German Last Names List: A Comprehensive Guide to Common and Unique Surnames

Are you looking for a comprehensive list of German last names? Look no further! This list includes common and unique German surnames, providing detailed information about their origins and meanings. Whether you're researching your family history or simply interested in learning about German culture, this list is a valuable resource for understanding the fascinating world of German last names.
1. **Ackermann:** From the Old High German words "acker" (field) and "mann" (man), meaning "fieldman" or "farmer".
2. **Bauer:** From the Old High German word "bouar" meaning "farmer" or "peasant".
3. **Becker:** From the Middle High German word "becker" meaning "baker".
4. **Bergmann:** From the Old High German words "berg" (mountain) and "mann" (man), meaning "mountain man" or "miner".
5. **Böhmer:** From the Old High German word "boum" meaning "tree", referring to someone who lived near a tree or grove.
6. **Bollmann:** From the Middle High German word "boll" meaning "ball" or "round object", possibly referring to a person who worked with round objects.
7. **Braun:** From the Old High German word "brūn" meaning "brown" or "dark", possibly referring to someone with brown hair or skin.
8. **Breuer:** From the Old High German word "brūwer" meaning "brewer".
9. **Busch:** From the Old High German word "busch" meaning "bush" or "shrub", possibly referring to someone who lived near a bush or grove.
10. **Fischer:** From the Old High German word "fīscarī" meaning "fisherman".
11. **Frank:** From the Old High German word "franko" meaning "free" or "free man", likely referring to a member of the Frankish people.
12. **Friedrich:** From the Old High German words "fridu" (peace) and "rīc" (ruler), meaning "peaceful ruler".
13. **Geiger:** From the Middle High German word "geiger" meaning "fiddler" or "violinist".
14. **Glaser:** From the Middle High German word "glāser" meaning "glassmaker".
15. **Goldschmidt:** From the Old High German words "gold" (gold) and "smid" (smith), meaning "goldsmith".
16. **Gruber:** From the Old High German word "grūba" meaning "pit" or "cave", likely referring to someone who lived near a pit or cave.
17. **Haas:** From the Old High German word "hās" meaning "hare" or "rabbit", possibly referring to someone who hunted hares or lived near a place where hares were common.
18. **Hahn:** From the Old High German word "hān" meaning "rooster", likely referring to someone who raised chickens or had a rooster as a pet.
19. **Hartmann:** From the Old High German words "hart" (hard) and "mann" (man), meaning "strong man" or "brave man".
20. **Heinemann:** From the Old High German words "heim" (home) and "mann" (man), meaning "home man" or "householder".
21. **Henning:** From the Old High German word "henning" meaning "home" or "dwelling", likely referring to someone who lived in a specific home or dwelling.
22. **Herbst:** From the Old High German word "herbst" meaning "autumn".
23. **Hoffmann:** From the Old High German words "hof" (court) and "mann" (man), meaning "courtier" or "nobleman".
24. **Huber:** From the Old High German word "hūba" meaning "farm" or "estate", likely referring to someone who owned a farm or estate.
25. **Jäger:** From the Middle High German word "jäger" meaning "hunter".
26. **Kaiser:** From the Old High German word "keiser" meaning "emperor".
27. **Keller:** From the Old High German word "kellere" meaning "cellar" or "basement", likely referring to someone who worked in a cellar or basement.
28. **Klein:** From the Old High German word "klīn" meaning "small", likely referring to someone who was small in stature or had a small property.
29. **Koch:** From the Old High German word "koch" meaning "cook".
30. **Köhler:** From the Old High German word "kūlēr" meaning "charcoal burner".
31. **Krause:** From the Old High German word "krūs" meaning "curly" or "wavy", possibly referring to someone with curly hair or a curly beard.
32. **Kuhn:** From the Old High German word "kūne" meaning "bold" or "brave", possibly referring to someone who was known for their courage.
33. **Lange:** From the Old High German word "lang" meaning "long", likely referring to someone who was tall or had a long nose.
34. **Lehmann:** From the Old High German word "lāman" meaning "tenant" or "farmer", likely referring to someone who rented land or worked as a farmer.
35. **Leibnitz:** From the Old High German word "leib" meaning "body" or "life", likely referring to someone who was strong or had a strong personality.
36. **Lenz:** From the Old High German word "lenz" meaning "spring".
37. **Lorenz:** From the Latin word "Laurentius", meaning "laurel" or "bay tree", likely referring to someone who lived near a laurel tree or had a laurel tree in their garden.
38. **Mayer:** From the Old High German word "mājer" meaning "farmer" or "tenant", likely referring to someone who worked on a farm or rented land.
39. **Meier:** From the Old High German word "mējer" meaning "mayor" or "administrator", likely referring to someone who was in charge of a village or estate.
40. **Müller:** From the Old High German word "mūlere" meaning "miller".
41. **Neumann:** From the Old High German words "niuwe" (new) and "mann" (man), meaning "new man" or "recent settler".
42. **Pfeiffer:** From the Old High German word "pfeifer" meaning "piper" or "flute player".
43. **Pohl:** From the Old High German word "pōl" meaning "pool" or "pond", likely referring to someone who lived near a pool or pond.
44. **Ritter:** From the Old High German word "rītarī" meaning "knight".
45. **Schmidt:** From the Old High German word "smid" meaning "blacksmith".
46. **Schneider:** From the Old High German word "snaidar" meaning "tailor".
47. **Schröder:** From the Old High German word "scrōder" meaning "scrivener" or "clerk".
48. **Schumacher:** From the Old High German word "schūmacher" meaning "shoemaker".
49. **Schulz:** From the Old High German word "sculz" meaning "steward" or "administrator", likely referring to someone who was in charge of a household or estate.
50. **Schwarz:** From the Old High German word "swarz" meaning "black", possibly referring to someone with black hair or skin.
51. **Seidel:** From the Old High German word "seidel" meaning "pint" or "quart", likely referring to someone who worked with liquids or had a specific job involving measurement.
52. **Simon:** From the Hebrew word " שמעון" (Shimon), meaning "he who has heard" or "listener".
53. **Sommer:** From the Old High German word "sumar" meaning "summer".
54. **Stahl:** From the Old High German word "stahl" meaning "steel".
55. **Steiner:** From the Old High German word "stīn" meaning "stone", likely referring to someone who lived near a stone quarry or had a stone house.
56. **Stieber:** From the Old High German word "stībi" meaning "steep slope" or "hillside", likely referring to someone who lived on a steep slope or hillside.
57. **Strauss:** From the Old High German word "strūs" meaning "ostrich", likely referring to someone who raised ostriches or had an ostrich farm.
58. **Walter:** From the Old High German words "wald" (forest) and "heri" (army), meaning "ruler of the forest" or "forest warrior".
59. **Weber:** From the Old High German word "weber" meaning "weaver".
60. **Weiss:** From the Old High German word "wīs" meaning "white", possibly referring to someone with white hair or skin.
61. **Werner:** From the Old High German words "wer" (man) and "heri" (army), meaning "army man" or "warrior".
62. **Wiese:** From the Old High German word "wīsa" meaning "meadow" or "pasture", likely referring to someone who lived near a meadow or pasture.
63. **Wilhelm:** From the Old High German words "wil" (will) and "helm" (helmet), meaning "strong helmet" or "protected by will".
64. **Wolf:** From the Old High German word "wolf" meaning "wolf", likely referring to someone who hunted wolves or was associated with wolves in some way.
65. **Zimmermann:** From the Old High German words "zimbar" (timber) and "mann" (man), meaning "timber man" or "carpenter".