The origin of the name Low

The origin of the name Low

1. English: topographic name for someone who lived near a hill, from Old English hlāw (for the change of -ā- to -ō- in the Midland and Southern dialects of Middle English, cf. Roper). 2. English: nickname for a short man, from Middle English lāh (Old Norse lágr; the word was adopted first into the Northern dialects of Middle English, where Scandinavian influence was strong, and then spread south, with regular alteration of the vowel quality). 3. English (Norman): nickname for a crafty or dangerous person, from Anglo-Norman French lou, leu wolf (Latin lupus). Wolves were relatively common in Britain at the time when most surnames were formed, as there still existed large tracts of uncleared forest. 4. Scots: from a pet form of Lawrence. 5. Jewish (Ashkenazic): Anglicized form of Löwe.

Variant: Lowe.

Cognates (of 3): French: Loup, Leu; Lelou, Leloup, Leleu, Leleux. Italian: Lupo, Luppo; Lovo (Northern Italy); Luffi. Spanish, Portuguese: Lobo. Rumanian: Lupu, Lupul (in part Jewish, translating Wolf).

Diminutives (of 3): English: Lovatt, Levett, Lovell. French: Loupot. Provençal: Louvion, Louviot; Louvihoux (Gascony). Italian: Lupini, Lupicini, Lupino, Luppino, Lovini, Luvini; Lovotti, Luvotti, Luotto, Luvotto; Lupoli, Luppoli. Spanish, Portuguese: Lobato.

Augmentations (of 3): Provençal: Loubat. Italian: Lupone.

Patronymics (from 3) Italian: Lupis, Luppis. Rumanian: Lupesco, Lupescu (in part Jewish, translating Wolf). (From 4): Scots: Lowson.


yellowLow in my family tree


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