Surname Leitherer - Meaning and Origin

Leitherer: What does the surname Leitherer mean?

The last name Leitherer is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word leiter, meaning ladder. The name commonly refers to a person who worked as a joiner or carpenter, possibly a builder of wooden ladders. It is likely that the Leitherers were a prominent and respected family in their community as they likely had the skills to build ladders that could have been used for trade, transportation, and rescue purposes.

The original spelling of the surname is Leiter and is still in use to this day.The Leitherers have a long distinguished history in Bavaria, one of the earliest being Dietrich Leiter who appears in a record book in 1417. Also in the 15th century, the family is mentioned in surviving documents from Sulzfeld near Crailsheim, and from Schorndorf near Nurnberg in 1524.

The surname Leitherer is found in many different countries to this day, from Germany to America, Australia, and many more. It still stands for people who use their hands to build important objects in society. Today, people with the surname Leitherer tend to be shining examples of determination and hard work, qualities that their family has maintained for centuries.

Leitherer: Where does the name Leitherer come from?

The last name Leitherer is a surname that originates from Germany. It is a common name today in Germany and many other parts of Europe. In particular, it is found mostly in western and southwestern Germany.

It is also found in some parts of the United States, particularly in areas with large German immigrant populations. In the United States, the name Leitherer is most commonly found in states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maryland, and California.

The name is also seen in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. It is also found in other countries around the world, particularly those with German-speaking populations, such as Austria and Switzerland.

The Leitherer family tree dates back to the 1500s, and is said to have originated in the Upper Palatinate region of Germany, near modern-day Munich. It is thought that the family name originated from a person by the name of Leonhard Leutharder, who was a 16th century merchant from the Palatinate region.

The Leitherers are of German descent and are related to other German-speaking families, such as the Thiers, Messers, and the Schillers. It is believed that the family originally spoke Middle High German.

Variations of the surname Leitherer

The surname Leitherer is a variant of Layther, which is a German family name derived from the Middle High German word "leite", meaning "leader". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin are Laitherer, Layther, Lederer, Leider, Laiderer, Leidherr, Laidher(er) and Leithero.

The variants Leider and Laidher(er) are often used interchangeably, with both forms appearing in several records of the 1700s and 1800s, but Leider is more commonly used today.

Laitherer is the most common spelling in the US; however, it is not unheard of for some families to still retain the older spelling, Layther.

Lederer is also a common variation of Leitherer found in the US today, but may also be found in Austria and Germany, where it is a common and well-known surname.

Leidherr is a similar spelling commonly seen in Germany, while Leithero may be seen less often in some parts of the US.

Overall, the Leitherer surname is quite common and some of these variations may be adopted or used interchangeably over time. With multiple spellings and variations, all of which have the same origin, it makes it easier to trace a family genealogy through records and documents.

Famous people with the name Leitherer

• Wolfgang Leitherer: A German former footballer who featured for Borussia Monchengladbach between 1970 and 1978.
• John Leitherer: American cinematographer and camera operator, known for his work on films such as Batman, Jurassic Park, Mulholland Drive, and The Cell.
• Ivo Leitherer: A Slovene lawyer and professor of law at the University of Ljubljana, and was the author of the Slovenian Penal Code.
• Ernst Leitherer: German philosopher and theologian who worked as a professor at the University of Bonn from 1908 to 1929.
• Karl Leitherer: Austrian landscape and portrait painter who was known for his depictions of the Alps and Tyrol region.
• Libuše Leitherer: Czech operatic soprano who received international recognition for her vocal performances.
• Paul Leitherer: Austrian pianist, organist, and conductor who served as the musical director of Zagreb Opera from 1907 to 1909.
• Dieter Leitherer: German film editor and director who is known for his work on West German television series such as Die Abenteuer des Grafen Bobby (1974–1975).
• Erika Leitherer: Austrian historian, political scientist, and professor at the University of Graz.
• Christoph Leitherer: Swiss politician and President of the Swiss National Council in 2014.

Other surnames

Leither