Show ContentsLeininger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Leininger family

The surname Leininger was first found in Bavaria, where the name Lehning was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power. They also branched into the Rhine province, and into Bade, Hesse, and Nassau. The eponymous Leininger Sporn is a highly prominent ridge in the northeast of the Palatinate Forest in western Germany.

Early History of the Leininger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leininger research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1779 is included under the topic Early Leininger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leininger Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lehning, Leiningen, Leihning, Leining, Linange and others.

Early Notables of the Leininger family

More information is included under the topic Early Leininger Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leininger Ranking

In the United States, the name Leininger is the 8,466th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Leininger is ranked the 4,610th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2


United States Leininger migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leininger Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Maria Leininger, who settled in New York, NY in 1709
  • Johan Conrad Leininger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 3
  • Sebastian Leininger, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 3
  • Anna Elisabetha Amman Leininger, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1750
  • Anna Elisabetha Leininger, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Leininger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Adam Leininger, who arrived in New York in 1835 3
  • Charles Leininger, who settled in America in 1843
  • Crescenz Leininger, who landed in New York, NY in 1849 3
  • Christian Leininger, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1874
  • Eva Leininger, who arrived in North America in 1889 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Leininger Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Jacques Leininger, aged 44, who settled in America from Straseburg, Germany, in 1907
  • Philipp Leininger, aged 44, who landed in America from Strassburg, Germany, in 1908
  • Franz Leininger, aged 22, who immigrated to the United States from Suchl, Germany, in 1909
  • Joseph Leininger, aged 25, who landed in America from Lichtenberg, Germany, in 1910
  • Bertha Leininger, aged 26, who landed in America from Reisen Wyer, Germany, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Leininger (post 1700) +

  • Philip Leininger, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1916
  • Peter A. Leininger (b. 1937), American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Queens County 1st District, 1917-23; Defeated (Independent Fusion), 1923
  • Bryan Leininger, American judo champion, former US National Champion and gold medalist in 1996
  • Dannette Leininger (b. 1963), American Olympic handball player who competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and the 1996 Summer Olympics
  • James Richard Leininger (b. 1944), American physician, businessman and conservative and Christian activist, founder of Kinetic Concepts in 1976
  • Commander Joseph A. Leininger, U.S. Navy Reserve officer who devised the plans for the loading of cargo and the alterations on the expedition ship during the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition in 1947 to 1948, eponym of Leininger Peak, Palmer Land, Antarctica
  • Christophe Leininger (b. 1960), American former judoka who was 1984, 1988, and 1992 US Olympic Judo Team Alternate
  • Madeleine Leininger (b. 1925), American pioneering nursing theorist


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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