Surname Landgräfe - Meaning and Origin
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Landgräfe: What does the surname Landgräfe mean?
The last name Landgräfe is a German surname which trace its origins back to the medieval times when it was a title of nobility. A Landgräfe, or Landgrave, was a high-ranking nobleman from Middle Ages Germany who controlled a certain district or province, which may explain its widespread popularity as a surname, especially in its native country.
The origins of the name could date back to the Carolingian Empire in the early 9th century. At that time, the title of Landgrave was reserved for people with a ranking equivalent to an imperial prince or a general grandee, and they were essentially feudal rulers empowered to pass laws and to settle judicial cases. The title of Landgrave was one of the highest bestowed upon an individual in medieval Germany and it was eventually abolished in the 19th century.
People with the last name Landgräfe commonly held prestigious positions in Germany, such as those of a commander, nobleman or a top-ranking official, and even today the name carries a status of honour and respect. In modern times, some Landgräfe families have gone on to achieve notable prominence, while others have maintained a deep familiarity with their ancestral roots.
Order DNA origin analysisLandgräfe: Where does the name Landgräfe come from?
The last name Landgräfe is most commonly found in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe. It is typically associated with the noble class of the medieval period. The German word "Landgräfe" translates to the English "County Earl".
The Landgräfe family was most active in the medieval period and mainly held status as court members to ruling dukes or countys. Imperial families of the time such as Hohenzollerns, Wettins, and Wittelsbach counted them among their court members.
Today, the last name Landgräfe remains prominent in many regions. In Germany, it ranks in the top 2,000 most common last names. People with the name are predominantly found in the southeastern region of the country but are somewhat scattered throughout the rest of the nation. It is more commonplace in rural-agricultural regions than in densely populated cities.
The same is true for nations along the eastern fringes of Europe. In particular, people with the last name can be found in Slovenia, Bosnia, and Serbia as the Landgräfe family moved into these regions between 1430 and 1660. It is slightly less common in these regions than in Germany but the last name is still carried by many families today.
Variations of the surname Landgräfe
Landgräfe is a German surname which derives from the noun Landgraf, meaning a German nobleman holding dominion over a particular province or region known as a "landgraviate" or "landgrafschaft". It is most commonly spelled Landgräfe in Germany, although variants spelled with an ä or aë include Landgraef, Landgraff, Längraff and Langraef.
In the United States, Landgräfe is usually anglicized as Landgraff or Landgraff. Alternately, emergence to english speaking countries and historical documents might see subtle changes. For example, Lagraf, Lagrafe and Lengraf.
The surname Landgraff may also have Scandinavian origins, from the Danish word landgreve meaning the same thing, although this is somewhat disputed. Variants of this spelling include Landergreve, Landtech, and Langrefe.
It should also be noted that the surname Landgräfe may have been adopted out of necessity, due to its similarity in pronunciation to the name Landfriede, which is also derived from Landgraf, for which the same variants are applicable.
Landgräfe is also an occasional given name. In this instance, variants of the name are largely the same as would be expected with a surname, including Landgraff, Landgraf, Landgreve, and Lagraf.
Famous people with the name Landgräfe
- Christian Landgräfe (German boxer)
- Dick Landgraf (police officer and politician from Michigan USA)
- Heinrich Landgräfe (17th century historian and cartographer from Germany)
- Hermann Landgräfe (19th century German electrical engineer and writer)
- Johann Ludwig Landgräfe (17th-century German dialectologist and collector of poetry)
- Klaus Landgräfe (21st century German politician)
- Ludwig Landgrefe (17th-century German theologian, who wrote a work on the Eucharistic Gospels)
- Martin Landgräfe (21st century German television actor)
- Paul Landgräfe (German historian)
- Ulrich Landgräfe (18th-century German merchant)