Surname Leen - Meaning and Origin
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Leen: What does the surname Leen mean?
The last name Leen is of Dutch origin and is believed to be derived from the Eyle family name. The surname is derived from an Old German word meaning 'Strong Person'. It is believed that Leen may also refer to an area in the Netherlands where the Eyle family lived.
The Leen surname is found mainly in the Netherlands, while it can also be traced back to other countries across Europe. Some members of the Leen family are said to have made their way into England during the Norman conquest in 1066AD.
The Leen family name is most commonly used as an occupational name, as it was popularly given to people employed as soldiers and the head of a household. However, there is also evidence of it being used as a patronymic surname, which is formed from the name of the father.
The Leen family is well known and respected in many places within the Netherlands, where it is recorded that its members were involved in charitable works and church establishments. In addition, they were also instrumental in fostering the growth of family businesses, breweries and inns.
In modern times, the Leen family name is still commonly used by the Dutch, as well as by people of other European origins. In addition, it can be found in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and other places around the world due to migration.
Order DNA origin analysisLeen: Where does the name Leen come from?
The last name Leen is found mainly in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavian countries. In recent times, the name has spread around the globe, with immigrants from Europe to other parts of the world.
In the United States of America, the last name Leen is viewed as being relatively rare. The 2000 United States Census records showed only 892 individuals with the Leen surname. The most common state in which the Leen surname is currently found is California, with a total of 248 individuals. Other popular states include Texas (118), New York (55), and Florida (49).
In the Netherlands, the last name Leen is fairly common, with populations in most major cities. Amsterdam has the highest number of Leen familiy members, as of 2020, with 960 individuals. Rotterdam and Utrecht follow behind with 521 and 349 individuals, respectively.
In the United Kingdom, the Leen surname is rare, with a population count of only 82 people. The large majority of these individuals are located in the London metropolitan area.
Overall, the last name Leen is most common in countries of European descent, but the population count is much lower in other parts of the world. Although the name may appear to be rare in many countries, it is still a relatively common surname when taking the global population into account.
Variations of the surname Leen
The surname Leen is an Anglicised form of an old Irish Gaelic surname, Ó Líonáin, originating from the clans found in County Mayo. It is alternately spelt as Ó Leannáin, Ó Lionáin, and other variations include Ó Laighin, Lalor, and Leyne.
In many parts of Ireland, since English was the primary language, O'Lionain was Anglicized to Leen and other spellings, and many families adopted this spelling to make them easier to pronounce.
In some cases, it can be seen spelled or abbreviated as simply Leon, Len and Linn, while other cases have added the letter 'g' to form Leon/Leong, Lenn/Leong, or Linn/Ling.
In Scotland, the Leen surname is also present, having come from Ulster in the 17th century through settlers who had left during the troubled times of the 1600s. This variant is usually spelled as Lane or Lyon.
The Leen surname is found in America, having been brought over by immigrants from Ireland in the mid-1800s. Here, it is sometimes spelled as Leen, Lyon, Lain, Layne, Lean, Lein, and Line.
No matter the spelling, the origin of the Leen name is firmly rooted in the O'Lionain surname of Ireland, revealing a proud association with the beautiful county of Mayo and its people.
Famous people with the name Leen
1. Ron Leen: Dutch cyclist and Olympic biker 2. Anton Leen: Dutch speed skater and Olympic medalist 3. Geert Leen: Dutch runner and Olympic medalist 4. Sander Leen: Dutch ballparker and multiple Olympic medalist 5. Stijn Leen: Dutch soccer player 6. Bruno Leen: Dutch handball player and Olympian 7. Jolanda de Leen: Dutch soccer player 8. Erik Leen: Dutch soccer player 9. Hans Leen: Dutch professional golfer 10. Willem Leen: Dutch footballer and coach 11. Jos Leen: Dutch professional golfer 12. Lars Leen: Dutch squash player 13. Charlotte Leen: Dutch model and presenter 14. Belinda Leen: Dutch artist and musician 15. Leen Bianchi: Dutch journalist 16. Wilma de Leen: Dutch children’s book author 17. Rinus Leen: Dutch Tae Kwon Do champion 18. Anne Lee: American choreographer and dancer 19. Bernadette Leen: Irish hurdler 20. Theodore Leen: American professor and historian