Message: "Laken" - Behind the Name

[Surname] Laken

by Elinor (guest)

1/11/2005, 8:21 AM

Laken appears as a surname on geneology sites, yet I cannot find its origin anywhere :-( Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Elinor

#Laken

Replies

- Sagani (guest) +5

1/12/2005, 4:57 AM

This surname could be of dutch or german origin. See th site:

www.familysearch.org

- Andy ;—) (guest) +4

1/12/2005, 5:20 AM

Good idea! In German "Laken" means "sheet" or "cloth", either linnen or woolen, and it is also an old word for the sail of a ship. There is also the surname Lakenmacher (clothmaker), so Laken could be short for this.

Andy ;—)

- Jim Young (guest) +3

1/12/2005, 6:04 AM

It has the same meaning in Dutch.
Laken is also, I believe, a Belgian place-name, though I've seen no evidence of it as a Belgian surname.

- Sagani (guest) +2

1/12/2005, 10:14 AM

However both in Germany and Holland this surnames is extremely rare. So it seems quite uncertain to give an intrepretation of the real meaning of the last name.

- Andy ;—) (guest) +1

1/12/2005, 10:16 AM

Any better ideas?

- Menke (guest)

1/18/2005, 3:40 AM

The Meertens Instituut confirms that the surname Laken, at least as a Dutch one, is a reference to a profession related to 'sheets' or likewise. Thus a seller or manufacturer of sheets most likely. The surname Laken is indeed rare in the Netherlands. The same source tells us that in 1947 when the census was held that there were only 42 persons bearing this surname, of which 37 lived in the province Zuid-Holland, but not in The Hague or Rotterdam. Remarkable is that the Lakenhal, a building where sheets were traded (the only one in the Netherlands) is in Leiden, Zuid-Holland. This could be a lead.

- Andy ;—) (guest)

1/11/2005, 8:56 AM

Could it be short for LAKEMAN ("dweller by a stream")?
Just guessing.

Andy ;—)

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