Surname von der Laaken - Meaning and Origin
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von der Laaken: What does the surname von der Laaken mean?
The last name von der Laaken is a German name that originated from a place-name indicating that a family hailed from the region surrounding the river Laak. It is of topographic origin and derived from Middle High German la "lake" or "moat" andaken "the embankment".
In the past, German surnames would often originate from a place-name, often with the preposition "von" or "from". Thus, von der Laaken indicates that a family had origins in the area of the Laak river, either having lived near it or being related to a person located near it.
The surname is typically found in northern Germany, specifically North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhine–Ruhr area. The name was already documented in the 13th century in Germany, with the earliest recorded instance being of a W. de Lakeh of Paderborn.
The last name is still popular in the area with over 3,400 people bearing the surname living there. It’s likely that the surname was brought over to other countries with German immigrants, notably the United States, where there are currently 1,458 people recorded as having the surname von der Laaken.
Order DNA origin analysisvon der Laaken: Where does the name von der Laaken come from?
The surname 'von der Laaken' is an old German name of noble origin, and is not as common today as it once was. It is still found mainly in Germany, although it may also be encountered in Austria, Switzerland and other parts of Europe, as well as countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand where German migrants and their descendants have settled.
The earliest known bearer of the name is recorded in the records of the family of von der Laaken in 1359. By the 17th century, the name was established in the Masuren region of northern Germany. The exact location of the original estate of the family is unknown, but it is thought to have been located in the present-day German state of Brandenburg.
Today, the von der Laaken surname is fairly rare but can still be found in many parts of Germany. Specifically, more members of the family can be found in the Masuren region where the name originates, as well as around Berlin, Hamburg, and the eastern provinces, such as Mecklenburg and Schleswig-Holstein.
In addition to Germany, where many bearers of the name today are descended from the original settlers of the Masuren region, variations of the surname can also be found amongst the German diaspora around the world, such as in the United States, where numerous descendants of German immigrants have taken on the name or similar variants.
Variations of the surname von der Laaken
The variants, spellings and surnames of von der Laaken can be categorized into three distinct variations.
The first variation is von Laaken. This spelling mainly covers the Upper Rhineland areas in Germany and the Netherlands. This spelling implies that the family originated from a long standing noble lineage, denoting a high standing in society.
The second variation is de Laaken. This spelling is commonly found in the Netherlands as it is the Dutch equivalent of the German 5th case in lieu of von. This spelling implies that the family has a substantial history in the region as well as possible links to nobility.
The third variation is Van der Laaken. This spelling is the most common due to it being used in the Netherlands and Germany. This spelling covers those who are descended from nobles as well as those of umlaut-free lines.
These three variations are often accompanied by variant spellings of the surname. Examples include Laaken, Laaknin, Der Laaken, van der Laaken, van der Laaken and vonderlaaken.
Each of the above items primarily refer to the same origin of the surname von der Laaken. Families of the same ancestry can be easily recognized due to the same general naming styles and patterns, although slight variations may exist.
Famous people with the name von der Laaken
- Prince Carl Philipp von der Laaken, German royal family member
- Major Fritz Lotz von der Laaken, World War I officer
- Frederica of Prussia, wife of Carl Philipp von der Laaken
- Emil Barthel von der Laaken, German politician
- Ishard Fritz von der Laaken, German politician
- Erich von der Laaken, German sculptor
- Arthur von der Laaken, German businessman
- Rudolf von der Laaken, Prussian soldier
- Alexander von der Laaken, Prussian soldier
- Heinrich von der Laaken, Prussian soldier
- Tony von der Laaken, German actor
- Rudolf von der Laaken, German author