Surname Lorrain - Meaning and Origin

Lorrain: What does the surname Lorrain mean?

The last name Lorrain is French in origin and derives from the place of Lorraine, an area which is situated in both France and Germany. The name is derived from the Latin word "Lotharingia" which means "land of the people of Lothar". Lothar was an ancient German king in the Middle Ages.

The surname first appeared in documents dating as far back as the 13th century, when it was defined as an area rather than an inherited surname. Over time, the name began to spread across Europe and is now found in many countries, particularly in America, Canada and Australia.

The name Lorrain is highly associated with French culture, but it can also be found in Germany, England, and Belgium as well. In its simplest form, Lorrain means “of Lorraine”, which is a region between France and Germany, nestled in the hills and plains of the Middle Rhine.

Many people who have the surname Lorrain are of French descent, but the diversity of countries where the name is found indicates a much broader ancestry. The accuracy of a person’s relationship to the region of Lorraine depends entirely on an individual’s family history.

Lorrain: Where does the name Lorrain come from?

The last name Lorrain, derived from a French region of the same name, is today most commonly found in the United States. According to the 2020 US Census, a search found Lorrain in 5,146 households. In other parts of the world, it is also commonly found in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and other former French colonies such as Ivory Coast and Haiti.

The origin of the last name Lorrain can be traced to the French province of Lorraine, located in the northeast corner of the nation and bordering Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. The region was historically part of the Kingdom of Lotharingia and was politically and culturally significant throughout the Middle Ages. It was also known as a major battle site during the World Wars and is home to a number of distinct cultural and linguistic dialects.

The surname Lorrain can be found in historical documents as far back as 1130. The most popular first names of those with the surname Lorrain vary by country, with William and Stephen popular in the US and the UK, while Louis, Jean, and Pierre are used more frequently in France.

The name Lorrain still holds a strong association with the historic region of the same name and retains a unique meaning for many people of French descent. It has a special place in the hearts of those who proudly call the region home, as well as those who have spread the surname elsewhere in the world.

Variations of the surname Lorrain

The surname Lorrain is a French surname, pointing to someone from Lorraine, a historical region in the northeast of modern day France. The variants of this name are Lorrain, Lorrainy, Lorren, Lorray, Loroire, Lorroy, Laorraine, Lorette, Loret, Lorentz, Lorentzen and Larraine.

Several variations can be seen in the spelling of the surname. The most common variant is Lorrain with a single 'r' as seen in French spelling and pronunciation. Lorrainy and Lorroy are two of the variants where double 'r' is used.

The spelling of the surname changes country to country. The variant 'Larraine' is common amongst people with this surname living in United States and the British Isles while the variant 'Lorette' is more prominent in France. The 'Lorentz' and 'Lorentzen' variants can be seen amongst people living in Germany and Scandinavia.

Surname variants are also used to distinguish people who are related. This name has many familial variants including but not limited to Loret, Lorentz and Lorentzen. These happen to be variations, or alternate spellings of the same name, used to distinguish one family line from another.

Overall, the surname Lorrain is derived from a region in northeast France, and there are a multitude of spelling variants depending on the country of origin. The variants are often used to distinguish one family line from another.

Famous people with the name Lorrain

• Jean Baptiste Lorrain (1950-2012): French jazz musician
• François Lorrain (1512–1588): French Baroque painter
• Charles de Lorraine (1712–1780): Duke of Lorraine
• Francois Lorieux de Lorraine (1720–1790): French sculptor
• Camille Lorrain (1790–1859): French architect
• Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780–1867): French painter
• Édouard-Germain Hubert de Lorraine (1848–1914): French general
• Pierre Lorrain (1871–1945): French painter
• Charles Lorrain-Smith (1876–1968): Canadian businessman
• François Lorrain (1921–2001): French writer
• Fabienne Lorrain (born 1971): French author and international public relations officer.
• Pierre-Edouard Lorrain (born 1968): French television writer and producer
• Géraldine de Lorraine (born 1969): French singer

Other surnames

Lörracher