Surname Lauterbacher - Meaning and Origin

Lauterbacher: What does the surname Lauterbacher mean?

The last name Lauterbacher is a German-language surname that derives from the region of Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is composed of two elements: "Lauter," which means loud or clear, and "Bacher," which translates to peasant or farmer. Combined, Lauterbacher can be literally translated to someone who is clearly a peasant or farmer.

The emergence of this surname could be attributed to a period of German imperialism in the Middle Ages when various landowning noble families from the area of Franconia decided to take on a surname that would reflect their social class or occupation. The Lauterbacher family were among those who chose to take on a surname, reflecting their modest station as farmers.

The family would have eventually spread with the migration of German peoples to many countries throughout the world. In some instances, the spelling of the name would have changed to accommodate local language conventions. In the United States the spelling of the name has been changed to Lauterbach, and in Great Britain it is spelled Lauterbacker.

The name might still appear to have been significant in other areas of the world with a strong German heritage, such as some parts of the United States, Canada, and South American countries like Brazil and Argentina.

The word "Lauterbacher" is still in use today in German, most likely as a descriptor to refer to someone with a humble background. It is a reminder of the origins of this surname and its significance to its historic German roots.

Lauterbacher: Where does the name Lauterbacher come from?

The last name Lauterbacher is found in Germany as well as other European countries such as Austria, The Netherlands, and Switzerland. According to the 2010 census, the most represented country of origin for this surname is Germany, with more than 7,500 people bearing the name. Many of those with this name are located near the city of Munich, in Bavaria.

The surname Lauterbacher is quite popular in Bavaria, as well as other areas of Central and Southern Germany, such as the Black Forest and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also common in some parts of the former German-speaking countries, most notably in the Czech Republic and Poland.

The background and meaning of the name Lauterbacher is the combination of two words -‘Lauter’, meaning pure, and ‘berger’, meaning mountain, hill, or fortress. It is thus assumed that this surname originated from some place or village named as outlined above, possibly in the German language.

The Lauterbacher family is known to have originated in small towns in Bavaria and other parts of Germany. Through the centuries, the prevalence of this name, derived from its geographical origin, has spread to adjoining countries, and is now present in many places of Europe, North America, and South America.

Variations of the surname Lauterbacher

The surname Lauterbacher has its origins in Germany and can be written in several different ways. The most commonly seen variants are Lauterbach, Lauterpacher, and Lautersbach. These variants can also be used as a serve as alternative spellings of the original name. In some cases, combinations of the words can also be seen such as Lauterspacher and Lauterbacher.

Other variations on the name may be found as well when looking through old documents and records. Some likely misspellings due to the age of the documents or errors in handwriting might include Lauterbecher, Lauterbacker, Lauterpecher, and Latersbacher. It is possible to come across a variation of the name that simply looks different, though likely has the same origin.

It is considered likely that many of the variants of this surname have become separate family lines, some having adopted a slight change to their name. More uncommon versions of the name Lauterbacher may include Lautenbacher, Lautherbacher, and Lautenbacker.

Many of the surnames with Lauterbacher origins can be found across a range of European countries. For example Poland has numerous different spellings, including Lauterpaczah, Lauterbachowa, and Lauterbachowski, and France has Lauterbachés, Lauterbachée, and Lauterbachier.

When looking for records of the Lauterbacher family, it is important to remember that numerous variations of the surname exist and to take this into consideration. These can all be traced back to the same origin and so it is worth searching for records with all variants of the name to uncover more of the family history.

Famous people with the name Lauterbacher

• Cpl. Tanner Lauterbacher, American WWII hero and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
• Dr. Carl Lauterbacher, German-born American astronomer
• Dr. Knut Lauterbacher, German-born American physicist
• Richard Lauterbacher, American politician from Ohio
• Andrew Lauterbacher, American football player
• Isaac Lauterbacher, American rabbi, writer, publisher, and lecturer
• Lars Lauterbacher, Austrian sculptor
• Count Peter Lauterbacher (1882–1937), German aristocrat and courtier
• Earl Max Lauterbacher, American theater and film actor
• Martha Lauterbacher, American politician from Pennsylvania

Other surnames

Lauterbach