Linden History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Linden comes from the Rhineland, an ancient region of Germany. In pre-medieval times, the Germans used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames, so as to remain distinct from others using the same personal (first) name. Local names derived from place names, were often chosen. They originally indicated land ownership, and frequently carried the prefix von, meaning "of" or "from", which is often taken as an indication of aristocratic lineage. Linden was a name for some one lived beside a grove of lime trees. The family name Linden is derived from the German word linde, which means lime tree. The original bearer was named for his proximity to a hill crowned by lime trees. Early Origins of the Linden familyThe surname Linden was first found in the Lower Rhine, where this family became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Chronicles first mention Henczel unter der lynden of Freiberg (Saxony) in 1383, Hannus von der Linde in 1440, Jacob Lindner of Tirol in 1348, Johann van Lynder of the lower Rhine in 1528, and Hermann Lindeman of Hanover in 1335. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as they emerged to form alliances with other families within the feudal system. Early History of the Linden familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Linden research. Another 257 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1520, 1562, 1563, 1650, 1705, 1760, 1836, 1842, 1852, 1873, 1934, 1938 and 1939 are included under the topic Early Linden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Linden Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Linden include Linde, Linden Linder, Lindner, Lindener and others. Early Notables of the Linden familyNotables with the name Linden during this period were
Linden RankingIn the United States, the name Linden is the 6,431st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1
Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Linden were among of the early German families that came to North America: Linden Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Linden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Linden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Linden Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
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