Lethin was a båtsman name - any idea on the meaning?

[Lisa Lethin]

My great-greatgrandfather was a båtsman from Blekinge, Per Johansson Lethin.  My greatgrandfather took the name Lethin when coming to the U.S.  Any idea as to the meaning of Lethin? -- Lisa Lethin

[Monica Svedberg]

Lisa,
As written it does not mean anything. If you can tell the name of the place in Blekinge where your great granefather was born or lived, perhaps it is possible to find a connection to the name Lethin.
 
Monica

[Bertil Friberg]

Re: Lethin,
I checked the Swedish Telephone Directory. There are 41 persons with your name, spellt exactly like that. Most of them in southern Sweden. Maybe you still have relatives here, that may see your question here at Rötter.
Good Luck!

[Lisa Lethin]

Bertil -- Thanks for the info.  It is good to know there are other Lethins in Sweden.  Even if they are not relatives, it would be interesting to hear from them, since it is an unusual name. Maybe one of them will read this forum sometime, like you said. -- Lisa

[Bertil Friberg]

Hello Lisa,
I checked Disgen - a Genealogy forum in Sweden, where many genealogists are listed with their records. I found several persons who research Lethin, although I didn?t find your folks. These data belong to every researcher, so I cannot forward any data. But one person who follows up Lethin families from Blekinge Province can be  reached at runeke@swipnet.se.
Maybe he knows something.

[Lisa Lethin]

Thanks, Bertil,  I just sent Rune an e-mail. That is a very good idea. -- Lisa Lethin

[Lisa Lethin]

Av Christina Backman – torsdag den 05 jan 2006 kl. 18.30:  [Ändra]  
 
What was the name of your Båtsman, where did he live and when? Very often a name like that would be created from a place-name.  
 
Christina -- My great-greatgrandfather was Per Johansson Lethin of Dalanshult, Jamshog (now Kyrkhult), Blekinge.  There was a Scottish baronage named Lethin.  Perhaps that is the place name, and a Scottish mercenary (soldier) brought the name to Sweden.  -- Lisa