Surname Lütkewitte - Meaning and Origin
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Lütkewitte: What does the surname Lütkewitte mean?
The last name Lütkewitte is of German origin meaning ‘little white’. It is derived from the Middle Low German words 'lütke' and 'wit(te)'. The root word ‘Lütke’ roughly translates to ‘small’, ‘petite’, or ‘tiny’ and the root word ‘wit’ translates to ‘white’, ‘bright’, or ‘pure’. When combined, they form the surname ‘Lütkewitte’, which is a patronymic derived from a nickname of someone having some kind of association with something small and white.
The surname first emerged in the German states in the Middle Ages, and its early recordings can be found in Kiel. It’s possible it was first a nickname given to someone having a pale complexion, white hair, or a freckled face - all of these suggested a person who appeared ‘small and white’. Alternatively, it may have been a nickname given for someone with an albino appearance. It may also have arisen from a physical location or feature, with ‘Lütke’ referring to something small and ‘wit’ referring to a bright or white object in the area.
Throughout history, numerous variations of the ‘Lütkewitte’ surname have emerged, including Lutkewitte, Lütkewichte, Lütkenoge, Lütkeywhite, and Lütkeywight. It’s believed the Lütkewitte surname can be found most prominently in the lowlands of Germany and the country’s northern-most regions, such as Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It’s also possible the surname expanded with German immigrants who settled in North America in the 1700s and 1800s, as well as British immigrants who settled in Australia and New Zealand in the 1800s.
Order DNA origin analysisLütkewitte: Where does the name Lütkewitte come from?
The last name Lütkewitte is a German Low Saxon surname most commonly found in the northern parts of Germany as well as some parts of the Netherlands. It is believed to have originated from the Old Saxon personal name Luthewit, from which its variations (Lutkewit, Lutgewit, Lüdgewit, and Lüdkewit) have also been derived. The name is most commonly found in and around the city of Leer (Oldenburg), a town on the Lower Saxon-Dutch border.
Today, Lütkewitte is most commonly found in northern Germany and the Netherlands. The surname is particularly common in the border between the two countries and can be found in cities such as Emden, Delfzijl, and Oldenburg, as well as in some towns in the Netherlands. The name is also quite prominent in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region, the most populous state in the country. In addition, it is also sometimes seen in East Frisia and other parts of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony.
Given its Germanic roots, the name has spread across Europe, including to countries like Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, and France. It is also occasionally seen in the United States, where it is somewhat rare but is often associated with German immigration in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Overall, today the last name Lütkewitte remains relatively localized to northern Germany and the Netherlands, though individuals bearing the name can also be found in other countries throughout Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Lütkewitte
The surname Lütkewitte is a German surname derived from the ancestor's place of residence. It is derived from the terms Lütke, meaning 'little' and Witte, meaning 'white' or 'cottage'. Based on this, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Lütkewitte include Lütkewiete, Lütkewitte, Lütkewidde, Lütkewiede, Lütkewû, Lutkewitte, Lutkewiete, Lutkewitte, Lutkewidde, Lutkewiede, Lutkewû, Lütkenwitte, Lütkenwiete, Lütkenwitte, Lütkenwidde, Lütkenwiede, Lütkenwû, Lutkenwitte, Lutkenwiete, Lutkenwitte, Lutkenwidde, Lutkenwiede, Lutkenwû, Lütkewit, Lutkewit, Lütkenwit, and Lutkenwit.
The variants of this surname can also be broken down in a number of ways. There are several ways in which the spelling of the surname has been changed, for example by replacing the "ü" with "u", the "e" with "i", or the "w" with "v". This has resulted in spellings such as Lütkevitte, Lutkevitte, Lütkeviete, Lutkeviete, Lütkevit, Lutkevit, Lütkevidde, Lutkevidde, Lütkeviede, Lutkeviede, Lütkevû, and Lutkevû.
There are also surnames of the same origin but with different spelling, which can be derived from the original surname by adding, removing or changing individual letters, including Lüttkewitte, Lüttkewitte, Luttkewitte, Luttkewitte, Lüttkewit, Luttkewit, Lüetkewitte, Lüetkewitte, Lueetkewitte, Lueetkewitte, Lüetkewit, and Lueetkewit.
In summary, there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Lütkewitte, which often involve a combination of changing the spelling of individual letters, as well as adding, removing or changing individual letters.
Famous people with the name Lütkewitte
- Britta Lütkewitte, German politician
- Christian Lütkewitte, German field hockey player
- Dave Lütkewitte, American clarinetist and jazz educator
- Fritz Lütkewitte, German football player
- Johannes Lütkewitte, German literary historian and Professor of German Studies
- Julius Lütkewitte, German photographer
- Manuel Lütkewitte, German actor
- Simon Lütkewitte, German bass guitarist and music producer
- Wilhelm Lütkewitte, German rower