Let's Chat About The Surname LANDIS

All Spellings of Landis

Pollard

Scheck

Genealogy Forms and charts

Misc. Resources

Adoption Resources

Ships & Passenger Lists

Death Records & Obit Sites

Submit your Group Sheet

View Submitted Group Sheets

Free Online Genealogy Tools

National Genealogical Society 17 important free sites for genealogy.

About: Genealogy

GeneaSearch

Let's chat about the last name Landis. So, Where's It From? Think Swiss mountains and German farm country. That's the homeland of Landis. It's one of those last names that came from a first name—specifically, old Germanic names like Lando or Landolt. Those names are all about the "land," meaning territory or countryside. So, Landis basically means "son of Lando" or maybe "from the land." In Switzerland, it could have also just meant your family was from a specific plot or farm known as "Am Landis." How Did It Get to the US? This name hitched a ride to America with Swiss and German immigrants, especially with groups like the Mennonites and Amish, back in the 1700s and 1800s. A lot of them first settled in Pennsylvania (that's why you hear "Pennsylvania Dutch"), and their families later spread out to the Midwest. Because of that wave, the US now has way more people named Landis than anywhere else.

Beyond the basic origin, the surname Landis has fascinating connections to specific communities, a surprising linguistic journey, and notable genetic research.

Here's a deeper dive.

Interesting Linguistic & Historical Nuances From "Landolt": Many scholars believe "Landis" is a direct Swiss-German dialect contraction of the older surname "Landolt" (meaning "land ruler"). The "-is" ending is a typical Swiss pet form, like "Jakob" becoming "Jakobis" or "Jakob." Not Typically Jewish: While the similar surname "Landes" is common among Ashkenazi Jews (from the German word for "country"), "Landis" itself is not generally considered a Jewish surname; its lineage is overwhelmingly Swiss-German Protestant and Anabaptist. Famous Fictional Landis: The name was used for the iconic character "Mickey Landis" in the 1980s sitcom Happy Days, played by Arlene Golonka.

Genetic Genealogy (Landis DNA Project) The Landis Surname DNA Project on FamilyTreeDNA has used genetic testing to map the family's branches. A key finding: A Dominant Haplogroup: A significant majority of Landis men tested belong to a specific sub-group of Haplogroup R1b (common in Western Europe), with a unique marker signature that strongly suggests a single common ancestor in Switzerland within the last 600-800 years. This genetically confirms the documented family histories.

Modern Distribution & Variants Highest Density Today: While the US has the most people named Landis, the highest density (per capita) is still found in Switzerland, followed by the United States, and then Germany. Common Variants & Misspellings: Landes (French/German/Jewish variant) Landi (Italian) Land (simplified German/English) Landy (Anglicized) Historic records also show Landes, Landys, Landiss, and Landus.

Notable Landises Beyond the Famous Few Name Contribution / Notoriety Henry R. Landis (1865-1925) Co-founded the Landis Valley Museum in PA, a major repository of Pennsylvania German folk culture. Frederick Landis (1872-1934) U.S. Congressman from Indiana and author, known for his pro-Prohibition stance. Caleb Landis (19th Cent.) Pioneering horticulturist in Ohio, known for developing fruit tree stock.