Surname Lustig - Meaning and Origin
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Lustig: What does the surname Lustig mean?
The surname Lustig is an occupational surname primarily derived from the Middle High German words "lutscher" or "lustscher" which both mean "enjoyment or amusement". It generally refers to people who were entertainers - partakers in comic acts or storytelling. Thus, the surname would have originally been given to those who were performers on stage, such as musicians, jugglers, clowns, and acrobats. In Poland and Hungary, however, it is associated more broadly with the term “happy” or “mirthful”—the idea being that anyone with the last name was full of joy and fun.
In Germany, the surname Lustig was originally associated with itinerant players who traveled throughout Europe, giving performances at royal courts or acting in one of the frequently occurring fairs in the larger cities. The name became more widespread when performers set up shop in a certain city, often taking on the last name of the city in which it was performed. Over time, the meaning of the original surname became more genericized, eventually becoming associated with someone who was simply cheerful and entertaining.
Today, the last name Lustig is most common in German-speaking countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also seen widely in Eastern European countries like Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.
Order DNA origin analysisLustig: Where does the name Lustig come from?
The last name Lustig is most common among people of Central and Eastern European descent. It is particularly common in countries such as Austria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, and Switzerland. It is also found in countries where there was a large wave of Jewish immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
In the United States, states such as New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Florida have particularly high populations of those with the last name. In these states its popularity is due to the large population of Central and Eastern European immigrants who settled there during the 1900s.
Similarly, the United Kingdom has a large population of people with the last name Lustig. This is likely due to the large influx of Jewish immigrants to the area. Additionally, Canada has a significant population of those of Central and Eastern European ethnicity, resulting in a sizable number of the population having the surname.
Outside of Europe, the surname is also found in places such as South Africa, Australia, and other areas of the world where immigrants of various European backgrounds settled. It is rare in African countries due to a limited population of Central and Eastern European immigrants in those areas.
Overall, the last name Lustig is most common in Europe and areas of recent European immigration, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It is also found in other parts of the world, though in lower numbers.
Variations of the surname Lustig
The surname Lustig is an occupational name derived from the German word for “joyful” or “happy.” The surname appears with various spellings and is found in many European countries.
In Germany, the surname Lustig is found mainly in Prussia. Other variations of the name include Lustig, Luster, Luscher, Luschert, Luse, Lust, Lusz, and Lustern.
In the United States, Lustig has become anglicized as "Lester," "Luster," or "Lusten," among other variants. In some cases, the spelling has changed to "Lustiger." An example would be John R. Lustiger, who served as the White House press secretary during the administrations of Franklin D. Roosevelt through Harry S. Truman.
In England, variants of the name include Luzgar, Lusgar, Lugger, and “Lestrange.”
In France, the name is spelled “Lustig,” “Lustre,” or “Lusser.”
In Sweden, the surname is spelled “Lustig,” “Lustigt” or “Lustige.”
In Hungary and Austria, the name is spelled “Lustig” or “Lustigmann.”
In Lithuania, the surname is spelled “Lustog” or “Luste.”
In Poland, the surname is spelled “Lustig” or “Lustik.”
In Romania, the surname is spelled “Lustig,” “Lustic,” or “Lustyan.”
In Russia, the surname is spelled “Lustige.”
In the Czech Republic, variants include “Lustig,” “Lustigmann,” or “Lustek.”
Overall, the surname Lustig appears in many forms throughout Europe and its surrounding regions. It is still a common surname, especially in areas of German-speaking Europe.
Famous people with the name Lustig
- Nathan Lustig: Entrepreneur and venture fund manager.
- Santo Lustig: Romanian footballer.
- Maury Lustig: American actor and producer.
- Debora Lustig: Brazilian singer and songwriter.
- Nicolette Lustig: American actress, director and producer.
- Earl Matthew Lustig: American composer.
- Joseph Lustig: American painter.
- Alex Lustig: French DJ and producer.
- Larry Lustig: American composer and conductor.
- Estelle Lustig: American artist.
- Michael Lustig: British mathematician.
- Zdenek Lustig: Czech actor.
- Sarah Lustig: Brazilian swimmer.
- Saul Lustig: American physical chemist.
- Len Lustig: Canadian comedian.
- Joe Lustig: American film producer.
- Miki Lustig: Israeli cellist.
- Samuel Lustig: Austrian philosopher.
- Simon Lustig: German pianist.
- Robert Lustig: American pediatric endocrinologist.