Common German Last Names

Five real German last names per press, common and rare, most with what they mean in English.

Common German Last Names

  1. GotthelfGott (“god”) + helfen (“help”).
  2. WeilerFrom Middle High German wīler, from Old High German wīlāri, from Latin vīllāre, derived from vīlla (“estate”).
  3. BelgerFrom a place or house name. Either from German Baldger, composed of bald (“bold”) + gēr (“spear”) or from several place name throughout current and former Germany: Belgern, Belgen or Belg.
  4. SchwabachFrom a place or house name. From Middle High German Suabach, from Old High German swāb (“Swabian”) + aha (“river”).
  5. RiedIn some cases from Ried (“reed”), in others from the root of roden (“to make arable”).

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How it works

These common German last names open with the 100 most common surnames in Germany, each with its band and, where a source gives one, its meaning in English. 412 more come from the dictionary. Müller, a miller, leads.

Read the full guide

Popular German last names, by band

The dropdown, How common, keeps the top 10, places 11 to 50, places 51 to 100 or the 412 further surnames. Müller, Schmidt and Schneider lead, and all three are trades: miller, smith and tailor.

Kinds, letters and long names

Under More filters, Kind keeps names from a trade (78), a given name (46), a place or house name (45) or a nickname or trait (17); a kind is marked only where a source states it. German last names starting with S number 88 here, German last names starting with H 49 and German last names starting with J 4. Among long German last names, Schwarzenberger runs to 15 letters.

Tips
  • A name that begins with Ä, Ö or Ü is found under A, O or U in the letter row.
  • Cards for the 100 most common give a band, not a count: the list prints no reusable figures.

Questions and answers

What are the most common German last names?

Müller, Schmidt, Schneider, Fischer and Weber lead the list of the most common surnames in Germany, followed by Meyer, Wagner, Becker, Schulz and Hoffmann. All ten come from trades.

Is this a German last name generator?

Yes. Each press deals five real German surnames at random from 512, and a filter narrows the draw to a band, a kind or one letter. No name is invented.

What do German last names mean?

Most of the common ones name a trade: Müller is a miller, Schmidt a smith, Zimmermann a carpenter. Others come from a given name, as Werner, a trait, as Klein, small, or a house name, as König, king.

Why does a card say 'As a German word'?

Many German surnames are ordinary words. Where the dictionary gives no origin for the surname itself, the card gives the meaning of the word: Rauch is smoke, Krabbe is crab. It does not say how any family came by the name.

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All 512 last names

Top 10 in Germany 10

  • Becker Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: baker.
  • Fischer Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: fisherman.
  • Hoffmann Top 10 in Germany. From a trade. An occupational surname for an owner or manager of a farm, from Middle High German hof (“farm”) + mann (“man”).
  • Meyer Top 10 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Müller Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: miller.
  • Schmidt Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: smith.
  • Schneider Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: tailor.
  • Schulz Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: medieval mayor.
  • Wagner Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: wainwright.
  • Weber Top 10 in Germany. From a trade: weaver.
Show all 512 last names (502 more)

Places 11 to 50 40

  • Bauer Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: farmer or peasant.
  • Braun Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: brown-haired.
  • Fuchs Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait.
  • Hahn Top 50 in Germany. As a German word: rooster.
  • Hartmann Top 50 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Herrmann Top 50 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Hofmann Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Huber Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Jung Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: young.
  • Kaiser Top 50 in Germany. From a place or house name: emperor.
  • Klein Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: small, short.
  • Koch Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: cook.
  • Köhler Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: charcoal-maker.
  • König Top 50 in Germany. From a place or house name: king.
  • Krause Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: curly haired.
  • Krüger Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Lang Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: tall.
  • Lange Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: tall.
  • Lehmann Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Maier Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Mayer Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Meier Top 50 in Germany. From a trade. As a German word: administrator or leaseholder of a manor.
  • Möller Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: miller.
  • Neumann Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait. From neu (“new”) + Mann (“man”).
  • Peters Top 50 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Richter Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: judge.
  • Schäfer Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: shepherd.
  • Schmid Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: smith.
  • Schmitt Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: smith.
  • Schmitz Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: smith.
  • Scholz Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Schröder Top 50 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Schubert Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: shoemaker.
  • Schulze Top 50 in Germany. From a trade. As a German word: village headman, sheriff.
  • Schwarz Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: black-haired.
  • Walter Top 50 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Weiß Top 50 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: white-haired or white-skinned.
  • Werner Top 50 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Wolf Top 50 in Germany. As a German word: wolf.
  • Zimmermann Top 50 in Germany. From a trade: carpenter.

Places 51 to 100 50

  • Albrecht Top 100 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Arnold Top 100 in Germany. From a given name. From Old High German arn (“eagle”).
  • Baumann Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: farmer or peasant.
  • Beck Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: baker.
  • Bender Top 100 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Berger Top 100 in Germany. From a place or house name.
  • Bergmann Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: miner.
  • Böhm Top 100 in Germany. From being from Bohemia (“Böhmen”).
  • Brandt Top 100 in Germany.
  • Busch Top 100 in Germany. From a place or house name: shrub.
  • Dietrich Top 100 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Engel Top 100 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Frank Top 100 in Germany. From Middle High German Franke, from Old High German Franko (“a Frank”).
  • Franke Top 100 in Germany.
  • Friedrich Top 100 in Germany. From a given name. Old High German Fridurih (fridu (“peace”) + -rih (“suffix for male names, originally a noun meaning king”)).
  • Graf Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: count.
  • Groß Top 100 in Germany. From a nickname or trait.
  • Günther Top 100 in Germany. From a given name. A medieval variant of Gunther, from Old High German gund (“battle”) + heri (“army”).
  • Haas Top 100 in Germany. From a place or house name: hare.
  • Heinrich Top 100 in Germany. From a given name. From Old High German Heimrih, Haimirich (8th century), composed of heim (“home”) + -rih (“suffix for male names, originally a noun meaning king”).
  • Horn Top 100 in Germany. From a place or house name: horn.
  • Jäger Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: hunter.
  • Keller Top 100 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Krämer Top 100 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Kraus Top 100 in Germany. From a nickname or trait: curly-haired.
  • Kuhn Top 100 in Germany.
  • Kühn Top 100 in Germany. From a nickname or trait.
  • Lorenz Top 100 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Ludwig Top 100 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Martin Top 100 in Germany. From a given name. From Latin Mārtīnus (“of or like Mars” or “little Mars”), Mārs, Mārtis + -īnus.
  • Otto Top 100 in Germany. From a given name. Short form of Old High German compound names beginning with the element ōt (“riches”), such as Ottokar and Otmar.
  • Pohl Top 100 in Germany.
  • Roth Top 100 in Germany. From a nickname or trait. From Old High German Rote, from rōt (“red”).
  • Sauer Top 100 in Germany. From a nickname or trait.
  • Schreiber Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: scrivener.
  • Schulte Top 100 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Schumacher Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: shoemaker.
  • Schuster Top 100 in Germany. From a trade: shoemaker.
  • Seidel Top 100 in Germany.
  • Simon Top 100 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Sommer Top 100 in Germany. As a German word: summer.
  • Stein Top 100 in Germany. From a place or house name: stone.
  • Thomas Top 100 in Germany. From a given name.
  • Vogel Top 100 in Germany. From a place or house name: bird.
  • Vogt Top 100 in Germany. From a trade. As a German word: steward.
  • Voigt Top 100 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Winkler Top 100 in Germany. From a trade.
  • Winter Top 100 in Germany. As a German word: winter.
  • Wolff Top 100 in Germany.
  • Ziegler Top 100 in Germany. From a trade.

More German surnames 412

  • Ackermann From a trade. As a German word: plowman.
  • Adel From a given name. As a German word: nobility.
  • Adeler From a given name. From Old High German adal (“noble”) + heri (“army”).
  • Adenauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Adenau.
  • Adler As a German word: eagle.
  • Ahr In some cases probably from the noun at hand in Aar (“eagle”), compare names like Arnold.
  • Ahrweiler From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Ahrweiler.
  • Aiblinger As a German word: a native or resident of Aibling.
  • Alge As a German word: alga.
  • Altheimer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Altheim.
  • Anselm From a given name. From Old High German ans (“god”) + Old High German helm (“helmet”).
  • Anshelm From a given name. From Old High German ans (“god”) + Old High German helm (“helmet”).
  • Apfel As a German word: apple (fruit).
  • Apfelbaum As a German word: apple tree.
  • Arnsberg From Middle High German Arnesberg (“eagle hill”).
  • Ashelm From a given name. From Old High German ans (“god”) + Old High German helm (“helmet”).
  • Ausländer As a German word: foreigner.
  • Bach From a place or house name. As a German word: brook, stream.
  • Backes From contraction of Backhaus (“bakery”).
  • Bahr From Bär (“bear”).
  • Bamberger From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Bamberg.
  • Bauch As a German word: abdomen, belly.
  • Baum As a German word: tree.
  • Baumgarten As a German word: fruit orchard.
  • Beckmann In some cases probably from Middle Low German bēke (“brook”), frequently spelled becke, compare -beck; thus a doublet of the also common name Bachmann.
  • Bednar From Czech Bednář, from bednář (“cooper”).
  • Beethoven From Dutch van Beethoven, from beet hoven (“beetroot farms”).
  • Belger From a place or house name. Either from German Baldger, composed of bald (“bold”) + gēr (“spear”) or from several place name throughout current and former Germany: Belgern, Belgen or Belg.
  • Bensheimer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Bensheim.
  • Berg As a German word: a mountain, hill.
  • Bernard From a given name. Old High German Bernhart, from Old High German bero (“bear”).
  • Bernauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Bernau.
  • Bernhard From a given name. From Old High German Bernhart, from Old High German bero (“bear”).
  • Bernhart From a given name. From Old High German Bernhart, from Old High German bero (“bear”).
  • Bernstein In some cases from Bernstein (“amber”), in others probably from Bär (“bear”) + Stein.
  • Biber As a German word: beaver.
  • Binder From binden (“to bind, to fasten”) + -er.
  • Birke As a German word: birch (tree).
  • Blauschild Blau (“blue”) + Schild (“shield”).
  • Bloch As a German word: log (trunk of a felled tree, cleared of branches).
  • Blumenfeld Blume (“flower”) + Feld (“field”).
  • Blumenthal From Blume (“flowers”) + Thal (“valley”).
  • Böblinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Böblingen.
  • Böhme As a German word: Bohemian (native or inhabitant of Bohemia).
  • Böll From Middle Low German boll (“rounded hill”), from Old Saxon bollo.
  • Böttcher From a trade. In its modern form pertaining to Bottich (“tub”), but not directly related to it.
  • Brandenberger As a German word: a native or resident of Brandenberg.
  • Brasse As a German word: carp bream (a fish).
  • Braunschild Braun (“brown”) + Schild (“shield”).
  • Breitbart From breit (“broad”) + Bart (“beard”).
  • Breite As a German word: breadth, width.
  • Breitlauch As a German word: leek.
  • Brügger As a German word: a native or resident of Brügge.
  • Bruns Dutch and North German surname, variant of Brun, ultimately from the adjective bruin (“brown”).
  • Bubenheimer From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Bubenheim.
  • Buchheim Toponym from various sources, usually equivalent to Buche (“beech”) + -heim (“home”).
  • Buchholz From Buche (“beech”) + Holz (“wood”).
  • Bungert From a place or house name. From Old High German boumgart, from boum (“tree”) and gart (“enclosure”).
  • Burgauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Burgau.
  • Bürger As a German word: citizen, inhabitant, resident.
  • Burghard From a given name. From Old High German burg (“castle, fortress”) + hart (“hard”).
  • Burghardt From a given name. From Old High German burg (“castle, fortress”) + hart (“hard”).
  • Burkhard From a given name. From Old High German burg (“castle, fortress”) + hart (“hard”).
  • Burkhardt From a given name. From Old High German burg (“castle, fortress”) + hart (“hard”).
  • Burkhart From a given name. From Old High German burg (“castle, fortress”) + hart (“hard”).
  • Burmeister As a German word: a local leader such as a mayor or village chief.
  • Cermak From Czech Čermák, from čermák (“redstart”).
  • Cerny From Czech Černý, from černý (“black”).
  • Dach As a German word: roof.
  • Dambacher As a German word: a native or resident of Dambach.
  • Dammbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Dammbach.
  • Deidesheimer From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Deidesheim.
  • Derichsweiler From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Derichsweiler.
  • Dillinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Dillingen.
  • Drechsler As a German word: turner, lathe operator.
  • Dühring Possibly an alteration of Thüringen (“Thuringia”) or of Düring.
  • Dvorak From Czech Dvořák, from dvůr (“court, courtyard”) + -ák.
  • Dworak From Czech Dvořák, from dvůr (“court, courtyard”) + -ák.
  • Dworsak From Czech Dvořák, from dvůr (“court, courtyard”) + -ák.
  • Dworschak From Czech Dvořák, from dvůr (“court, courtyard”) + -ák.
  • Ebersberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Ebersberg.
  • Eckstein Ecke (“corner”) + Stein (“-stone”).
  • Edelschild Edel (“noble”) + Schild (“shield”).
  • Ehrenbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Ehrenbach.
  • Ehrenberger As a German word: a native or resident of Ehrenberg.
  • Ehrlich From ehrlich (“honest, honorable”).
  • Eichbaum Eiche (“oak”) + Baum (“tree”).
  • Eisenberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Eisenberg.
  • Eisenhauer From a trade. From Eisen (“iron”) + hauen (“to hit, hew, break”) + -er.
  • Eisenstädter As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Eisenstadt.
  • Eisenstein From Eisen (“iron”) + Stein (“stone”).
  • Erhard From a given name. From the name of a 7th/8th century German saint, from Old High German ēra (“honor”) + harti (“hard”).
  • Erlanger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Erlangen.
  • Esch As a German word: field.
  • Eschweiler As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Eschweiler.
  • Esslinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Esslingen.
  • Ettlinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Ettlingen.
  • Falk From Falke (“falcon”).
  • Falkenburger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Falkenburg.
  • Feder As a German word: feather.
  • Feuerstein From Feuer (“fire”) + Stein (“stone”).
  • Fichte As a German word: a spruce.
  • Fink As a German word: finch.
  • Fischbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Fischbach.
  • Fleck As a German word: stain, spot, blot, fleck, smear.
  • Fleischer From a trade. As a German word: butcher.
  • Fleischhacker From a trade. As a German word: butcher.
  • Fleischhauer From a trade. As a German word: butcher.
  • Forst From a place or house name. As a German word: a forest, at least enclosed, usually also cultivated.
  • Förster As a German word: forester (a person who practices forestry).
  • Frankenberger As a German word: a native or resident of Frankenberg.
  • Frankenstein Literally “stone of the Franks,” from Franken + Stein.
  • Frankenthal From a place or house name. From Franke (“a Frank”) + -n- + Tal (“valley”).
  • Frankenthaler As a German word: a native or resident of Frankenthal.
  • Freigang As a German word: furlough, leave of absence granted to a prisoner.
  • Freund As a German word: friend.
  • Frutiger From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Frutigen.
  • Fuchsberger As a German word: a native or resident of Fuchsberg.
  • Füller From füllen (“to fill”) + -er.
  • Gebühr As a German word: fee.
  • Geduld As a German word: patience.
  • Gier As a German word: greed.
  • Giselbrecht From Old High German, from gisil (“hostage”) + berht (“bright, illustrious”).
  • Gladbach Equivalent to glatt (“sleek”) + Bach (“brook”).
  • Glaser From a trade. As a German word: glazier.
  • Glöckner From a trade. As a German word: bell-ringer.
  • Goldbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Goldbach.
  • Goldberger As a German word: a native or resident of Goldberg.
  • Goldstein From Gold (“gold”) + Stein (“Stein”).
  • Göppinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Göppingen.
  • Gotthard From a given name. Name of a 10th 11th century German saint, from Old High German got (“God”) + harti, herti (“hard, strong”).
  • Gotthelf Gott (“god”) + helfen (“help”).
  • Gottlieb From a given name. Old High German got (“God”) + Old High German leiba (“descendant, son”).
  • Gottschalk From Old High German Godescalc, from got (“God”) and skalk (“servant”).
  • Götze From a trade.
  • Graser From grasen (“to graze”) + -er.
  • Grimm As a German word: wrath, deep-rooted anger, rage.
  • Groninger As a German word: a native or resident of Groningen.
  • Grünschild Grün (“green”) + Schild (“shield”).
  • Gudernatsch From Czech Kudrnáč, from kudrnáč (“curly head”).
  • Gunter From a given name. From Old High German gund (“battle”) + heri (“army”).
  • Häfele From a trade. From Hafen (“pot”) + -le, from Middle High German haven, from Old High German hafan.
  • Hameln From a place or house name. From Old Saxon *Hamala (“Hamel”), the name of the river on which the town was built.
  • Hamm From a place or house name. From Middle Low German ham, hamm (“land enclosed by a river”); cognate with Old English hamm (“enclosure”).
  • Hanauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Hanau.
  • Hauer As a German word: hewer, miner.
  • Hauschild Haus (“house”) + Schild (“shield”).
  • Hauser As a German word: housekeeper.
  • Hebel As a German word: operating lever, hand gear.
  • Heck As a German word: stern (of a ship).
  • Heidenheim From a place or house name. From the personal name Heido + Heim (“home”).
  • Heiermann As a German word: a five-Deutschmark coin.
  • Heilbronn From a place or house name. From Old High German heil (“healing”) + brunno (“well”).
  • Heiligenstadt From a place or house name. From Heiliger (“saint”) + -en- + Stadt (“town, city”).
  • Heisenberg From a place or house name. The place-name is from Old High German Haizenberg, from Haizo (genitive Haizen), a hypocoristic form of personal names incorporating the element *haiduz + berg (“hill”).
  • Heitmeyer From Middle Low German heide (“heath”) + Meyer.
  • Hengstmann From a trade. Hengst (“stallion”) + Mann, compare English henchman.
  • Henkelmann As a German word: a tiffin carrier.
  • Herzberg From a place or house name. From Herz (“heart”) + Berg (“mountain”).
  • Hessemann From a place or house name. Hesse + Mann. literally “Hesse man”.
  • Heuler From heulen (“to howl”) + -er.
  • Hildesheimer From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Hildesheim.
  • Hirsch As a German word: deer.
  • Hirschberger As a German word: a native or resident of Hirschberg.
  • Hirschfelder As a German word: a native or resident of Hirschfeld.
  • Hochschild Hoch (“high”) + Schild (“shield”).
  • Hocker As a German word: stool (of any height).
  • Hofer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Hof.
  • Hohenberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Hohenberg.
  • Holoubek From Czech Holoubek, from holoubek (“little dove, little pigeon”).
  • Holub From Czech Holub, from holub (“dove, pigeon”).
  • Holubek From Czech Holoubek, from holoubek (“little dove, little pigeon”).
  • Holzapfel From Holz (“wood”) + Apfel (“apple”).
  • Holznagel Holz (“wood”) + Nagel (“nail”).
  • Homberg From a place or house name. From Middle High German, equivalent to hohem Berg (“high mountain”).
  • Homburger As a German word: a native or resident of Homburg.
  • Hornstein As a German word: chert.
  • Hornung As a German word: February.
  • Hruby From Czech Hrubý, from hrubý (“rough”).
  • Hube Mainly from Haube (“hood, bonnet”).
  • Hummel As a German word: bumblebee.
  • Immergut From immer (“always”) + gut (“good”).
  • Immertreu From immer (“always”) + treu (“loyal, faithful, true”).
  • Jelinek From Czech Jelínek, from jelínek (“young deer, fawn”).
  • Joachimsthaler From a place or house name. As a German word: Native or inhabitant of Joachimsthal.
  • Kant From a trade. As an occupational surname for a precentor, from Old Northern French cant, from Old French chant (“song”).
  • Kanzler As a German word: chancellor (title of a head of government).
  • Karlstadt From a place or house name. From Karl (“Charles”) + Stadt (“town, city”).
  • Kaufmann From a trade. As a German word: merchant, businessman, trader.
  • Kempf From Middle High German kempfe, from Old High German kempho (“warrior, fighter”).
  • Kenner As a German word: expert, connoisseur.
  • Kirchhoff From Kirche (“church”) + Hof (“courtyard”).
  • Kirschbaum As a German word: cherry tree.
  • Kitzinger As a German word: a native or resident of Kitzingen.
  • Kleiber As a German word: nuthatch.
  • Kleinfeld From klein (“small”) + Feld (“field”).
  • Knigge As a German word: Any guideline on good etiquette, not necessarily written.
  • Knittel As a German word: club.
  • Knopf As a German word: button (fastener).
  • Knüttel As a German word: club.
  • Kobel From Middle High German kobe(l), from the root of Koben (“stable”).
  • Kohout From Czech Kohout, from kohout (“rooster”).
  • Kolar From Czech Kolář, from kolář (“wheelwright”).
  • Korber From a trade. From Korb (“basket”) + -er.
  • Kovar From Czech Kovář, from kovář (“smith”).
  • Krabbe As a German word: crab.
  • Krieger From a trade. As a German word: warrior.
  • Kucera From Czech Kučera, from kučera (“lock of curly hair”).
  • Kudernatsch From Czech Kudrnáč, from kudrnáč (“curly head”).
  • Kudrnac From Czech Kudrnáč, from kudrnáč (“curly head”).
  • Kudrnatsch From Czech Kudrnáč, from kudrnáč (“curly head”).
  • Kuhr North German surname for a watchman, from the obsolete Middle Low German kure.
  • Kujath From a trade. Polish or Eastern German (of Slavic origin): probably a derivative from a base kuj- (Polish kuć) (to forge, to hammer) hence an occupational name for a smith.
  • Kunkel As a German word: distaff.
  • Kuschel From Middle High German kuscheln (“to cuddle, snuggle”), from Old High German koschen.
  • Kutschera From Czech Kučera, from kučera (“lock of curly hair”).
  • Lambrecht From Old High German Lantberht, from Old High German lant (“land”) + beraht (“bright”).
  • Lamprecht From Old High German Lantberht, from Old High German lant (“land”) + beraht (“bright”).
  • Landsberg From a place or house name. From Land (“land”) + -s- + Berg (“mountain”).
  • Landsberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Landsberg.
  • Langenhagen From a place or house name. From lang (“long”) + -en- + Hag (“hedged enclosures”).
  • Lanzberg From Lanz (“name of the village nearby”) + Berg (“mountain”).
  • Lanzenberg From a place or house name. From Lanze (“lance”) + -n- + Berg (“mountain”).
  • Lanzenberger From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Lanzenberg.
  • Lauenburger As a German word: a native or resident of Lauenburg.
  • Leininger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Leiningen.
  • Leuchter As a German word: candlestick, sconce.
  • Liebling From a nickname or trait. As a German word: darling, (my) dear.
  • Lilienfeld As a German word: lily field.
  • Limbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Limbach.
  • Limberger As a German word: a native or resident of Limberg.
  • Limburger As a German word: a native or resident of Limburg.
  • Lindauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Lindau.
  • List As a German word: cunning, craft.
  • Löffler From Löffel (“spoon”) + -er.
  • Löwenherz As a German word: lionheart.
  • Lüneburger As a German word: a native or resident of Lüneburg.
  • Luther From a given name. From Old High German Liutheri, composed of liut (“people”) and heri (“army”).
  • Mandelbaum From Mandel (“almond”) + Baum (“tree”).
  • Mandelbrot From Mandel (“almond”) + Brot (“bread”).
  • Meininger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Meiningen.
  • Mendelssohn From a given name. From Yiddish מענדעלסאָן (“son of Mendl”), a patronymic surname from מענדל (“little man”).
  • Mettinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Mettingen.
  • Metzinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Metzingen.
  • Moosbacher As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Moosbach.
  • Morgenstern As a German word: morning star (Mercury or Venus).
  • Mosbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Mosbach.
  • Moser From Old High German mos (“swamp, moor (dwelling place)”) + -er.
  • Münsinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Münsingen.
  • Naber In most cases from Middle Low German nâber (“neighbor”).
  • Nagelschmidt From a trade. By surface analysis Nagel (“nail”) + Schmidt (“smith”).
  • Neuberger From a place or house name. Habitational surname from several places called Neuberg, from neu (“new”) + Berg (“mountain”).
  • Neustädter As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Neustadt.
  • Niehoff From Low German, equivalent to neu (“new”) + Hof (“farm”).
  • Norden As a German word: north (direction).
  • Nordhausen From Old High German Nordhūsa, Nordhūse, Northūsun (“northern houses”).
  • Nördlinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Nördlingen.
  • Nordmann As a German word: Norseman, Viking, Scandinavian.
  • Ochsenkopf As a German word: the head of an ox.
  • Offenbach From a place or house name. From a compound of Bach (“creek, stream”) with an unknown first element, possibly a given name.
  • Oldenburg From a place or house name. From Low German old (“old”) + -burg (“castle”).
  • Ölschläger As a German word: oil miller, one who produces oil by pressing.
  • Oppenheimer From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or resident of Oppenheim.
  • Ostendorfer As a German word: a native or resident of Ostendorf.
  • Peine From a place or house name. From Middle Low German Pagin, perhaps from Latin pagus (“rural area, countryside”).
  • Pesch Early borrowing from Latin pascuus (“pasture”) with Rhenish sch-umlaut.
  • Pfahl As a German word: (thick) stake, picket, pale.
  • Pfeiffer From a trade. An occupational surname for a pipe player.
  • Planer As a German word: planner.
  • Prochaska From Czech Procházka, from procházka (“stroll, walk”).
  • Prochazka From Czech Procházka, from procházka (“stroll, walk”).
  • Prohaska From Czech Procházka, from procházka (“stroll, walk”).
  • Prohazka From Czech Procházka, from procházka (“stroll, walk”).
  • Rau As a German surname, from obsolete rau (“rough, hairy, shaggy”).
  • Rauch As a German word: smoke, fume.
  • Reese From Middle Low German rēse (“giant, very tall man”).
  • Reich As a German word: empire or significant State.
  • Reichenbacher As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Reichenbach.
  • Reichenberger As a German word: a native or resident of Reichenberg.
  • Reichenthaler As a German word: a native or resident of Reichenthal.
  • Reutlinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Reutlingen.
  • Rickenbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Rickenbach.
  • Ried In some cases from Ried (“reed”), in others from the root of roden (“to make arable”).
  • Riedel As a German word: ridge (“length of high ground”).
  • Rindfleisch Rind (“cow”) + Fleisch (“flesh, meat”).
  • Ritter From a trade. As a German word: knight.
  • Rohrbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Rohrbach.
  • Rolle As a German word: roll, reel, spool.
  • Rosegger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Rosegg.
  • Rosenbaum From Rosen (“roses”) + Baum (“tree”).
  • Rosenberger As a German word: a native or resident of Rosenberg.
  • Rosenblatt Rose (“rose”) + -n- + Blatt (“leaf”).
  • Rosenfeld As a German word: rose field.
  • Rosenkranz From Rose (“rose”) + -n- + Kranz (“wreath”).
  • Rosenthaler As a German word: a native or resident of Rosenthal.
  • Rotenberger As a German word: a native or resident of Rotenberg.
  • Rotenburg Possibly from Rodung (“clearing”) or rot (“red”) in reference to the red bricks of Castle Rotenburg.
  • Rotenburger As a German word: a native or resident of Rotenburg.
  • Rothenburger As a German word: a native or resident of Rothenburg.
  • Rothkopf Roth (“red”) + Kopf (“head”).
  • Rothstein Roth (“red”) + Stein (“stone”).
  • Rottenburger As a German word: a native or resident of Rottenburg.
  • Röttgen Equivalent to Old High German rot (“clearing”, cf. roden) + -chen.
  • Roßbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Roßbach.
  • Rust As a Swiss German surname, from Middle High German rust, from Old High German ruost (“elm tree”), from earlier *rus-tro (compare *rustaz (“rust, rust-colored”)).
  • Sachs As a German word: seax.
  • Salzmann From Salz (“salt”) + Mann (“man”).
  • Schaub As a German word: a sheaf, especially of straw.
  • Schiff From a trade. As a German word: ship.
  • Schild As a German word: sign, plate (flat surface bearing information).
  • Schildknecht As a German word: shield bearer.
  • Schindler From a trade. Occupational name for a roof tiler, from Schindel (“shingle”).
  • Schlegel From a trade: a name for a smith or for a strong man.
  • Schmalz Attested in the 13th century in Schleswig-Holstein, thought to derive from Middle Low German smal (“small”).
  • Schmied From a trade. As a German word: smith.
  • Schnabel As a German word: beak, bill.
  • Schönauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Schönau.
  • Schönbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Schönbach.
  • Schöneberger As a German word: a native or resident of Schöneberg.
  • Schönegger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Schönegg.
  • Schöner As a German word: a native or resident of Schön.
  • Schönfelder As a German word: a native or resident of Schönfeld.
  • Schongauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Schongau.
  • Schönthaler As a German word: a native or resident of Schönthal.
  • Schuhmacher From a trade. As a German word: shoemaker.
  • Schumann From a trade. From Middle High German schuoch (“shoe”) + mann (“man”), denoting a shoemaker.
  • Schwabach From a place or house name. From Middle High German Suabach, from Old High German swāb (“Swabian”) + aha (“river”).
  • Schwarzenberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Schwarzenberg.
  • Schwarzhaupt Schwarz (“black”) + Haupt (“head”), from black hair.
  • Schwarzkopf As a German word: someone with black hair.
  • Schwarzschild Schwarz (“black”) + Schild (“shield”).
  • Schwazer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Schwaz.
  • Schweizer As a German word: Swiss person, Swiss.
  • Schwertfeger From a trade. As a German word: swordsmith.
  • Sedlak From Czech Sedlák, from sedlák (“farmer, husbandman”).
  • Segeberg From a place or house name. From Middle Low German sēge (“victory”) + borch (“fortification, castle”).
  • Siebenbürger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Siebenbürgen.
  • Siegel As a German word: seal (official pattern).
  • Sieghart From a given name. Middle High German Sighart, Old High German Sigihart, from sigu (“victory”) + harti (“hardness”).
  • Sieghold From a given name. From Old High German sigu (“victory”) + Old High German walt (“power, authority”).
  • Siegholt From a given name. From Old High German sigu (“victory”) + Old High German walt (“power, authority”).
  • Siegmeister Sieg (“victory”) + Meister (“master”).
  • Siegwald From a given name. From Old High German sigu (“victory”) + Old High German walt (“power, authority”).
  • Siegwaldt From a given name. From Old High German sigu (“victory”) + Old High German walt (“power, authority”).
  • Siegwolf From a given name. From Old High German sigu (“victory”) + Old High German wolf (“wolf”).
  • Silberstein From Silber (“silver”) + Stein (“stone”).
  • Sinsheimer From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Sinsheim.
  • Slama From Czech Sláma, from sláma (“straw”).
  • Sobek From Czech Zoubek, from zoubek (“little tooth”) or Polish Sobek.
  • Solinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Solingen.
  • Speicher As a German word: granary.
  • Spengler From a trade. As a German word: plumber, tinsmith.
  • Spielmann From a trade. As a German word: a wayfaring singer, musician, or other entertainer.
  • Springer From springen (“to jump”) + -er.
  • Stadthagen From a place or house name. From Stadt (“city”) + Hag (“hedged enclosures”).
  • Steinauer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Steinau.
  • Steinbacher As a German word: a native or resident of Steinbach.
  • Steinbeißer Stein (“stone, rock”) + Beißer (“biter”).
  • Steinberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Steinberg.
  • Steinhauer From a trade. From Stein (“stone”) + hauen (“to hit, hew, break”) + -er.
  • Steinhaus As a German word: stone house.
  • Steinhauser As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Steinhaus.
  • Steinheimer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Steinheim.
  • Stern As a German word: a star.
  • Stich As a German word: sting, stitch.
  • Stirner From Stirn (“forehead”) + -er.
  • Stöhr From Middle High German störe (“sturgeon”).
  • Strauß From Middle High German strūȥ (“shrub, tuft”).
  • Stroh As a German word: straw.
  • Sturzenegger From Sturzenegg + -er, referring to a place in Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Switzerland, from Sturz + Egg (“ridge”), cognate with Ecke.
  • Svoboda From Czech Svoboda, from svoboda (“freedom”).
  • Sykora From Czech Sýkora, from sýkora (“titmouse”, a bird).
  • Taube As a German word: dove.
  • Tenhumberg Probably from Middle Low German ten hôen berch (“at the high mountain”).
  • Terlinden From Middle Low German ter linden (“by the linden tree”).
  • Teubner Either from a title for a pigeon-keeper, *tauben (“keep pigeons”) + -er (verb from Taube) or more likely from demonym Deuben (“a village in Saxony”) + -er.
  • Tichy From Czech Tichý, from tichý (“quiet, silent”).
  • Töpfer From a trade. As a German word: potter.
  • Trauer As a German word: grief, sorrow.
  • Türk Among ethnic Germans generally from Middle High German Türke (“Turk”).
  • Vyslouzil From Czech Vysloužil, from vysloužilý (“retired”).
  • Waage As a German word: scales (weighing machine).
  • Wahl As a German word: choice, selection.
  • Waiblinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Waiblingen.
  • Walz From walzen (“to wander”).
  • Warschauer As a German word: Varsovian (inhabitant of Warsaw).
  • Wecker From wecken (“to wake”) + -er.
  • Weiler From Middle High German wīler, from Old High German wīlāri, from Latin vīllāre, derived from vīlla (“estate”).
  • Weinberg As a German word: vineyard.
  • Weinberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Weinberg.
  • Weinheimer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Weinheim.
  • Weininger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Weiningen.
  • Weisweiler From a place or house name. As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Weisweiler.
  • Weißenbacher As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Weißenbach.
  • Weißenberger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Weißenberg.
  • Wendland Equivalent to Wende (“Slav”) + Land (“land”).
  • Wendlinger As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Wendlingen.
  • Wertheimer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Wertheim.
  • Westheimer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Westheim.
  • Wimmer From wimmen, from Medieval Latin vīndēmiō (“to harvest grapes”).
  • Wischer From wischen (“to wipe”) + -er (“-er”).
  • Wolfram From a given name. From Old High German wolf (“wolf”) + hraban (“raven”).
  • Worringer As a German word: a native or inhabitant of Worringen.
  • Zabel As a German word: chessboard, playing-board.
  • Zajonz From Polish Zając or Zajonc, from zając (“hare”).
  • Zeit As a German word: time (as a concept).
  • Ziervogel From Zier (“decoration, ornament”) + Vogel (“bird”).
  • Zobek From Czech Zoubek, from zoubek (“little tooth”).
  • Zoubek From Czech Zoubek, from zoubek (“little tooth”).
  • Zuber As a German word: tub.
  • Zuckermann From a trade. Zucker (“sugar”) + Mann (“man”).
  • Zürcher As a German word: someone from Zürich.

How this list was compiled: Built on 2 October 2026 from two sources. (1) The 100 most common: the first 100 names of the numbered list in English Wikipedia's 'List of the most common surnames in Germany' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_most_common_surnames_in_Germany, wiki text read 2026-10-02; the article says its data were updated to 12 February 2021 and cites Forebears, the Digitales Familiennamenwörterbuch Deutschlands and Geogen). A card gives the name's band in that list's order (top 10, top 50, top 100) and no place number or count. The kind on such a card (a trade, a given name, a nickname or trait, a house name) is the list's own note; its English gloss is printed where the name's entry on English Wiktionary uses the same word (43 cards), otherwise the card gives what the entry says, or the kind alone (33 cards), or the band alone (6 cards). (2) More German surnames: every entry in English Wiktionary's category 'German surnames' (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:German_surnames, 1,964 entries that day, CC BY-SA 4.0) written as one word, whose German section could be read in one of two ways: the opening of the etymology that belongs to the surname, where it gives an English gloss, or, where the same entry is also an ordinary German word, the first meaning of that word ('As a German word: ...'). A kind is marked only where the dictionary files the surname under one (occupations, given names or patronymics, place names, nicknames) or the sentence says so; most of these cards carry none. A name that another list of this site already holds is kept while such names stay under four in ten of this list. Left out as our own call: names known mainly as a brand or for one person, a placeholder name, and names or glosses with a word this site does not print. A meaning is what a dictionary records for the surname or the word in general, not for any one family. ß and umlauts are kept as written. Licence: English Wikipedia and English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The selection, the bands and the card wording are our own work.