Louis Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Louis last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Louis last name
Meaning of the Louis last name: famous in battle. The Louis surname is French and grew from the old Germanic first name Hludowig, "famous in battle", which also gave German Ludwig. A father called Louis passed it on as a last name, and it is found all over France. A curious detail: so many French kings bore the name that Louisiana, and the city of St. Louis, were named after them.
Arms associated with the Louis name
French heraldry loved the fleur-de-lis, the lion and bold bands of colour, and coats of arms associated with the Louis surname grew in that tradition; even the words of a blazon come from Old French.
Get your full Louis family history
This is only a glimpse of the Louis story. The full Louis history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Louis coat of arms. Get the full Louis report.
Louis name FAQ
What does the Louis name mean?
Famous in battle. Common variants include Lewis, Ludwig, Loys.
Where does the Louis surname come from?
It originates in France, and is also found in Belgium, Haiti and the United States.
Is there a Louis coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Louis coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Albert Dauzat & Marie-Thérèse Morlet, Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille et prénoms de France; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).