Loew

Loew is a surname of German origin, derived from the noun Löwe meaning "lion." The name likely began as a nickname for a brave or strong person and later became a hereditary family name in German-speaking areas. The umlaut forms Löw and Löwe are common in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. When umlauts are not used or are transliterated, the name appears as Loew, Loewe, or Leow. The Loew spelling is disproportionately common in the United States and other English-speaking countries, reflecting immigration and transliteration practices.

The name is found among both ethnic Germans and Ashkenazi Jewish families; in Jewish communities, Löw/Löwe has long been a common surname and is sometimes spelled Loewe in English-language records. Variants include Loewe, Löwe, Löw, Leow, and Leowe.

Notable people with the surname Loew exist across fields such as science, business, and the arts, but this article does not enumerate them. The Loew surname should not be confused with Loewe, a separate surname and with the brand Loewe, which shares a similar spelling but refers to different entities.