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| Origins Available: |
| | Germany |
The roots of the distinguished and ancient German surname are unclear; there are many possible origins for this name, all corresponding to different regions. Firstly, the name may be derived from the Middle High German "licht," meaning "light, lamp"; in this instance, the name would have been originally borne by a maker of lanterns or candlesticks. Alternatively, the name may be related to the Middle High German "liht," meaning "light-hearted, careless, unsteady." In this case, the name would have originated as a nickname, bestowed on someone with a light-hearted disposition. Finally, the surname may be derived from "Lichte," the name of a town in Thuringia, which is itself derived from the Middle High German "lichta," meaning "clearing."
The surname Lichter was first found in various regions of Germany and the surrounding areas of Switzerland, Austria, France, and Belgium. The many possible origins of the name Lichter make it likely that several branches of the family emerged independently in different areas. The written history of the name Lichter dates back to 1275, when Egelolfus and Berhta dicti zem Liehte of Solothurn, Switzerland were recorded in the "Mittlehochdeutsches Namenbuch." The many branches of the young Lichter family were instrumental during this early period, each contributing greatly to the development of the medieval society of its particular region.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lichter research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1283, 1295, 1617, 1705, 1748, 1762 and 1822 are included under the topic Early Lichter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations of this family name include: Licht, Lichte, Likht, Liehte, Leicht and others.
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lichter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.