Surname Lederhausen - Meaning and Origin

Lederhausen: What does the surname Lederhausen mean?

The last name Lederhausen is derived from the German words "Leder" (leather) and "Haus" (house). In its original form, the name represented a family, once likely of German descent, who had a home with a leather business. The business may have been a tannery, a workshop that made or repaired items made of leather, or some other related type of establishment.

The name itself wasn’t common in Germany until the 15th century. Following the Thirty Years' War in the early 1600s, which devastated much of Germany's infrastructure, many Lederhausen families immigrated to other countries including the United States. Consequently, there are now Lederhausen families around the world.

Having a business in leather craft often led to success for those who already had skills. The name was also a sign of distinction, as owning a business of any kind was not easy. It was indicative that a family, and later individual, was affluent enough and had the necessary skills to maintain a successful business.

Today, the Lederhausen name is likely most associated with Germany thanks to its roots. With so many variations of the surname, including Ledenhausen, Lenderhausen, Linterhausen, and Lentzehausen, it’s no wonder the surname has become such a global phenomenon.

Lederhausen: Where does the name Lederhausen come from?

The last name Lederhausen is most commonly found in the regions of Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands. Records of the Lederhausen surname date as far back as the 14th century in Germany, which is also where the majority of modern bearers of the name live.

In Germany, the Lederhausen surname can be found in the Baden-Württemberg and Bavarian regions, with larger populations in the larger cities such as Munich and Stuttgart. This familial line was associated primarily with farming and timber industries for many generations.

In Austria, Lederhausen is located in the Lower Austria region, where many have migrated to other larger cities for work.

In the Netherlands, Lederhausen is primarily located in the province of Zeeland and the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Many living in the Netherlands with the Lederhausen surname are descendants of those who emigrated from Germany and Austria in the late 19th century.

Today, many of the people bearing the Lederhauer name are entrepreneurs, white-collar professionals, and other highly educated members of the middle class. Those who still engage in farming and timber industries are likely second-generation or later, descendants of those original inhabitants of the German, Austrian, and Dutch regions.

Variations of the surname Lederhausen

The origins of the surname Lederhausen can trace back to Germany, where it is thought to have been derived from the middle Low German word "lederhuse", which translates to either "tanning house" or "leather house". However, over time the surname has evolved and variations, misspellings, and alternate spellings have been found to include:

Lederhaus, Ledrihaus, Ledrias, Ledheid, Ledemhausen, Ledenhause, Ledenhausen, Ledenhauo, Ledenhaus, Lederhoose, Lederouse, Ledderhausen, Ledderhause, Ledderhaus, Ledderhoose, Leidkerhausen, Leedderhausen, Leedkerhause, Leedkerhaus, Lederhause, Lederhausen, Lederhause, Lederoausen, Lederouse, and Leidkerhausen.

It's also worth noting that some people may have also adopted a hyphenated version of their original surname, such as Leder-Hausen. The use of a hyphen proves popular amongst many Germanic surnames as a means to avoid confusion and simplify pronunciation, especially when the initial letter of the second word is overly-silent.

As is the case with all surnames, the Lederhausen name is likely to have evolved and adapted to the countries it has spread to and the families that have adopted it. Despite this, the origin of the surname remains the same, with further research likely required to uncover any further variations or spellings of Lederhausen.

Famous people with the name Lederhausen

• Max Lederhausen: Entrepreneur, Venture Capital Investor, and Angel Investor
• Henning Lederhausen: Tax Law Professor
• Gregor Lederhausen: German professional footballer
• Helmut Lederhausen: Music Producer
• Adolf Lederhausen: Writer
• Sascha Lederhausen: Artist and Paintings Restorer
• Rainer Lederhausen: Mining Engineer
• Reinhard Lederhausen: Chief Financial Officer
• Werner Lederhausen: Music Director
• Haiko Lederhausen: Social Entrepreneur

Other surnames

Lederhaus