Surname Lankait - Meaning and Origin
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Lankait: What does the surname Lankait mean?
The surname Lankait is derived from the Slavic language and has multiple potential origins. The most likely origin is the Slovenian term "Lanka," which means "shallow band or strip of land." This term could also mean foreseeing or predicting the future as it pertains to moving water or rivers. It has the connotation of predicting changes in river depths.
The surname Lankait is also thought to be related to the Czech term, "lenkat," which means "to turn or bend," suggesting any sort of movement that is shaped, curved, or flexed. It could also denote flexibility or the ability to adjust to changing circumstances.
A final potential origin of the surname Lankait is the Slovenian term "Lok" or "okel," which means "a pocket or a corner," implying the ability to remain hidden from the view of others. This could be related to the strategy or maneuvering of battle.
Regardless of its origin, the surname Lankait is associated with resourcefulness, agility, and the ability to predict and adjust in order to succeed. These traits are common to people who bear the name, and have likely been connected to the Lankait surname for many centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisLankait: Where does the name Lankait come from?
The last name Lankait is primarily found in western Europe, where it is most commonly located in the Netherlands and Belgium. People with the name are thought to have originally come from Germany. The Netherlands remains the most likely place due to its long-standing ties with Germany as well as significant historical migration from the Germanic-speaking region. In the Netherlands, the Haftevelt, Neessen, Stoffels, and Barkhuysen families are associated with the name.
The last name is also quite common in the United States due to a large influx of immigrants from Belgium and the Netherlands. There are records of surrendering Confederate soldiers bearing the name Lankait during the Civil War. In the U.S., people with the last name are found primarily in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and California.
In addition to western Europe and the United States, some members of the Lankait family have migrated to Canada and Australia as well. However, the incidence of the name remains much lower in these countries than in the previously-mentioned countries.
Overall, the last name Lankait is still relatively rare, with the majority of carriers living in the United States and western Europe.
Variations of the surname Lankait
The surname Lankait, sometimes spelled Lankayt, is a variation on the Lithuanian surname Lankaitis and is found in the Jewish Ashkenazi tradition. The variations on an Ashkenazi Jewish spelling would be Lankaytis, Lankaytas, Lanksaytis, and Lankaitas.
The surname Lankait is derived from the Lithuanian word Lankoji meaning smooth, even or slippery. In the Lithuanian language, the letter ‘J’ is usually interchangeable with ‘Y’ - so sometimes the variations can also include Lankojy and Lankoyt.
In some cases, the spelling may also be found with different suffixes, such as - ites, itai, or ite, to designate a plural form, as in Lankojites, Lankaitai or Lankayte.
In some dialects, the surname may also be found with other suffixes such as - phy, - ikh, or - ich, as in Lankaytphy, Lankojikh, or Lankaytich.
Additionally, the surname is often found transliterated into other languages, such as German, Polish and Russian, as Lankajt, Lankayt and Ланкайт respectively.
Surnames that are related to Lankait, either through spelling variation or by origin, would include Lanksaitis, Lanksaitai, Lapiytis, Laypyte, Lapytas, and Lapaitis.
For some families, the name is often anglicized into Lankaitis, Lankaitos, Lanksaitis, Lanksaitos or Lankys.
Famous people with the name Lankait
- Jorinde Lankait: She is an actress, known for De liefde (2003), Vier seizoenen coco (2005) and Baantjer (1995).
- Esmee Lankait: She is a Dutch costume and fashion designer who is specialized in creating theater costumes for plays and movies.
- Thomas Lankait: He is a Dutch singer-songwriter and guitarist, and a member of the Dutch folk-rock formation Hemelbestormers.
- Vince Lankait: He is a professional soccer player originally from the Netherlands who currently plays for SV Zulte Waregem in the Belgian First Division A.
- Johannes Lankait: He is a Dutch politician and former member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the Christian Democratic Appeal.
- Rients de Boer-Lankait: He is a Dutch painter and sculptor, ambient musician and radio DJ that combines several art forms in his works.
- Jan Lankait: He is a Dutch former professional cyclist and winner of the Dutch National Road Race Championship in 1958.
- Jurjen Lankait: He is a former Dutch footballer who played for clubs in both the Netherlands and Belgium.
- Aart Lankait: He is a Dutch agricultural historian and rural geographer, specializing in history of rural development.
- Jan Gerrit Lankait: He is a Dutch singer and flautist who is the founder of several bands, including Zwerver, a band that combines Dutch spoken word with jazz improvisations.