Noted historian and immigration researcher Jean-Claude Muller has released a new book entitled “Les noms de famille Luxembourgeois” (The Names of Luxembourgish Families). The nearly 1,200-page book delves into the origins of countless Luxembourgish family names and offers statistical information from the 1880 and 1980 Luxembourg censuses. 

Many family names find their origin in former occupations or given names. For example, names such as Petry and Huberty originally meant son of Peter and son of Hubert. Other family names are derived from old house names, which were traditionally used on farms and later became established as family identifiers within villages. 

The book also looks at how family names adapted across borders and into various languages. For instance, Holzmacher became Dubois in French. Muller’s research also aims to preserve historical Luxembourgish house names for future generations. Written in French, the book is easily translated into English, and it contains numerous images.