Surname Laikauf - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Laikauf: What does the surname Laikauf mean?
The last name Laikauf is of German origin, derived from the German phrase laienkauf, which literally translates to "laity sale". The word is a combination of the German words for beings of a "laity" class (laien) and "purchase" (kauf). The term is a type of sale in which goods are auctioned off to the lay people instead of to the clergy.
Historically, the term was used in Germany and other German-speaking countries, and reflected the emergence of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther brought the laity into the church in the 16th century, removing the sole power of the clergy over religious affairs. The laity sale meant that the regular folks finally had access to the power and wealth that the Catholic clergy had long guarded.
Today, the surname Laikauf is carried by families who are most likely descended from the German population of Northern Europe that held or participated in such laity sales. It serves as a symbol that they were part of the growing inclusion of the common people in religious and commercial spheres of influence during the Protestant Reformation.
Order DNA origin analysisLaikauf: Where does the name Laikauf come from?
The last name Laikauf is not a particularly common name and has a relatively low frequency throughout the world. It is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and other regions of the country. It is also found in small numbers in Canada, Germany, Austria, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
Though the origins of the last name Laikauf are somewhat obscure, it is believed to have originated in Germany or Austria. The name is generally of German, Austrian, or Slavic origin and is derived from the German term "Leicke" which could refer to someone who traveled between different farms.
The earliest confirmed record of the name dates to the 1600s when a man named Ludwig Laikauf appears in a German church record from the city of Dortmund. It later appears in the United States in the 1820s when Johann Laikauf and his family settled in Pennsylvania. By the 1880s it is listed as a common name throughout the Midwest.
Today, the Laikauf family name has spread to many different locations and is found in many different countries. Though it is not as common as some other surnames, it is still known and is represented in many areas of the world.
Variations of the surname Laikauf
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Laikauf are as follows:
Lai Kauf - This variant of the surname Laikauf is German in origin and is most likely derived from the Old German name "Leujah," which was later altered to Lai Kauf. In many cases, when a family had multiple generations of this surname, an "s" would be added to the end, resulting in "Lai Kaufs."
Lai Kauffe - A variant of the surname Laikauf is Lai Kauffe, which appeared in records in Bootz, Germany in 1242, when the name was first mentioned. This surname is derived from the Old German name "Leujah" which was later altered to become Lai Kauffe.
Leykauf - Another variant of the Laikauf surname is Leykauf, which is derived from the Old German name "Leujah," which is likely to be the source of the surname. Leykauf is actually a variation on the spelling of the surname Laikauf.
Laikof - Laikof is another variant of the Laikauf surname, which is derived from the Old German name "Leujah." The spelling is similar to the spelling of the Laikauf, but with the addition of the "f" at the end to give the surname a unique twist.
Leikauf - Leikauf is yet another variant of the Laikauf surname, which is derived from the Old German name "Leujah." The spelling is similar to the spelling of the Laikauf, but with the addition of the "k" at the end instead of the "f" that is found in the spelling of Laikof.
Laikaff - Laikaff is the final variant of the same origin for the Laikauf surname. This surname is derived from the Old German name "Leujah" which was later altered to become Laikaff. In some cases, an "e" was also added in place of the "f", creating a hybrid spelling of the name Laikaeff.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Laikauf surname are: Lai Kauf, Lai Kauffe, Leykauf, Laikof, Leikauf and Laikaff. These are all derived from the Old German name "Leujah" which was later altered to become the various spellings of the Laikauf surname.
Famous people with the name Laikauf
- Alexandra Laikauf: a German singer-songwriter and pianist, best known for her single “Ein Tag” which peaked at number two on the German Singles Chart in 2003.
- Kurvin Laikauf: an American-born Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for the Brisbane Broncos in the 1990s.
- Michael Laikauf: a German football manager and former player. He is the current head coach of VfL Wolfsburg.
- Ewald Laikauf: a German rugby player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
- Anthony Laikauf: a professional poker player from Australia
- Laima Laikauf: a Latvian figure skater, the first Latvian to win an international competition in the singles category.
- Herma Laikauf: the author of numerous scientific publications on Ukrainian art, collector and conservationist, the leader of the preservation movement in Kyiv in the early 20th century.
- Terence Laikauf: an American film and television writer, producer, and director, best known for his work on the Fox series 24 and the Showtime series Homeland.
- Helgo Laikauf: a German architect from East Berlin who built several notable buildings in East Berlin, including the Palast der Republik.
- Waltraud Laikauf: a German politician of the Christian Democratic Union, Member of the Deutscher Bundestag from 1972 until 1990.