Common german last names

Like many cultures, German surnames often reflect occupations, locations, or family professions.

With roots in the Germanic middle ages, German surnames have been around since the s. They are often very easy to identify if you either know a little German or know which clues to look for. Names with the vowel cluster ei Klein are also mostly German. German surnames developed from four major sources:. A variation on locality names, farm names in Germany are names which came from the family farm.

Common german last names

Meanings and Origins of Common Last Names. German last names originate from places and professions in Germany and far beyond, as a list of of the most common German surnames shows. The list was initially created by searching for the most common last names in German telephone books. Where variations of a spelling of a surname occurred, those monikers are listed as separate names. For instance, Schmidt , which is ranked No. This list is different than one showing popular German surnames with their English translations. The meanings of German last names are those as defined initially when these names became surnames. For example, the surname Meyer means dairy farmer today, whereas, during the Middle Ages, Meyer designated people who were stewards of landholders. Few of the latter are on the following list, but examples include Brinkmann, Berger, and Frank. In the table, the German name is listed on the left, with its origin and explanation if needed on the right. The acronyms are noted because you won't find the translations for these names in standard online translators or even most German dictionaries. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

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Germany has been shaped by its traditions, customs, regional influences, and historical events and is the birthplace of art and ideas. Germans are regarded as meticulous, industrious, innovative, and resilient. German last names connect a nation and culture with history and wonder. For most of history, what is now Germany was a group of Germanic states and powers unified by similar languages and cultures. German last names typically sound strong, with common themes including references to jobs or geographic places, which can give insight into the history of a German family. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Old German separated from other Germanic languages and eventually developed into modern German.

Common german last names

Data updated to 12 February The common names Schmidt and Schmitz lead in the central German-speaking and eastern Low German -speaking areas. Bauer leads in eastern Upper German -speaking Bavaria. Rarer names tend to accumulate in the north and south. Huber is common in southern Bavaria and is, with the exception of Munich , the most frequent name in that area.

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Measure advertising performance. Ingrid Bauer, who is fluent in German, has been teaching and tutoring the German language since Zimmermann Surname Meaning and Family History. Durchdenwald - Through-the-forest. People are often surprised to learn that their last names refer to the jobs of their ancestors. Means "miller" Schmidt - Comes from the trade of being a blacksmith. Schiller, Krause, Adenauer: surnames as an expression of character traits or origins. Data Privacy Statement Imprint. With names like these, we can immerse ourselves in the exciting history of the Middle Ages. Are there any special German surnames that have stuck in your memory? MAIER My consent is voluntary and I can revoke it at any time with future effect in the cookie center. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

Meanings and Origins of Common Last Names. German last names originate from places and professions in Germany and far beyond, as a list of of the most common German surnames shows.

Here's how to tell. For instance, Schmidt , which is ranked No. Meier or Meyer - Manorial landlord, or later, a self-employed farmer. See our editorial process. Italian Surname Meanings and Origins. Tell us about it in the comments! By setting these cookies, the Alumniportal Deutschland aims to continuously improve this website and to analyse visitors' usage behaviour by evaluating which website the visitor comes from and what content he or she views for how long. Tools Tools. For example, the last name "Buschmann" referred to a person who literally lived near bushes. Koch - This surname is an occupational name for a cook. Schmidt - Smith. Find Baby Names.