Surname von Loeben - Meaning and Origin
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von Loeben: What does the surname von Loeben mean?
The surname von Loeben is a German name, derived from the Middle High German term "lewe," meaning lion. It was historically used as a surname for people from noble or privileged families, often referring to a coat of arms which depicted a lion.
The surname von Loeben is associated with a prominent German military family the 'Loeben von Loeffelholz', who belonged to the 'knightly house' or nobility. The family can be traced back to the 13th century, when Freiherr Franz Dietrich von Loeben worked for Emperor Frederick II before being denied a noble title.
As the family spread geographically, they adopted different versions of the von Loeben name, including Loewe, Leue, Liebe, Lieben and Loeffelholz. As the centuries went on, the last name gradually became more widespread and today exists in various regions globally.
Today, the name von Loeben carries a significant amount of prestige and is still associated with various members of the German nobility. It is a reminder of the long and distinguished history of this noble family and their legacy of service.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Loeben: Where does the name von Loeben come from?
The last name von Loeben is relatively uncommon today, particularly outside of Germany. Initially, the name was derived from a German noble family of the same last name in the late medieval period.
The von Loeben family can be traced as far back as 1407 in the city of Erfurt located in modern-day Thuringia, Germany. The most prominent member of the family was Gebhardt II von Loeben who served as Bishop of the city in the 15th century.
The von Loebens remained in Thuringia throughout the centuries until World War I when their lands were confiscated and divided. The family members then dispersed to various parts of Germany, including Berlin and the Rhineland area.
Today, there are still von Loebens living in Germany but focusing on regions nearer to Thuringia, such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Due to their shared influence from the nobility, some von Loebens have married into other noble families, such as the von Stubens and the von Schelining families.
The von Loeben name has also spread into other countries such as France, Czechoslovakia, the Netherlands, and the United States. However, those with direct ties to the original noble family still remain in Germany.
Variations of the surname von Loeben
Von Loeben is a German surname emanating from the Middle Ages. It is primarily a family name of nobility, as it carries the heraldric prefix, "von," which refers to noble lineage or ownership of land. This surname has many variants and spellings, including: Loeben, Löben, Loben, Löbin, Lueben, Luebin, Lehben, Lehbin, Loebbin, Loebling, Löblin, Löbling. Occasionally, a more Anglicized spelling of this name is presented, as Loeban. It is possible that the surname may have been shortened in some cases, resulting in variants such as Loeb and Löb.
In some cases the von Loeben surname has been associated with other surname spellings. One such example is Loebenstein, a name which combines the Loeben and Stein surnames. This surname is a derivative of Loeben that was likely adopted to signify a particular branch or line of the family.
Another variation of the surname is von Loebenheimer/Loebenheimer, which combines von Loeben with the surname element -heimer (home or related to the home). This could suggest ownership of a specific dwelling (such as a castle).
Moreover, other variations of this name can be found, such as von Löwen/Löwen, Löbinger, Loeber, Loewe, von Lobenstein, Lobinger, Lobes, and Lobinski. These surnames often appear in records referring to certain communities or regions in which they originally settled.
Famous people with the name von Loeben
- Franz von Loeben (1841–1917), Austrian writer
- Carl Siebel von Loeben (1710–1762), Prussian poet
- Johann von Loeben (1709–1767), Prussian jurist
- Johann Philip von Loeben (1708-1768), Prussian composer
- Carl von Loeben (1683-1762), Prussian businessman
- Johann Caspar von Loeben (1667-1732), Prussian diplomat
- August Friedrich von Loeben (1644-1690), Prussian military commander
- Leonhard von Loeben (1642-1720), Prussian General
- Hans Caspar von Loeben (1583-1646), Prussian lawyer
- Christoph von Loeben (1539-1596), Prussian politician