Surname Lemmings - Meaning and Origin

Lemmings: What does the surname Lemmings mean?

The last name Lemmings is an occupational surname derived from the Middle English word “leuing” which meant leech or physician. By the early Middle Ages, this word had come to refer to a person who was a specialist in natural remedies and medications. The name Lemmings was likely adopted as a surname by a family who had either practiced this profession as a hereditary trade, or more likely, had a family member associated with it.

The term “Lemming” is also associated with a small species of rodent from the genus Lemmus, native to the Arctic tundra of Scandinavia, Russia, and Canada. The arctic lemming species has a population that dramatically fluctuates in cycles of 3 to 4 years. Their penchant for mass migrations, during which many of them drown trying to cross large bodies of water, spawned the phrase “the lemming effect”, which is used to describe a situation when a large group of people follow a trend without independent thought or analysis.

Historically, the surname Lemmings may be derived from either of these two associations. However, neither of these explanations can be conclusively demonstrated. The most likely origin of the surname is that it was adopted as a surname by someone associated with the profession of leech or physician.

Lemmings: Where does the name Lemmings come from?

The last name 'Lemmings' is a fairly uncommon last name these days, and can be found throughout multiple countries, including in English-speaking regions as well as in other parts of Europe. In England, the name is most common in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire.

It is also found amongst some Scottish people, though it is not as prevalent as in England. In Germany and Austria, the name mainly originates from older generations of immigrants, though there may still be a few people in these countries who bear the last name Lemmings.

The name is present in the United States, too, though here it is possibly even rarer than in Europe. Census records from 2009 to 2018 reveal that the population of people with the last name Lemmings hovers at between sixty-eight and one hundred sixteen individuals during this time frame.

In America, people with the last name Lemmings are more likely to be found in urban centers rather than rural areas. It is believed that the majority of Lemmings in the United States are descendants of those who arrived from Europe in earlier centuries.

The last name Lemmings may be uncommon today in many places, but it is still found amongst a few people around the world.

Variations of the surname Lemmings

The surname Lemmings is an English derivative that dates back to medieval times. It is thought to be of occupational or descriptive origin, derived from the Old English leman, also spelt in the Middle English form lemman, and referring to someone who is in charge of a household or estate.

Variants and alternate spellings of the surname Lemmings include Lemon, Lemons, Lemonge, Lemmine, Lemman, Lemmon, Lemmings, Lemmen, Leymond, Llewming, Lewmon, Lemmons, and Lyman.

It is believed that the surname Lemmings was also a patronymic name, which meant "son of Lem". So the surname could also refer to the children of Lemmings, with the surnames of Leman, Lemminge, Lemmine, Lemmon, Lemmons, Llewming, Lewmon and Lyman possibly deriving from it.

In Scotland, the surname could also have derived from the Scottish clan clan "Lemming". This clan would have been composed of a group of families who were descendants of Leonard Leming, who lived in the 12th century.

In Ireland, the spelling of the surname Lemmings may have been changed over the years due to different dialects of the language. Variants of this surname include "Lemonge", "Lemmon", and "Lemme".

As a last name, Lemmings has spread all over the world. It can be found in countries such as Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, South Africa, United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

Famous people with the name Lemmings

• Justin Lemmings: Professional racing cyclist based in Australia
• Jules Lemmings: Dutch television host and entrepreneur
• Viljami Lemmings: Finnish footballer
• Jayme Lemmings: American film director and producer
• Stephen Lemmings: British diplomat and former Ambassador to Lebanon
• Joe Lemmings: Canadian Award-winning visual effects supervisor
• Bob Lemmings: English professional football player
• Arturo Lemmings: French Hip Hop producer
• Paul Lemmings: Belgium-born equity investor
• Bill Lemmings: Former member of the Texas Senate

Other surnames

Lemming