German Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for a list of common German last names? Look no further! This comprehensive guide provides an extensive collection of German surnames, along with their detailed meanings and origins. Whether you're researching your family history, crafting a fictional character, or simply curious about the etymology of names, this list is a valuable resource. Explore the rich tapestry of German surnames and uncover the stories behind these unique and evocative names.
1. **Ackermann:** From the Middle High German "acker" meaning "field" and "mann" meaning "man", indicating someone who worked the fields.
2. **Albrecht:** A compound name from the Old High German words "adal" meaning "noble" and "beraht" meaning "bright" or "famous".
3. **Bauer:** From the Middle High German "bouwer" meaning "farmer" or "peasant".
4. **Becker:** From the Middle High German "becker" meaning "baker".
5. **Berger:** From the Middle High German "berg" meaning "mountain" and "er" meaning "dweller", indicating someone who lived near a mountain.
6. **Bischoff:** From the Middle High German "biscof" meaning "bishop".
7. **Bode:** From the Old High German "boda" meaning "messenger".
8. **Boehm:** From the Old High German "bōm" meaning "tree".
9. **Braun:** From the Middle High German "brūn" meaning "brown" or "dark".
10. **Breuer:** From the Middle High German "brūwer" meaning "brewer".
11. **Busch:** From the Middle High German "busch" meaning "bush" or "shrub".
12. **Dittmar:** From the Old High German words "diot" meaning "people" and "mari" meaning "famous".
13. **Eberhardt:** A compound name from the Old High German words "eber" meaning "boar" and "hard" meaning "strong".
14. **Eichhorn:** From the Middle High German words "eich" meaning "oak" and "horn" meaning "horn", indicating someone who lived near an oak tree.
15. **Fischer:** From the Middle High German "fischer" meaning "fisherman".
16. **Fuchs:** From the Middle High German "fuchs" meaning "fox".
17. **Gartner:** From the Middle High German "gärtner" meaning "gardener".
18. **Geiger:** From the Middle High German "geiger" meaning "fiddler".
19. **Glaser:** From the Middle High German "glaser" meaning "glassmaker".
20. **Goldberg:** From the Middle High German words "gold" meaning "gold" and "berg" meaning "mountain".
21. **Gross:** From the Middle High German "groz" meaning "big" or "large".
22. **Haas:** From the Middle High German "hās" meaning "hare".
23. **Hahn:** From the Middle High German "hahn" meaning "rooster".
24. **Hartmann:** A compound name from the Old High German words "hart" meaning "strong" and "mann" meaning "man".
25. **Heinemann:** From the Old High German words "heim" meaning "home" and "mann" meaning "man", indicating someone who lived at home.
26. **Heinrich:** A compound name from the Old High German words "heim" meaning "home" and "rīc" meaning "ruler".
27. **Heller:** From the Middle High German "heller" meaning "bright" or "clear".
28. **Herbst:** From the Middle High German "herbst" meaning "autumn".
29. **Hoffmann:** From the Middle High German "hof" meaning "court" or "farm" and "mann" meaning "man", indicating someone who worked on a farm or estate.
30. **Huber:** From the Middle High German "huber" meaning "farmer" or "landowner".
31. **Jager:** From the Middle High German "jäger" meaning "hunter".
32. **Kaiser:** From the Middle High German "kaiser" meaning "emperor".
33. **Keller:** From the Middle High German "keller" meaning "cellar".
34. **Klein:** From the Middle High German "klīn" meaning "small".
35. **Koch:** From the Middle High German "koch" meaning "cook".
36. **Kramer:** From the Middle High German "krämer" meaning "merchant".
37. **Kuhn:** From the Middle High German "kū" meaning "cow".
38. **Kurz:** From the Middle High German "kurc" meaning "short".
39. **Langer:** From the Middle High German "lang" meaning "long".
40. **Lehmann:** From the Middle High German "lehn" meaning "fief" or "estate" and "mann" meaning "man", indicating someone who held a fief.
41. **Leutner:** From the Middle High German "lūtner" meaning "musician".
42. **Meyer:** From the Middle High German "meier" meaning "farmer" or "steward".
43. **Miller:** From the Middle High German "müller" meaning "miller".
44. **Muller:** From the Middle High German "müller" meaning "miller".
45. **Neumann:** From the Middle High German "niuman" meaning "new man", often used to denote someone who was a recent immigrant.
46. **Oelschlager:** From the Middle High German "öl" meaning "oil" and "schläger" meaning "beater", indicating someone who worked with oil.
47. **Peters:** From the biblical name Peter, meaning "stone" or "rock".
48. **Pfister:** From the Middle High German "pfister" meaning "baker".
49. **Pohl:** From the Middle High German "pōl" meaning "pole".
50. **Reuter:** From the Middle High German "rītar" meaning "rider" or "knight".
51. **Richter:** From the Middle High German "rīchter" meaning "judge".
52. **Ritter:** From the Middle High German "rītar" meaning "rider" or "knight".
53. **Schmidt:** From the Middle High German "smid" meaning "blacksmith".
54. **Schneider:** From the Middle High German "schneider" meaning "tailor".
55. **Schroeder:** From the Middle High German "schroeder" meaning "carpenter".
56. **Schulz:** From the Middle High German "schulz" meaning "steward" or "administrator".
57. **Schuster:** From the Middle High German "schuster" meaning "shoemaker".
58. **Schwarz:** From the Middle High German "swarz" meaning "black".
59. **Seidel:** From the Middle High German "seidel" meaning "mug" or "cup".
60. **Seifert:** From the Middle High German "seifer" meaning "soapmaker".
61. **Siebert:** From the Old High German words "sī" meaning "victory" and "beraht" meaning "bright".
62. **Simon:** From the biblical name Simon, meaning "hearing" or "listening".
63. **Sommer:** From the Middle High German "sumer" meaning "summer".
64. **Stahl:** From the Middle High German "stal" meaning "steel".
65. **Steiner:** From the Middle High German "stein" meaning "stone".
66. **Strauss:** From the Middle High German "strausz" meaning "ostrich".
67. **Sturm:** From the Middle High German "sturm" meaning "storm".
68. **Suter:** From the Middle High German "sūtar" meaning "shoemaker".
69. **Thiel:** From the Middle High German "tiel" meaning "thief".
70. **Walter:** From the Old High German words "walt" meaning "ruler" and "heri" meaning "army".
71. **Weber:** From the Middle High German "weber" meaning "weaver".
72. **Wegener:** From the Middle High German "wegen" meaning "way" or "path" and "er" meaning "dweller", indicating someone who lived near a path.
73. **Werner:** A compound name from the Old High German words "wer" meaning "man" and "heri" meaning "army".
74. **Wiese:** From the Middle High German "wiese" meaning "meadow".
75. **Wilhelm:** A compound name from the Old High German words "wil" meaning "will" or "desire" and "helm" meaning "helmet".
76. **Zimmermann:** From the Middle High German "zimmer" meaning "room" or "house" and "mann" meaning "man", indicating someone who built houses.
77. **Zorn:** From the Middle High German "zorn" meaning "anger".
78. **Zweig:** From the Middle High German "zweig" meaning "branch".