| German Surname | Meaning/Origin |
|---|---|
| Schmidt | smith |
| Schneider | taylor |
| Fischer | fisher |
| Weber | weaver |
What are some typical German last names?
Some of the most common last names that are unforgettable are Graf, Einstein, Becker, Kahn, Klose, Ballack, Bach, and so on. In Germany, last names, or surnames are usually referred to as Nachname, and each of them have been derived either from the person’s profession, or on the basis of the person’s physical characteristics. Here are a few interesting facts about German surnames.
What is a good German last name?
What are some common German last names?
- Müller, occupation (miller)
- Schmidt, occupation (smith)
- Schneider, occupation (tailor)
- Fischer, occupation (fisherman)
- Weber, occupation (weaver)
- Meyer, occupation (originally a manorial landlord, later a self-employed farmer)
- Wagner, occupation (wainwright)
What is the most popular last name in Germany?
The 10 Most Common German surnames (with English translations)
- Becker - baker
- Fischer - fisherman
- Hoffmann / Hofmann - courtier or steward
- Meier or Meyer - manorial landlord, or later, a self-employed farmer
- Müller - miller
- Schmidt - smith
- Schneider - tailor
- Schulz - sheriff (medieval)
- Wagner - wainwright (maker & repairer of wagons)
- Weber - weaver
What is Germany's real name?
However, the official name of Germany is Bundesrepublik Deutschland. It is also known as the Federal Republic of Germany. — Jaya Srivastava, Kanpur
What is a typical German last name?
Müller, Schmidt and Meier: the most common German surnames The most common German surname, Müller (miller), is shared by around 700,000 people. This is followed in popularity by the name Schmidt (along with variants such as Schmitt or Schmitz, this comes from the blacksmith's trade), with Meier coming in third place.
What are the rarest German last names?
Uncommon German Last NamesBaumann (German origin) means “farmer”.Bierhals (German origin) meaning “beer-throat”.Bierwagen (German origin) means “beer-cart”.Dietrich (German origin) means “people's ruler”Durchdenwald (German origin) meaning “through-the-forest”.Eierkuchen (German origin) meaning “egg cake”.More items...
Whats a German surname?
The most common surnames in Germany are reportedly: Müller, Möller ("miller") Schmidt, Schmitt, Schmitz, Schmied ("smith, blacksmith") Schneider ("tailor")
What is German full name?
The official name of the country is Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland). The terms "Westdeutschland" and "Ostdeutschland" are still used for the western and the eastern parts of the German territory, respectively.
What is a cool German last name?
German Last Names and Their MeaningsGerman SurnameMeaning/OriginMüllermillerSchmidtsmithSchneidertaylorFischerfisher95 more rows•Dec 5, 2019
What is the longest German name?
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr. - Wikipedia.
What's the most German name?
This year's most popular namesRankName (Girl)Name (Boy)1.MariePaul2.Sophie / SofieAlexander3.MariaMaximilian4.Sophia / SofiaElias6 more rows•May 12, 2020
What are the top 10 German last names?
Data updated to 12 February 2021.Müller, occupation (miller)Schmidt, occupation (smith)Schneider, occupation (tailor)Fischer, occupation (fisherman)Weber, occupation (weaver)Meyer, occupation (originally a manorial landlord, later a self-employed farmer)Wagner, occupation (wainwright)Becker, occupation (baker)More items...
Is Trump a German last name?
Trump is a surname of English and German origin: a German surname, possibly from a word for "drum". It is notable as the surname of Donald Trump who was president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
What is a very German girl name?
Along with Alice and Emma, the top German girl names in the US Top 1000 today include Adele, Amelia, Annalise, Ella, Elsa, Emmeline, Millie, and Zelda. In Germany, unique girl names with modern style include Anja, Frieda, Ida, Maude, Romy, and Tilly.
Do Germans have last names?
Most Germans have two personal names (one that is a first name and one as a middle name) and a family name (e.g. Maria Anna SCHAFER). Surnames are passed down to subsequent generations through the father's lineage. Women often adopt their husband's surname in marriage but sometimes choose to keep their maiden name.
Why does Germany have 3 names?
Deutschland, Allemagne, Tyskland, Saksa, Németország: All over the world, the federal republic that is Germany is known by different names. This is largely down to the tribal history of Germany, as other civilisations and people came to associate certain words with the people who resided in the area.
What are the rare last name?
10 Rarest Last Names in the United StatesTuffin.Bombardo.Duckstein.Stawarski.Ragsdill.Panchak.Mosheyev.Guillebeaux.More items...•
What Is a Low German surname?
Names, such as Schoonmaker, ten Brink, Barkhofen, op de Weeg, Willems and many others betray their Low German origin. If you see one of these surnames, you should believe that the family that carries the name is, or at least had ancestors, from northern Germany.
What is a good rare last name?
Unique Last NamesBarlowe.Caddel.Hart.Katz.Laurier.Madden.Elrod.Whitlock.More items...•
What are the top 10 German last names?
Data updated to 12 February 2021.Müller, occupation (miller)Schmidt, occupation (smith)Schneider, occupation (tailor)Fischer, occupation (fisherman)Weber, occupation (weaver)Meyer, occupation (originally a manorial landlord, later a self-employed farmer)Wagner, occupation (wainwright)Becker, occupation (baker)More items...
Where did the last name Ingrid Bauer come from?
Ingrid Bauer. Updated December 05, 2019. German last names originate from places and professions in Germany and far beyond, as a list of 100 of the most common German surnames shows. The list was initially created by searching for the most common last names in German telephone books.
What does the last name OHG stand for?
In the table, the German name is listed on the left, with its origin (and explanation if needed) on the right. The acronyms OHG and MHG stand for Old High German and Middle High German , respectively.
What does the last name Meyer mean?
The meanings of German last names are those as defined initially when these names became surnames. For example, the surname Meyer means dairy farmer today , whereas, during the Middle Ages, Meyer designated people who were stewards of landholders.
Is Ingrid Bauer fluent in German?
B.A., German and French. Ingrid Bauer, who is fluent in German, has been teaching and tutoring the German language since 1996. She has a teaching degree and an M.A. in German studies. our editorial process. Ingrid Bauer. Updated December 05, 2019. German last names originate from places and professions in Germany and far beyond, ...
When will Germany change its name?
March 26, 2020. March 26, 2020. Image: Shutterstock. Germany is a land that has undergone various political and geographical changes. These changes had their influence on German surnames that were often based on the places and the profession of the people. In this MomJunction post, we put across 200 German last names along with their interesting ...
What is the German name for people who live near the forest?
19. Danner. It is likely derived from the Middle Low German word ‘dan,’ which means ‘pines’ or ‘forest.’. It is a German toponymic name for people who live near the forest. 20. Debus. It is derived from the name ‘Matthaus,’ which is the German variant of the name ‘Matthew’ that means ‘gift of God’ in Hebrew. 21.
What is the German word for a sign maker?
Zastrow. It is a toponymic name for someone from a place called Zastrow that lied in the historical region of Pomerania of Germany and Poland. 198. Zeiger. It is the German word for ‘sign,’ ‘pointer’ or an ‘indicator.’. It is an occupational name for a sign-maker. 199. Zeller.
Where does the last name Balsiger come from?
It is a German toponymic surname that comes from the Middle High German word ‘ban’ meaning an ‘open space’ or an ‘open area.’. 10. Balsiger. This is a toponymic name for people who hail from a place called Palzing in the Bavarian region of Germany.
What does Bach mean?
It means ‘battle-bright.’. 8. Bach. It means a ‘stream,’ ‘brook,’ or a ‘creek’ in German. It is probably a toponymic name referring to someone who lived by a stream or a water body. 9. Bahn.
What is the meaning of the name Wallberg?
The name could also be the variant of ‘Wahlberg,’ which means a ‘hill with a meadow’ in Middle High German.
What does "licht" mean in German?
It is a toponymic name for someone from any of the several places called Lichtenberg in Germany. In German, ‘licht’ means ‘light,’ and ‘berg,’ means ‘mountain.’
Why did Germans change their surname?
After immigrating to America, many Germans changed ("Americanized") their surname to make it easier for others to pronounce or merely to feel more a part of their new home. Many surnames, especially occupational and descriptive surnames, were changed to the English equivalent of the German.
Where is the patronymic surname found?
Patronymic surnames are found primarily in the Northwestern areas of Germany, although they may be encountered in other areas of Germany. (Niklas Albrecht -- Niklas son of Albrecht).
What is the occupational last name of Lukas Fischer?
Occupational Surnames - More commonly found in German families than almost any other culture, these last names are based on the person’s job or trade (Lukas Fischer -- Lukas the Fisherman). Three suffixes which often indicate a German occupational name are: -er (one who), commonly found in names such as Fischer, one who fishes; -hauer (hewer or cutter), used in names such as Baumhauer, tree chopper; and -macher (one who makes), found in names like Schumacher, one who makes shoes.
What is farm name in Germany?
A variation on locality names, farm names in Germany are names which came from the family farm. The thing which makes them different from traditional surnames, however, is that when a person moved onto a farm, he would change his name to that of the farm (a name which usually came from the farm's original owner). A man might also change his surname to his wife's maiden name if she inherited a farm. This practice obviously results in a dilemma for genealogists, with such possibilities as children in one family being born under different surnames.
Where did the last name Leon come from?
Geographical Surnames - Derived from the location of the homestead from which the first bearer and his family lived (Leon Meer -- Leon from by the sea). Other geographical surnames in Germany are derived from the state, region, or village of the first bearer's origin, often reflecting a division in tribes and regions, i.e.
What does the oe mean in German?
They are often very easy to identify if you either know a little German or know which clues to look for. Names that contain the vowel clusters ue and oe indicate umlauts (Schroeder -- Schröder ), providing a clue to German origins.
What does the name "German" mean?
German Name Meaning. English: ethnic name from Old French germain ‘German’ (Latin Germanus). This sometimes denoted an actual immigrant from Germany, but was also used to refer to a person who had trade or other connections with German-speaking lands.
Where is the German family from?
You can see how German families moved over time by selecting different census years. The German family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most German families were found in the USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 59 German families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 31% of all the recorded German's in the USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of German families in 1840.
What did your German ancestors do for a living?
In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the US named German. 18% of German men worked as a Laborer and 8% of German women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named German were Truck Driver and Teacher.
What German family records will you find?
There are 102,000 census records available for the last name German. Like a window into their day-to-day life, German census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.
How many immigration records are there for last name German?
There are 16,000 immigration records available for the last name German. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.
How to find out where a German family lived?
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the German surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Where did the name "Germanus" come from?
English (of Norman origin): from the Old French personal name Germain (see Germain).
Where are German names used?
German names are used in Germany and other German -speaking areas such as Austria and Switzerland. See also about German names.
What does "acker" mean in German?
Denoted a person who lived near a field, derived from Middle English aker or Middle High German acker meaning "field".
What does the name "Hauen" mean?
Occupational name meaning "woodcutter", derived from German Baum "tree" and hauen "to chop".
What is Frankenstein's nickname?
The monster, nameless in the novel, is sometimes informally or erroneously called Frankenstein in modern speech. Means "free" in German, probably referring to someone outside the feudal system. Means "joy" in German, a nickname for a cheerful person. A famous bearer was the psychologist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).
What is the meaning of the name Bach?
Derived from Aust, an archaic diminutive of August. Bach German. Topographic name for someone who lived by a stream, from Middle High German bach meaning "stream". This name was borne by members of the Bach musical family, notably the composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Bachman German.
Where does the name Borchardt come from?
Borchardt German. Derived from the given name Burkhard. Bösch 1 German. Derived from a diminutive of the given name Sebastian. Böttcher German. Occupational name meaning "cooper, barrel maker" in German. Braband German. Derived from the name of the region of Brabant in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Where does the name Achilles come from?
German cognate of Abate. Achilles German. Derived from the given name Achilles. Achterberg Dutch, German. From the name of various places in the Netherlands and Germany, for example the village of achterberg in Utrecht. The place names are derived from Low German achter "behind" and berg "mountain, hill".
What is the most common name in Germany?
Although Müller is the most common name in German-speaking countries, in some areas other surnames are more frequent than Müller. The common names Schmidt and Schmitz lead in the central German-speaking and eastern Low German -speaking areas. Meyer is particularly common in the Low German-speaking regions, especially in Lower Saxony (where it is more common than Müller). Bauer leads in eastern Upper German -speaking Bavaria. Rarer names tend to accumulate in the north and south. Huber is common in southern Bavaria and is, with the exception of Munich, the most frequent name in that area. Patronymic surnames such as Jansen/Janssen, Hansen, and Petersen are the most common names in the far north (Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein ).
Why is the name Nguyen so common in Germany?
Because many Vietnamese sought asylum in West Germany or guest work in East Germany during and after the Vietnam War and because approximately 40% of the Vietnamese population carry one particular name, the surname Nguyen is notably common in Germany.
What does the name Dietrich mean?
Dietrich, forename composed of Old High German diot ("people") and rihhi ("mighty"), meaning "ruler of people"
Where do Polish people live in Germany?
Many Polish-named Germans reside in the Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, though they are mostly " Germanized " by form (e.g. Orlowski, Schimanski, Rudzinski, Kowalski, Schymanietz, Matuzek to Matussek or Mattner, Koslowski, etc.).
Where do most Slavic names come from?
Slavic names. Due to the historical settlement of Slavs, Slavic names are most common in Saxony, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (especially in Lusatia, where Sorbs continue to reside today). About 13% of the German population today has names of Slavic origin. Many Austrians also have surnames of Slavic origin.
Where is Bauer from?
Bauer leads in eastern Upper German -speaking Bavaria. Rarer names tend to accumulate in the north and south. Huber is common in southern Bavaria and is, with the exception of Munich, the most frequent name in that area. Patronymic surnames such as Jansen/Janssen, Hansen, and Petersen are the most common names in the far north ...