Surname Leinenkugel - Meaning and Origin
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Leinenkugel: What does the surname Leinenkugel mean?
The last name Leinenkugel is a German occupational name meaning "linen maker". This name is derived from forming a combination of two words: Leinen meaning "linen" and Kugel meaning "maker". The surname was likely adopted by someone involved in the linen trade and is most likely found in areas of central Germany.
In addition to simply being the name of a surname, Leinenkugel also has a greater significance in German culture. The famous Leinenkugel family is famous for their work in the beer brewing industry. The brand, Leinenkugel's Brewing Company, was founded in 1867 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, in the United States. The Leinenkugel family brews a variety of beers, with some of their most popular brands being Creamy Dark, Original 1867, and Red Lite. The Leinenkugel's brands of beer have earned awards and medals at the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, and World Expo of Beer competitions.
Therefore, the last name Leinenkugel has two distinct meanings in the German culture. It is both an occupational name and the name of a famous beer-brewing dynasty. The Leinenkugel's Brewing Company has created some of the most popular and acclaimed beers in the world, honoring the legacy of the Leinenkugel family in both Germany and the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisLeinenkugel: Where does the name Leinenkugel come from?
The last name Leinenkugel is most commonly associated with the American beer brand, Leinenkugel Brewing Company, which is owned by MillerCoors. The brewery was founded in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin in 1867 and is the sixth-oldest family-owned brewery in the United States.
The origin of the Leinenkugel name is German, with 'leinenkugel' meaning 'linen pillow'. It is believed that the name was given to the family as a nickname. The Leinenkugel family moved to Wisconsin in the mid-19th century and established a brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
Today, the Leinenkugel name is commonly associated with the brewing company. The Leinenkugel family name is still strongly rooted to the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin area, as several family members continue to work for the brewery.
Outside of Wisconsin, the name Leinenkugel is not as common as it is within the state. However, it can be found in many places in the United States. The name is fairly popular in parts of the Midwest, such as Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan. It can also be found in nearby states, such as North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa. Additionally, the last name is quite popular in certain areas of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
Finally, many members of the Leinenkugel family have continued to move and now live in different parts of the United States. As a result, the Leinenkugel name can be found in most states in the US.
Variations of the surname Leinenkugel
The surname Leinenkugel is derived from the German phrase “Leinen-Kugel” meaning “linen ball.” This is indicative of the traditional weaving practice of making balls of linen yarn for spinning and weaving. Throughout Germany and other German speaking areas, the surname has variants, spellings, and other surnames with similar origins. The most common variations are Lennekugel, Lienekugel, Lenin-Kuegel, Lennykugel, and Linnankugel.
The original surname varied somewhat due to regional dialects and the old German alphabet, with letters like "ß" (replaced by "ss"), so other spellings of the surname found in records can be "Leinenckel," "Lenkugel," "Lienkugel," "Lenkügel," and "Linenckel."
In general, the surnames that are related to the Leinenkugel origin are those that start with “Lein” or “Lien,” such as Leinert, Leininger, Lionberg, Leinhauser, or Leinbach. Some of these surnames variations in language are created due to the strong pressures of assimilation, such as when families modified their surnames to be more fitting within the country they immigrated to. For example, some German emigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries changed the spelling of their original surname to better fit the English language -- thus a family named “Leinenberg” became the “Lennenberg” surname in English. Still other surname variations are created through transliteration.
Most of these variations of the Leinenkugel surname are mainly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other countries that have a tradition of speaking German. While the origin of the surname is long forgotten, the surname variation could provide valuable genealogical information to a researcher.
Famous people with the name Leinenkugel
- Jacob Leinenkugel: Chairmain of the board of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, a subsidiary of MillerCoors, and great-great-grandson of founder Jacob Leinenkugel.
- Dick Leinenkugel: Former Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Commuity Relations of MillerCoors. He has also worked as part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
- Martha Leinenkugel: Wife of previous MillerCoors CEO Tom Cardella and current member of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation Advisory Council.
- Chippewa Falls Leinenkugel: Founder of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company and namesake of the city of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
- Heinrich Leinenkugel: Cousin of Chippewa Falls Leinenkugel and brewmaster at the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company.
- Wendy Leinenkugel: Vice President of Leinenkugel marketing for MillerCoors and daughter of Dick Leinenkugel.
- Julia Leinenkugel: Executive Vice President of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, daughter of Dick Leinenkugel, and sister to Wendy Leinenkugel.
- Jake Leinenkugel: President of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, son of Dick Leinenkugel, and brother to Wendy and Julia Leinenkugel.