Surname Van Luven - Meaning and Origin
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Van Luven: What does the surname Van Luven mean?
The surname Van Luven is of Dutch origin. The prefix "Van" in Dutch surnames typically translates to "from" in English, suggesting geographical origin, possibly indicating that the ancestors of the Van Luven family came from a place called Luven. However, it's important to note that the exact place called Luven doesn't seem to exist in contemporary maps of the Netherlands or Belgium. It could be a variation of the town of Leuven, which is a Dutch-speaking city in Belgium's Flemish region. Therefore, the surname Van Luven would mean "from Luven" or "from Leuven". Like many European surnames, it serves as a representation of family lineage and ancestral roots. Such names became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation, and they are a way of distinguishing people who would otherwise share the same first name.
Order DNA origin analysisVan Luven: Where does the name Van Luven come from?
The last name Van Luven is most common in western Canada and the northwestern United States. Van Luven is thought to be a French-Canadian surname, and is found primarily in Quebec and the Maritime provinces.
Van Luven is also found in considerable numbers in the states of Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio. During the mid-19th and early 20th century, many French-Canadians left the Maritimes and Quebec in search of better economic opportunities in the Midwest US and Ontario. Hence, the name is relatively present in these areas.
The Van Luven family also made its way to the rugged coastlines and fertile valleys of British Columbia. This migration likely happened in the early 20th century, similar to other French-Canadians leaving the Maritimes.
In Alberta and Saskatchewan, Van Luven is much less common. However, there are quite a few families in Manitoba, where many of the early Metis settlers lived. Van Luven is also present in USA and Europe, but these numbers are much smaller in comparison.
Ultimately, the Van Luven name is most common in the provinces of Quebec and the Maritimes, as well as the Midwestern US. It is also present in smaller numbers in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. It is also found in the USA and Europe, although the population is much smaller.
Variations of the surname Van Luven
The surname Van Luven is an Anglicized version of the Dutch surname Van Luyven. It is an extremely rare surname, mostly found in the United States. Other variants of the surname include Van Luwin, Van Louwin, Van Louven, van Luvens, and even van Looven.
Van Luvens is probably the most common spelling of the name in the United States. The name is thought to have meant “son of Lovin” or “son of Love”, based on the Dutch origin. The root of the name “Lovin” is a variation of the Germanic given name “Liaf”, which was a popular name in medieval times. The name is also thought to have Anglo-Saxon roots, which would connect it to the original spelling of “Lufan”, meaning “beloved one”.
The name could also be derived from the Dutch locational surname, meaning “from Luyven”. In this case, it could be associated with a place with the same name in either the Netherlands or Belgium. Especially in the Netherlands, this is a rare surname; there is only one known family in the Netherlands with this surname.
In some cases, the surname could be the Dutch variation of “Löwen”, which is based on a Biblical reference to a “lion”. The variant spelling of “Louwin” is probably the closest to this origin.
In conclusion, Van Luven is a rare surname found mostly in the United States. Variants of this surname include Van Luwin, Van Louwin, Van Louven, van Luvens, and van Looven and were likely derived from either Dutch or Anglo-Saxon given names, a locational Dutch surname, or the Dutch variation of “Löwen”.
Famous people with the name Van Luven
- Don Van Luven: an American politician from the State of Idaho, who served as the 25th Lieutenant Governor of Idaho from 1967 to 1971.
- Lance Van Luven: Canadian voice actor who has lent his voice to several animated roles such as Drake from Drake & Josh and Flain from Mixels.
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr.: retired American professional basketball player and former president of basketball operations of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Magic Johnson's maternal grandfather is John C. Van Luven.
- Ed Van Luven: American animator best known for his work on The Simpsons, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Camp Lazlo, and The Boondocks.
- Frank Van Luven: Belgian film director, known for television films such as Proxima and the comedy De Club Molecule released in 2005.
- Steve Van Luven: an American voice actor and former magician, best known for his roles on various Cartoon Network series such as I.M. Weasel, Johnny Test, Cow and Chicken, Camp Lazlo, and Ben 10.
- David Van Luven: a Canadian actor best known for his work in Canadian television series and films, such as Cheerleader Massacre and the television series 4Teen.
- Dan Van Luven: an American filmmaker and photographer, mainly known for his photography and the documentary Beyond The Frame released in 2019.
- Eric Van Luven: American writer, best known for comic books and his novel Wicked in Love released in 1994.
- Tony Van Luven: a Dutch DJ and producer associated with Hardstyle and Hardcore music.