Most Common German Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you curious about the most common German last names? This comprehensive guide explores the origins and meanings of some of the most prevalent surnames in Germany. From traditional patronymics to occupational names, discover the rich history and cultural significance behind these common German last names.
1. **Müller:** This is the most common German last name, meaning "miller". It is a patronymic, meaning it is derived from the father's occupation.
2. **Schmidt:** This name means "blacksmith", and is also a patronymic. It is the second most common last name in Germany.
3. **Schneider:** This name means "tailor", and is another patronymic. It is the third most common last name in Germany.
4. **Fischer:** This name means "fisherman", and is yet another patronymic. It is the fourth most common last name in Germany.
5. **Weber:** This name means "weaver", and is another patronymic. It is the fifth most common last name in Germany.
6. **Meyer:** This name means "farmer", and is a patronymic. It is the sixth most common last name in Germany.
7. **Schulz:** This name means "steward", and is a patronymic. It is the seventh most common last name in Germany.
8. **Becker:** This name means "baker", and is another patronymic. It is the eighth most common last name in Germany.
9. **Hoffmann:** This name means "courtman", and is derived from the German word for "court".
10. **Bauer:** This name means "farmer", and is a patronymic. It is the tenth most common last name in Germany.
11. **Schröder:** This name means "tailor", and is a patronymic.
12. **Koch:** This name means "cook", and is a patronymic.
13. **Wagner:** This name means "wagon maker", and is a patronymic.
14. **Klein:** This name means "small", and is a descriptive name.
15. **Wolf:** This name means "wolf", and is a descriptive name.
16. **Braun:** This name means "brown", and is a descriptive name.
17. **Schmitt:** This name means "blacksmith", and is a patronymic.
18. **Lange:** This name means "long", and is a descriptive name.
19. **Lehmann:** This name means "tenant", and is a patronymic.
20. **Werner:** This name means "defender", and is a patronymic.
21. **Krause:** This name means "curly", and is a descriptive name.
22. **Zimmermann:** This name means "carpenter", and is a patronymic.
23. **Peters:** This name means "son of Peter", and is a patronymic.
24. **Schwarz:** This name means "black", and is a descriptive name.
25. **Friedrich:** This name means "peaceful ruler", and is a given name used as a surname.
26. **Hermann:** This name means "army man", and is a given name used as a surname.
27. **Hartmann:** This name means "strong man", and is a given name used as a surname.
28. **König:** This name means "king", and is a descriptive name.
29. **Frank:** This name means "free man", and is a descriptive name.
30. **Engel:** This name means "angel", and is a descriptive name.
31. **Schäfer:** This name means "shepherd", and is a patronymic.
32. **Kuhn:** This name means "son", and is a patronymic.
33. **Maier:** This name means "mayor", and is a patronymic.
34. **Richter:** This name means "judge", and is a patronymic.
35. **Gärtner:** This name means "gardener", and is a patronymic.
36. **Huber:** This name means "farmer", and is a patronymic.
37. **Sommer:** This name means "summer", and is a descriptive name.
38. **Winkler:** This name means "winemaker", and is a patronymic.
39. **Schuster:** This name means "shoemaker", and is a patronymic.
40. **Jung:** This name means "young", and is a descriptive name.
41. **Neumann:** This name means "new man", and is a patronymic.
42. **Kessler:** This name means "cheese maker", and is a patronymic.
43. **Hahn:** This name means "rooster", and is a descriptive name.
44. **Ritter:** This name means "knight", and is a descriptive name.
45. **Roth:** This name means "red", and is a descriptive name.
46. **Walter:** This name means "ruler of the army", and is a given name used as a surname.
47. **Möller:** This name means "miller", and is a patronymic.
48. **Heinemann:** This name means "homeman", and is a patronymic.
49. **Schmitt:** This name means "blacksmith", and is a patronymic.
50. **Albrecht:** This name means "noble brightness", and is a given name used as a surname.
51. **Krüger:** This name means "innkeeper", and is a patronymic.
52. **Busch:** This name means "bush", and is a descriptive name.
53. **Thiel:** This name means "people", and is a descriptive name.
54. **Gruber:** This name means "pit", and is a descriptive name.
55. **Schnell:** This name means "fast", and is a descriptive name.
56. **Will:** This name means "determined", and is a given name used as a surname.
57. **Ludwig:** This name means "famous warrior", and is a given name used as a surname.
58. **Seidel:** This name means "little seat", and is a descriptive name.
59. **Reinhardt:** This name means "strong ruler", and is a given name used as a surname.
60. **Reuter:** This name means "rider", and is a patronymic.
61. **Müller:** This name means "miller", and is a patronymic.
62. **Schmitt:** This name means "blacksmith", and is a patronymic.
63. **Schmidt:** This name means "blacksmith", and is a patronymic.
64. **Fischer:** This name means "fisherman", and is a patronymic.
65. **Bauer:** This name means "farmer", and is a patronymic.
66. **Weber:** This name means "weaver", and is a patronymic.
67. **Schneider:** This name means "tailor", and is a patronymic.
68. **Meyer:** This name means "farmer", and is a patronymic.
69. **Schulz:** This name means "steward", and is a patronymic.
70. **Becker:** This name means "baker", and is a patronymic.
71. **Hoffmann:** This name means "courtman", and is derived from the German word for "court".
72. **Schröder:** This name means "tailor", and is a patronymic.
73. **Koch:** This name means "cook", and is a patronymic.
74. **Wagner:** This name means "wagon maker", and is a patronymic.
75. **Klein:** This name means "small", and is a descriptive name.
76. **Wolf:** This name means "wolf", and is a descriptive name.
77. **Braun:** This name means "brown", and is a descriptive name.
78. **Schmitt:** This name means "blacksmith", and is a patronymic.
79. **Lange:** This name means "long", and is a descriptive name.
80. **Lehmann:** This name means "tenant", and is a patronymic.
81. **Werner:** This name means "defender", and is a patronymic.
82. **Krause:** This name means "curly", and is a descriptive name.
83. **Zimmermann:** This name means "carpenter", and is a patronymic.
84. **Peters:** This name means "son of Peter", and is a patronymic.
85. **Schwarz:** This name means "black", and is a descriptive name.
86. **Friedrich:** This name means "peaceful ruler", and is a given name used as a surname.
87. **Hermann:** This name means "army man", and is a given name used as a surname.
88. **Hartmann:** This name means "strong man", and is a given name used as a surname.
89. **König:** This name means "king", and is a descriptive name.
90. **Frank:** This name means "free man", and is a descriptive name.
91. **Engel:** This name means "angel", and is a descriptive name.
92. **Schäfer:** This name means "shepherd", and is a patronymic.
93. **Kuhn:** This name means "son", and is a patronymic.
94. **Maier:** This name means "mayor", and is a patronymic.
95. **Richter:** This name means "judge", and is a patronymic.
96. **Gärtner:** This name means "gardener", and is a patronymic.
97. **Huber:** This name means "farmer", and is a patronymic.
98. **Sommer:** This name means "summer", and is a descriptive name.
99. **Winkler:** This name means "winemaker", and is a patronymic.
100. **Schuster:** This name means "shoemaker", and is a patronymic.