Surname Lotharius - Meaning and Origin
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Lotharius: What does the surname Lotharius mean?
The origin of the last name Lotharius is uncertain, however, there are two likely possibilities. The first is that the name is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German "Lodhar," meaning "famous ruler" or "illustrious warrior." Throughout history, many rulers and warriors bore the name Lotharius, such as three 9th-century emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
The second potential origin is that the name could be derived from the Old French "Lautier," which means "hospitable" or "friendly," often used to describe someone who is well-liked by others. This would tie in to the Germanic meaning of the name.
Regardless of the origin, the name is most commonly used in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, France, and the United States; though it is not particularly common in any of these countries. It can also be found in countries such as Denmark, Austria and Switzerland to a lesser extent.
Overall, the last name Lotharius is a strong-sounding, noble name that has its origins near the dawn of human civilization and has been passed down through the generations for centuries. It is a proud name that carries with it a certain grandeur and distinction.
Order DNA origin analysisLotharius: Where does the name Lotharius come from?
The last name Lotharius is an ancient family name, likely of Frankish origin. The most common country of origin for this name is Germany. As the Franks spread across Europe, the surname likely spread along with them. It now has a presence in many European countries and even beyond. In Germany, it is most common in Bavaria, with most other regions also having a presence of the surname.
In other countries, the surname is far less common. It does turn up in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other countries. Outside of Europe, it is found primarily in the United States. Descendants of German and other European immigrants likely carried the name across the Atlantic. Ancestry.com estimates that there were 8,000 Lothariuses living in the US in 2000; this number is likely larger today.
Overall, the surname Lotharius is most commonly found in Germany, but can also be found elsewhere in Europe and in the United States. It is an ancient surname so it was likely spread by migration and trade in the ancient and medieval world.
Variations of the surname Lotharius
The surname Lotharius is derived from the Old German personal name "Lothar," meaning “famous in battle” as either a first or surname. There are a number of variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the name Lotharius.
The name can also be spelled as Lothar, Lothaire, Lothar, Lothaire, Lother, Lothari, Lotario, Lotario, Lotar, and Lothario. It also may appear as Lothars, Lothe, Luthar, Luthars, Luthe, Luthaire, Lutha, and Luthar.
The German masculine diminutive form of the name is Lotharle, which translates to "Little Lothar" and creates the surnames Lotharle and Lottarle. The surname also may appear as Lotter, Lother, Lothar, Lotz, Lott, Lothenbach, Luethar, Luetharle, Luethl, Luethler, Luter, Lutter, and Lutterer.
In addition, the Slavic form of the name is Lotar, which produces the surnames Lotar, Lotarski, Lotarevich, Lotarev, andLotarovicz. Also, the Spanish form of the name is Lotario and creates the surname Lotario.
Finally, Lotharius created a number of popular Italian surnames such as Lotharino, Lotharini, Lottarino, Lottarini, Lutarini, Lutarino, Lutarini, Lutarino, Lutry, Lotterini, La Lotteria, Lot Aldi, and Lottarini.
Famous people with the name Lotharius
- Gottfried von Lotharingia (also known as Lotharius): a German medieval nobleman from the 11th century.
- Ulrich I of Lotharingia (or Lotharius I): Count of Speyer in the 11th century and a famous participant of the First Crusade.
- Ulrich II of Lotharingia (or Lotharius II): Count Palatine of Lotharingia in the 12th century
- Raoul of Lotharingia (also known as Lotharius III): Count of Signy in 12th century France.
- Maso of Lotharingia (or Lotharius IV): Count of Ferrette in the 13th century and an Italian nobleman.
- Rudolph of Lotharingia (also known as Lotharius V): Count Palatine of Lotharingia in the 14th century.
- Rheinhard of Lotharingia (or Lotharius VI): Duke of Justburg in 14th century Germany.
- Francesco Lothari: a 16th century Italian Jesuit missionary in China.
- Johann Lotharius: a 17th century German theologian and author.
- Friedrich Ludwig Lotharius: a 17th century German scholar and folklorist.
- Gioacchino Lotharius: an 18th century Italian Baroque architect and sculptor.
- Carl Lotharius: an 18th century German organist and composer.
- Sophie Lotharius: a 19th century Danish pianist and composer.
- Gottfried Reinhard Lotharius: a 19th century German geologist and paleontologist.
- Emil Lotharius: a German World War I flying ace.
- Hugo Lotharius: a 20th century Estonian diplomat.
- Erwin Lotharius: a 20th century German physical chemist.
- Bill Lotharius: a 21st century American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.