German Surnames: Meaning, Origin & Coat of Arms (page 1 of 2)

"farmer, ploughman"

Eagle

Noble and bright

From Arnold ("eagle power")

Eagle power

"one who lived by a stream"

"bathhouse keeper"

Bavarian

"son of Bartel"

Bearded, or from Bartholomäus

Farmer

Farmer, cultivator

"orchard keeper"

"a Bavarian"

Baker; brook

Baker

Dweller by a brook

Son of Bernd (Bernhard)

Axe (axe-maker or user)

Cooper, barrel maker

Dweller on a hill

Hill dweller

Mountain dweller; miner

From the name Bernhard

Bavarian

"cooper, barrel maker"

Billy goat (nickname)

"messenger"

Bohemian

Cooper, barrel maker

Sword; land cleared by fire

"brewer"

Brown (hair or complexion)

"distiller or charcoal burner"

Dweller on the field edge

"one who lived by a bridge"

Dweller by a spring

Son of Brun

"beech wood"

Bush, thicket

From Burkhard, or a nickname

Roofer, thatcher

Ruler of the people

From the name Dietrich

Dweller by a thorn hedge

From the name Eberhard

Son of Eberhard ("brave as a boar")

"one who lived on level ground"

From Eckhart ("hard edge")

"one who lived on waste ground"

"son of Eilhard"

Short form of Engelbert; angel

From the name Engelhard

Earnest, resolute

Fiddle player

Finch (cheerful person)

"fish stream"

Fisherman

Butcher

Forester

Franconian; free man

Franconian; free man

From Franziskus (Francis)

"free man"

Free man

Man of peace

Peaceful ruler

From Friedrich

Cheerful

Fox

Fiddle player

"tanner"

From the name Gerlach

From the name Giso

From the name Gottfried

Gold mountain

Gold stone

"servant of God"

From Götz, a pet form of Gottfried

Count; reeve

Grim, fierce

Big, tall

Dweller in a hollow

Battle army

Hare

Rooster

From the name Johannes

"son of Harm"

Strong, brave man

Brave in battle

"one from a house or farm"

"one who lived by a hedge"

From heil, "healthy, whole"

From Hein, a short form of Heinrich

From the name Heinrich

Home ruler

From Heinz, a pet form of Heinrich

"hero"

"herald"

Army man, warrior

Duke

From Hesse

From the name Hildebrand

"tall" or "one living high up"

"farmer from a Hof"

Manor farmer or court steward

"steward of a court"

Manor farmer; courtier

Hop grower, or a nickname

Horn-shaped land; horn blower

Farm holder

Holder of a Hube (farm holding)

"bumblebee"

Hunter

From Johann (John)

From Jakob (Jacob)

Son of Jan (John)

"son of Jan"

From the name Jodocus

Young

Emperor

"granary keeper"

Priest of righteousness

Merchant, trader

Cellarer, steward of stores

Core, kernel; a nickname

Coppersmith, kettle maker

"sexton"

Small or young

From the name Nikolaus

"one who lived by a knoll"

Cook

Charcoal burner

Club, a nickname

"charcoal burner"

King

"head"

"grain"

Strength, a nickname for a strong man

Shopkeeper, trader

Curly-haired

Curly-haired

"crab, crayfish"

"shopkeeper, pedlar"

"curly-haired"

Innkeeper (Low German)

Dweller by a hollow or pit

Short form of Konrad ("bold counsel")

Son of Kunz (Konrad, "bold counsel")

Short