Luther (surname)

As a German surname, Luther is derived from a Germanic personal name compounded from the words liut, "people", and heri, "army". As a rare English surname, it means "lute player".[1] Luther is also derived from the Greek name Eleutherius. Eleutherius is a cognate of the Greek word eleutheros (έλεύθερος) which means "free".[2] Luther has also been regularly used as a given name in English speaking countries in modern times, originally in honour of Martin Luther.

Notable people

• Bill Luther (born 1945), US congressman from Minnesota
• Bobbi Sue Luther (born 1978), American model and actress
• Charles Luther (1885–1962), Swedish Olympic sprinter
• Darlene Luther (1947-2002), American politician
• Frank Luther (1899–1980), American musician
• Hans Luther (1879–1962), German politician and Chancellor of Germany
• Harold C. Luther (1915–1973), New York politician
• John Luther (MP) (c. 1739-1786), English Member of Parliament
• Martin Luther (1483–1546), German theologian and Augustinian monk who inspired and began the Protestant Reformation
• Martin Luther (diplomat) (1895–1945), German diplomat from 1940–1945 and a Nazi party member
• Robert Luther (1822–1900), German astronomer (full name Karl Theodor Robert Luther)
• Robert Luther (chemist) (1867/8–1945), German scientist (chemistry, photography)
• Sally Luther (1918-2015), Minnesota politician
• Sidney A. von Luther (1925–1985), New York state senator
• Thomas Luther (born 1969), German chess player

Arts, entertainment, and media

• John Luther, protagonist in a British crime drama
• Lex Luthor, a comic book villain

See also

• Luther (disambiguation)
• Luther (given name)
• Luter (surname)

References

1. Hanks and Hodges 1988
2. "Being Lutheran". Called to Common Mission Verax (2009). Accessed 31 May 2020.