German Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you curious about the rich history and meaning behind German last names? Germany, with its diverse regions and cultural influences, boasts a fascinating tapestry of surnames that reveal insights into family heritage, occupations, and even personality traits. This comprehensive guide explores the origins and meanings of over 40 common German last names, offering a glimpse into the fascinating world of German genealogy.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Ackermann** | "Fieldman" or "farmer" |
| **Albrecht** | "Noble brightness" |
| **Bauer** | "Farmer" |
| **Becker** | "Baker" |
| **Berger** | "Mountain dweller" |
| **Bergmann** | "Miner" |
| **Binder** | "Binder" |
| **Bock** | "Goat" |
| **Böhme** | "From the beech tree" |
| **Borchert** | "From the hill" |
| **Brandt** | "Sword" |
| **Braun** | "Brown" |
| **Breuer** | "Brewer" |
| **Busch** | "Bush" |
| **Fischer** | "Fisherman" |
| **Fleischer** | "Butcher" |
| **Fuchs** | "Fox" |
| **Gärtner** | "Gardener" |
| **Geiger** | "Fiddler" |
| **Gerber** | "Tanner" |
| **Glaser** | "Glassmaker" |
| **Goldberg** | "Golden mountain" |
| **Graf** | "Count" |
| **Greiner** | "From the grove" |
| **Gruber** | "Digger" |
| **Hahn** | "Rooster" |
| **Hartmann** | "Strong man" |
| **Hausmann** | "Houseman" |
| **Heidel** | "Heath" |
| **Heinemann** | "Homeman" |
| **Henning** | "Home ruler" |
| **Herbst** | "Autumn" |
| **Herrmann** | "Army man" |
| **Hoffmann** | "Homeman" |
| **Huber** | "Farm owner" |
| **Jäger** | "Hunter" |
| **Kaiser** | "Emperor" |
| **Keller** | "Cellar" |
| **Klein** | "Small" |
| **Koch** | "Cook" |
| **Krause** | "Curly" |
| **Kuhn** | "Son" |
| **Lang** | "Long" |
| **Lehmann** | "Tenant" |
| **Lenz** | "Spring" |
| **Liebmann** | "Beloved man" |
| **Löffler** | "Spooner" |
| **Lohmann** | "Tenant" |
| **Maier** | "Mayor" |
| **Mann** | "Man" |
| **Mayer** | "Mayor" |
| **Meier** | "Mayor" |
| **Meyer** | "Mayor" |
| **Müller** | "Miller" |
| **Neumann** | "New man" |
| **Nickel** | "Little Nicholas" |
| **Oelrich** | "Rich in oil" |
| **Pfaff** | "Priest" |
| **Pfeiffer** | "Piper" |
| **Pöhlmann** | "From the hill" |
| **Räuber** | "Robber" |
| **Reuter** | "Rider" |
| **Richter** | "Judge" |
| **Ritter** | "Knight" |
| **Roth** | "Red" |
| **Schmidt** | "Blacksmith" |
| **Schneider** | "Tailor" |
| **Schröder** | "Tailor" |
| **Schubert** | "Beautiful bird" |
| **Schulz** | "Steward" |
| **Schuster** | "Shoemaker" |
| **Schwarz** | "Black" |
| **Seidel** | "Tankard" |
| **Seitz** | "Victor" |
| **Siebert** | "Victory hill" |
| **Simon** | "He who hears" |
| **Sommer** | "Summer" |
| **Stahl** | "Steel" |
| **Stein** | "Stone" |
| **Steiner** | "Stone owner" |
| **Stöcker** | "Stick maker" |
| **Straub** | "Straw" |
| **Strauss** | "Bush" |
| **Süß** | "Sweet" |
| **Thieme** | "Timothy" |
| **Walter** | "Ruler of the army" |
| **Weber** | "Weaver" |
| **Wegener** | "Warrior" |
| **Weinert** | "Wine merchant" |
| **Weiss** | "White" |
| **Wendland** | "Land of the Wends" |
| **Werner** | "Defender" |
| **Wiese** | "Meadow" |
| **Wilhelm** | "Will helmet" |
| **Wolf** | "Wolf" |
| **Zimmermann** | "Carpenter" |