German Surname Meaning & Origin
What the German last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the German last name
Meaning of the German last name: brother. German is an English surname from the given name German, Latin Germanus, 'brother', or from a newcomer from Germany. The last name is found across England. A curious detail: St Germanus of Auxerre was widely honoured, so many families drew the name from the saint, not the country.
Arms associated with the German name
Coats of arms associated with the German surname follow English heraldry, each set out in a short blazon.
Get your full German family history
This is only a glimpse of the German story. The full German history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted German coat of arms. Get the full German report.
German name FAQ
What does the German name mean?
Brother. Common variants include Jerman.
Where does the German surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a German coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized German coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).