Surname Lauer - Meaning and Origin
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read moreLauer: What does the surname Lauer mean?
The last name Lauer is of Germanic origin, and is believed to come from the word “Loh” meaning “barn”. It is a toponymic name, meaning it belongs to a place, likely one associated with a family who owned a barn or a field of some kind. It is believed that people who had the last name Lauer come from a rural background.
The name has become quite common throughout Europe over time, likely due to the historical trends of migration. In Ancient Germany, the last name could have referred to someone who worked in a barn, or an owner of a barn. It could also refer to a farmer who was responsible for agriculture in a specific area.
At some point, the name became more widespread, and by the early 1800s, Lauer families had moved to America and spread their Germanic roots to cities like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Many of these people were part of the wave of German immigrants coming to the United States during the mid-19th century.
Today, the last name Lauer is still relatively common and can be found in many countries around the world. It is a reminder of a family’s rural German roots, with a past rooted in agriculture and hard work.
Order DNA origin analysisLauer: Where does the name Lauer come from?
The last name Lauer is a common German surname today, particularly within Germany and the other German-speaking nations of Europe. It can also be found in scattered concentrations elsewhere in the United States and other areas of the world with Germanic ancestry.
The origin of the Lauer surname is believed to be derived from the German word “lau” meaning low or weak, possibly referencing an old German nobleman who was known to be of lower status. In the Middle Ages, surnames were taken from a person's occupational or physical characteristics, so there were often multiple ways to describe an individual. Over time, many variations of surnames have developed, and today, Lauer is one of the most popular surnames in Germany, with some 42,000 people sharing the name.
The geographical distribution of Lauer families indicates that the surname is still particularly common in the state of Bavaria, many of whom live in the more rural communities in the south. Additionally, Munich and Cologne also contain concentrations of the Lauer surname.
In the United States, many people with the Lauer surname arrived from Germany in the late nineteenth century, and records indicate that these immigrants primarily settled in Pennsylvania, New York and other Mid-Atlantic states. Even today, the surname is still relatively common in Pennsylvania, with the highest concentration of families living in Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas. In urban areas in the US, like New York City, the surname is much less prominent.
Variations of the surname Lauer
The variants of the surname Lauer include Lauber, Laufer, Lauer and Löwer. Additionally, there are alternate spellings such as Laubor, Loewer, Louwer and Louer.
The origin of this surname is German and is derived from the German word lewe, meaning lion, and from the Middle High German lûwe, meaning guardian. This surname was used as an occupational name for a watchman or guardian of the king’s castle, or one who lived in the area around the castle.
In many instances, Lauer has become an Anglicized version of the German surnames Laufer and Löwer.
The surname Lauer can also be found as part of other surnames, such as Lauermann, Lauerman, de Lauer, Lauermeister, Lauerhöfer, Lauerhoffer, Lauermilch, Lauerbach, and so on.
The variants and spellings of the surname Lauer are extremely widespread due to immigration in the past centuries. The surname Lauer is also common in many countries, such as the United States, Germany, Canada, and Australia.
The variants and spellings of the surname Lauer vary by region and country, such as Laufer in Austria, Lauer in France and Switzerland, Loewer in the Netherlands, and Louer in Denmark.
Overall, the surname Lauer has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, such as Lauber, Laufer, Lauer, Löwer, Laubor, Loewer, Louwer, Louer, Lauermann, Lauerman, de Lauer, Lauermeister, Lauerhöfer, Lauerhoffer, Lauermilch, and Lauerbach.
Famous people with the name Lauer
- Matt Lauer: Matt Lauer is a former American news anchor who spent nearly 25 years with NBC's "Today Show", where he held the title of co-anchor from 1994 to 2017.
- Jay Lauer: Jay Lauer is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour since 1999.
- Kathie Lee Gifford: Kathie Lee Gifford is an American television presenter, singer-songwriter, author and actress who was the co-host of NBC’s “Today Show” for 11 years with Matt Lauer.
- Denise Lauer: Denise Lauer is a former model and the third wife of Matt Lauer.
- Joanne Lauer: Joanne Lauer is an American actress best known for her role as “Mrs. Roper” on the television series “Three's Company”.
- Adam Lauer: Adam Lauer is a well-known television producer who is currently a senior producer for NBC News.
- Craig Lauer: Craig Lauer is an American professional golfer who won the 2003 Nationwide Tour Championship and had 5 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in his career.
- Jack Lauer: Jack Lauer is an American actor best known for his roles in the television series “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Criminal Minds”, and “Scandal”.
- Paul Lauer: Paul Lauer is a former professional basketball player who played for the ABA’s New York Nets in 1972.
- J.J. Lauer: J. J. Lauer is a former American football player who played with the Arizona Cardinals in 1987.