★ Be on time for a wonderful present this year · Order by Dec 8 (US) · Dec 9 (UK & AU) · All dates ›

Luther Surname Meaning & Origin

What the Luther last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.

Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Luther coat of arms for you.

Meaning and origin of the Luther last name

Meaning of the Luther last name: famous army / lute player. Luther is a German and English surname. In Germany it comes from the personal name Lothar, "famous army"; in England it can mean a lute player. The last name is best known through Martin Luther, the reformer, and this surname became an American first name in his honour.

Arms associated with the Luther name

Coats of arms associated with the Luther surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.

Get your full Luther family history

This is only a glimpse of the Luther story. The full Luther 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 Luther coat of arms. Get the full Luther report.

Luther name FAQ

What does the Luther name mean?

Famous army / lute player. Common variants include Lothar, Lauther.

Where does the Luther surname come from?

It originates in Germany, and is also found in the United States, England and Austria.

Is there a Luther coat of arms?

Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Luther coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.

Sources: Duden Familiennamen; Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).