English

Proper noun

Ludwig ‎(plural Ludwigs)

1. A male given name.

German

Alternative forms

• Chlodwig (chiefly in historical names)

Etymology

From Old High German Ludhuwīg, Hludwig, *Hlūtwīg, from Proto-Germanic *Hlūdawīgą. The first element is (h)lūt ‎(“famed; loud”) (whence modern German laut), from Proto-Germanic *hlūdaz, *hlūþaz^[1] (whence also English loud), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- ‎(“to hear”). The second element is wīg ‎(“battle, strife”).^[1]

The name is attested as Ludhuwīg in the Straßburger Eide of 842 (where it contrasts with Old French Lodhuuig and Latin Lodhuuic), and as Hludwig in the Rhine Franconian Old High German of the Ludwigslied of 881 (where it contrasts with the Latin Hluduicus). Compare Dutch Lodewijk, French Louis and Clovis, English Lewis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈluːtvɪç/ (standard)

• IPA^(key): /ˈluːtvɪk/ (southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
• IPA^(key): /ˈlʊtvɪç/ (western Germany)

Proper noun

Ludwig m ‎(genitive Ludwigs)

1. A male given name.

Related terms

• variants: Lutz, Luis, Louis
• feminine forms: Luise, Luisa, Louise, Louisa

Proper noun

Ludwig m, f ‎(genitive Ludwigs)

1. A patronymic surname​.

References

1. 1 2 Jöchum-Godglück, Linseis, Potthast, Saßenscheidt, and Schorr, Im Spannungsfeld der Religionen, in Integration und Desintegration der Kulturen im europäischen Mittelalter page 203