Surname Leikauf - Meaning and Origin
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Leikauf: What does the surname Leikauf mean?
The last name Leikauf is a German or Jewish surname derived from the Middle High German “leuchtkauf” which translates to “light trade”. This likely refers to an ancestor of the Leikauf family who may have been a merchant or small businessman who often held traders’ markets or sold candles. The Leikauf family are likely of German or Jewish origin and may have come to the United States from Germany, Poland or Russia at some point in their history.
In Germany, the surname is likely of Jewish origin with “leuchtkauf” meaning “sale of lights” or “torch merchants”, a profession traditionally practiced by Jewish people. In Poland, the surname originated around 1329 in the area of Przemysl, which was then a part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Thus, the Leikauf family has deep historical roots in Europe.
The last name Leikauf continues to be a family name today in both Europe and the United States, where people with the name are most likely to have German or Jewish ancestry. The pride of the Leikauf family is rooted in centuries of resilience; the spirit of multiethnic movement within Europe, and the migration to the New World.
Order DNA origin analysisLeikauf: Where does the name Leikauf come from?
The last name Leikauf can be found today primarily in parts of the United States and Canada. In the United States, the state of Minnesota has the largest concentration of Leikauf surnames. According to census records, there is an estimated 140 individuals with this name residing in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The second largest concentration of Leikaufs resides in Wisconsin, with an estimated 91 people with that last name. Virginia and Florida have an estimated 60 people with the last name Leikauf living there. There are small numbers of Leikaufs living in other states, including California, North Carolina, New York, Iowa, and Ohio.
In Canada, Ontario has the largest concentration of Leikaufs with close to 200 individuals living there. Regions including British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec also have populations of Leikaufs.
The last name Leikauf is of German origin, and may have originated from either “Lehmann”, which means a farmer, or from the German word “Lei” which means linen and “Kauf” which means to purchase. Historically, it’s possible that the Leikauf surname was used by individuals who were involved in the linen trade, or were farmers by profession.
The last name Leikauf is more common in North America today than it is in Europe. It is still actively used by more than 500 individuals in the United States and Canada, and is continuing to grow as more people with the surname move to and settle in these countries.
Variations of the surname Leikauf
Variations, misspellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Leikauf consist oflynchof, Leykauf, Löikauf, Löikoff, Leycauff, Leikof, Laikoff, Laykauf, Leicauf, Laikauf, and Lefkow. The origin of this surname is German and Hebrew. In Germany, Leikauf is derived from the Middle High German words leichōfer, lauter + oof, of andmeaning“free” and “estate” respectively. It is likely that the surname was first used to describe somebody who lived on or owned land that was free from the outlying feudal authority. Moreover, in Ashkenazi Hebrew it is likely that Leikauf is derived from the Yiddish word leik which means “song” or “melody” and was possibly used as a nickname, Examples of this surname can be found throughout Europe. In Germany, the name is most commonly found in Bavaria. In the United States, this surname is most commonly found in geographical locations such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New York.
Leykauf is another variant of Leikauf. This spelling variation is likely to have developed due to the Germanic language's fondness for;th sound. This spelling became popular in Silesia which is the present-day south-western region of Poland.
Even though Leikauf is an uncommon surname it has various derivatives. Spelling variations of Leikauf are numerous, but all are derived from the same original names. Each of these surnames reflects the complexity of the surname’s cultural origins as it has been adopted in different countries and over different time periods.
Famous people with the name Leikauf
- Alexandra Leikauf: Alexandra Leikauf is a German professional tennis player. She has been a professional since 2016 and has since achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 135 in singles.
- Jorg Leikauf: Jorg Leikauf is a Spanish politician from Barcelona who is currently serving as the Minister of Mobility and Housing of the Generalitat de Catalunya.
- Jeremy Leikauf: Jeremy Leikauf is an American film composer and music producer. He is best known for his work on the Netflix series "Stranger Things".
- Franz Leikauf: Franz Leikauf was a German flying ace in World War I. He is credited with ten aerial victories.
- Karl Leikauf: Karl Leikauf was a German chemist and university professor. He was a professor of organic chemistry and technology of the University of Greifswald, and director of the chemical laboratory of the double institute in Greifswald.
- Jessie Leikauf: Jessie Leikauf, born Jessie Einchenberger, was an American actress and singer active in Hollywood during the 1930s.
- Maria Leikauf: Maria Leikauf is a German former international figure skater who competed in ladies' singles, and later in pair skating with her partner Paul Huber.