Surname Losinger - Meaning and Origin
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Losinger: What does the surname Losinger mean?
The surname Losinger originates from the Middle High German noun "lûseger," which has the same roots as lûsen, meaning "loose." Later, lûseger evolved into the Middle High German words lôsinger, lösiger, and losyer. These passaged into the various forms of the modern-day surname, including Losinger.
Little is known of its early history, but we do know it was a popular surname among German-speaking Protestants in the medieval period, likely due to its biblical reference to looseness. It is thought that the parents of bearers of this surname wanted their offspring to exemplify a loose and generous attitude towards others.
The earliest historical mention of the surname dates back to the thirteenth century when Dutch priest Johannes Losinger was listed as one of the faithful supporters of Maximilian I., Roman-German king and Holy Roman Emperor from 1508 to 1519.
Throughout the following centuries, the Losinger surname was found among families in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Its most famous bearer was Swiss theologian Johann Jakob Losinger, who studied at Cambridge in England in the early 19th century.
Today the surname is still fairly common in parts of Europe, with around 4,500 people bearing the name. It is a reminder of the generous, open spirit of the people who brought it to us centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisLosinger: Where does the name Losinger come from?
The last name “Losinger” is a surname of French origin. This last name is most commonly found in the northern regions of France, and in particular in Normandy and Picardy. The Losinger surname is beginning to spread beyond France’s borders, with small pockets of the name appearing in Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg. In the United States, the last name of Losinger is primarily found in the states of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
According to the 1990 United States census, there were approximately 300 individuals who held the Losinger surname living in the United States. Of these 300 individuals, the greatest concentration was found in Michigan. Other states that made up the top five are Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts.
The Losinger last name continues to expand in different parts of the world. Recent records have indicated that the name has also spread to countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. While the numbers of individuals with this last name outside of France are still relatively small, this number is growing steadily over time.
Variations of the surname Losinger
The surname Losinger is a rare European name of Germanic origin, with its earliest known use appearing in the late medieval period in the Rhineland region. It is derived from the personal name Louwensing and is related to the Low German personal names Lewe and Lewin. Its two variants are Löwensinger and Lewensinger, while its most common spellings include Lösing, Lohsing, Loosing, and Luesing.
In some regions, the name has been modified to Losinger, Lossinger, Losinger, Lassingger, and Layson, owing to gradual shifts in dialect over the centuries. The German surname is often associated with the spellings Loewenstein and Loewensteiner. Individuals bearing the surname Losinger are believed to have descended from a Frankish noble family who moved their residence toVille in present-day France due to religious persecution of Jews in the late 15th century.
The name has also spread to the United States, where those of German background brought it with them. In America, those with the surname Losinger can be found living mostly in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. It has been noted that several immigrants have modified the spelling to Losinger in recent years, likely to delegate their German identity and emphasizes their American assimilation.
Regardless of spelling or geographical origin, all of these variants - Löwensinger, Losinger, Lossinger, Lewensinger, Losinger, Lassingger, Layson, Loewenstein, and Loewensteiner - all share a common origin and have a related history.
Famous people with the name Losinger
- Brian Losinger: a Los Angeles based actor, writer, comedian, and producer.
- Tom Losinger: a retired professional soccer player.
- Bill Losinger: a professional bear trainer.
- Jimmy Losinger: an integral part of the Chicago Blues Scene in the 1950s as a saxophone player.
- Marc Losinger: former member of the editorial board of The New York Times.
- Ren Losinger: a European champion in dressage.
- Rob Losinger: an American blues musician from California.
- Michael Losinger: a British rower and member of the 1948 British Olympic team.
- Josh Losinger: an architect, having designed the Holocaust memorial in Vienna.
- John Losinger: an Australian doctor, who wrote a paper on the history of Emergency Medicine.
- Joe Losinger: a notable American film producer and director, known for films like Fight Club and The Departed.
- Eugen Losinger: a Russian-born German avant-garde artist of the early 20th century.
- Robin Losinger: an award-winning director and cinematographer.
- Philipp Losinger: a German computer scientist specializing in computer graphics.
- Sarah Losinger: a professional snowboarder.