Brad Luther: American baseball player
• Paul Luther: American Olympic athlete
• Mark Luther: American political scientist
• Julie Luther: American doctor and author
• Don Luther: American journalist
• Robert Luther: American football player
• Charlie Luther: American baseball player

Other surnames

LutheLütheLutheranLutherdtLuthererLuthermannLuthers