Famous German Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you curious about the origins and meanings behind famous German last names? This comprehensive guide provides an in-depth look at the diverse and fascinating history of German surnames. Explore a vast list of common and distinguished German last names, uncovering their unique origins and meanings. Discover the rich tapestry of German culture and heritage reflected in these enduring family names.
1. **Bauer:** farmer, peasant
2. **Becker:** baker
3. **Berger:** mountain dweller
4. **Bergmann:** mountain man, miner
5. **Binder:** binder, bookbinder
6. **Bischoff:** bishop
7. **Bock:** buck, male goat
8. **Bode:** messenger, herald
9. **Boehm:** Bohemian, Czech
10. **Boettcher:** potter
11. **Borchert:** dwarf, small person
12. **Bosch:** forest, wood
13. **Brandt:** firebrand, fire
14. **Braun:** brown
15. **Breuer:** brewer
16. **Buchholz:** wood near a book (tree)
17. **Busch:** bush, thicket
18. **Christ:** Christian, follower of Christ
19. **Claus:** Nicholas, Saint Nicholas
20. **Cohn:** son of John
21. **Dittmann:** theodoric, ruler of the people
22. **Dorn:** thorn
23. **Ebert:** bright, famous
24. **Eichhorn:** squirrel
25. **Engel:** angel
26. **Fischer:** fisherman
27. **Fleischer:** butcher
28. **Foerster:** forester
29. **Franz:** Frenchman
30. **Friedrich:** peaceful ruler
31. **Gaertner:** gardener
32. **Geiger:** violinist, fiddler
33. **Glaser:** glassmaker
34. **Goebel:** goblin, little man
35. **Goetz:** god, deity
36. **Goldberg:** golden mountain
37. **Goller:** bell ringer
38. **Gross:** large, big
39. **Haase:** hare, rabbit
40. **Hahn:** rooster
41. **Hammer:** hammer
42. **Hartmann:** strong man
43. **Hauck:** hawk
44. **Hecht:** pike, fish
45. **Heinemann:** homeman
46. **Heinze:** home, house
47. **Heller:** bright, clear
48. **Herbst:** autumn
49. **Herrmann:** ruler of the army
50. **Hess:** Hessian, from Hesse
51. **Hoffmann:** courtman
52. **Holm:** island, meadow
53. **Huber:** farmer, owner of a farm
54. **Jaeger:** hunter
55. **Jansen:** son of Jan
56. **Jauch:** yelling, shouting
57. **Jung:** young
58. **Kaiser:** emperor
59. **Kantor:** cantor, choirmaster
60. **Keller:** cellar
61. **Kemper:** warrior, fighter
62. **Kerner:** kernel, seed
63. **Kessler:** potter
64. **Koch:** cook
65. **Koenig:** king
66. **Krause:** curly, frizzy
67. **Krueger:** innkeeper
68. **Kuhn:** son
69. **Lang:** long
70. **Lenz:** spring
71. **Leuthe:** people
72. **Liebmann:** dear man
73. **Lindemann:** lime tree man
74. **Loew:** lion
75. **Ludwig:** famous warrior
76. **Maier:** mayor, steward
77. **Mann:** man
78. **Marx:** Mars, god of war
79. **Mayer:** mayor, steward
80. **Meier:** mayor, steward
81. **Meyer:** mayor, steward
82. **Michel:** Michael, who is like God
83. **Miller:** miller
84. **Moeller:** miller
85. **Mueller:** miller
86. **Neumann:** new man
87. **Oestreich:** Austria
88. **Otto:** wealthy, prosperous
89. **Paul:** small, humble
90. **Peters:** son of Peter
91. **Pfeiffer:** piper
92. **Pfaff:** priest, cleric
93. **Pfleiderer:** caretaker, guardian
94. **Pohl:** pole, stake
95. **Pritz:** prince
96. **Rabe:** raven
97. **Reuter:** rider, messenger
98. **Richter:** judge
99. **Riedl:** reed, rush
100. **Roemer:** Roman
101. **Rothe:** red
102. **Rupprecht:** bright fame
103. **Schmidt:** blacksmith
104. **Schneider:** tailor
105. **Scholz:** steward, official
106. **Schroeder:** tailor
107. **Schubert:** handsome, beautiful
108. **Schueler:** student, pupil
109. **Schulz:** student, pupil
110. **Schuster:** shoemaker
111. **Schwarz:** black
112. **Seidel:** beer mug
113. **Seifert:** seif, a type of wild animal
114. **Seiler:** rope maker
115. **Simon:** hearing
116. **Sohn:** son
117. **Sommer:** summer
118. **Stahl:** steel
119. **Steiger:** climber, rock climber
120. **Stein:** stone
121. **Steiner:** stone worker, mason
122. **Stern:** star
123. **Stieler:** stylist, artist
124. **Stolz:** proud
125. **Straub:** bush, thicket
126. **Streicher:** string player, musician
127. **Strobel:** straw, hay
128. **Strohm:** straw, hay
129. **Suess:** sweet, dear
130. **Teichmann:** pond man
131. **Thiele:** dove
132. **Thomas:** twin
133. **Tischler:** carpenter
134. **Toepfer:** potter
135. **Trautmann:** brave man
136. **Treichel:** little bell
137. **Urban:** from the city
138. **Vogel:** bird
139. **Voigt:** administrator, official
140. **Volk:** people
141. **Wagner:** wagoner, coachman
142. **Walter:** ruler of the army
143. **Weber:** weaver
144. **Wegner:** way, path
145. **Weise:** wise man
146. **Weiss:** white
147. **Wenzel:** victory of the people
148. **Werner:** defender of the army
149. **Wiese:** meadow
150. **Wilhelm:** strong will
151. **Winkler:** winemaker
152. **Winter:** winter
153. **Witte:** white, pale
154. **Wolf:** wolf
155. **Zimmermann:** carpenter
156. **Zoellner:** customs officer
157. **Zorn:** anger, wrath