Surname Leman - Meaning and Origin
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Leman: What does the surname Leman mean?
The surname Leman is of English, German and French origins. Its exact meaning, however, varies based on each origin. In English, it was used in medieval times and derived from the Middle English word "leman" which means sweetheart or beloved one, usually referred to a lover or a paramour. The term was used in a more general sense to refer to any loved one, including a family member or close friend.
In Germany, Leman is a locational surname and may refer to a person from Lake Constance, locally known as Lake Leman, situated in Germany and Switzerland.
The French spelling, Léman, also refers to someone who lives near Lake Geneva, known in French as Lac Léman. The lake is located between France and Switzerland, hence it's common in areas surrounding this lake.
Thus, someone with the surname Leman can originally be from Germany, England, or French-speaking nations. The spelling may also indicate the geographical origin of a person. It's advisable to look into individual family history for specific origin and meaning.
Order DNA origin analysisLeman: Where does the name Leman come from?
The surname Leman is of English and French origin. In England, it is derived from the Middle English personal name "Leofman" which is made up of the words "leof", meaning dear or beloved, and "man", meaning man or servant. In the French context, "Le" and "man" combine to mean "The Man".
Leman might also be of local origin, referring to someone who lived in or was from Limagne in France, from where the family is believed to have originally hailed. There are records of the Leman family in documents from the medieval period in both England and France.
Today, Leman is most common in the United States, England and Australia. It is not a particularly common surname in any one country, and is more spread out globally. In the United States, it seems to be more frequent in states like Illinois, California, Arizona, New York and Pennsylvania.
Variations of the surname Leman
The surname Leman has a variety of alternate spellings which include, but are not limited to: Leeman, Leemann, Lehman, Lehmann, Lemanus, Lemin, and Lemman. Alternate forms may have emerged due to different translations, regional accents, and spelling errors throughout history.
The surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has two possible origins. Firstly, it could be a patronymic form of the Old English pre-7th Century "Leman", an affectionate nickname "Leofman" (beloved man), or "Leofmann" a personal name composed of the elements "leof", dear, beloved and "man", man. Secondly, it could be a topographic name for someone who lived in a meadow or a piece of arable land; in this case, the derivation is from the Old English "le(a)d", to lead, and "(ge)man", common, with reference to the system of strip farming prevalent in medieval times.
Surname derivatives from other cultures may include Léman, a French variation, or the Jewish Ashkenazic \surname variants: Lemanovich, Lemanov, and Lemansky. Leman may also exist as a first name in some cultures.
Famous people with the name Leman
- Jacquelyne Lemán: American author and award-winning broadcast journalist
- Harold Leman: American physical chemist
- Ludger Lemán: Mexican business and civic leader
- Courtland Leman: American statistician and marketing researcher
- Kenneth Leman: American clinical psychologist and author
- Jessica Lemán: Argentine film, television, and stage actress
- Ari Leman: American film and television producer
- Noam Leman: Israeli poet
- Achima Leman: African activist and author
- Joe Leman: American historian