Common german last names

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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. The thing which makes them different from traditional surnames, however, is that when a person moved onto a farm, he would change his name to that of the farm a name which usually came from the farm's original owner.

Common german last names

German names are strong and have a long history behind them. Find your German last name and learn about the meaning and origins of different German surnames. In January Germany became a unified country. Until then, it was made up of smaller nation-states whose borders frequently changed. Even after , Germany's land area and political influence shifted several times. Because of this, German last names can be found throughout bordering countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and Spain. These were then passed down through each generation. In Germany, these occupational names still form the largest group of German surnames. They include Schneider tailor , Fischer fisherman , and Weber weaver. Many of these professions no longer exist but survive in naming traditions. If doing ancestry searches, you should be aware that in some areas of Germany, such as Westfalen, Hannover, Lippe-Detmold, Oldenburg, and Schlesien, there are exceptions to the rule which make research more complicated.

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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. Due to the historical settlement of Slavs , Slavic names are most common in Saxony , Brandenburg , and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern especially in Lusatia , where Sorbs continue to reside today. Many Austrians also have surnames of Slavic origin.

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.

Common german last names

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.

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Braun - This surname means "brown" in English. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. Koch - This surname is an occupational name for a cook. Use limited data to select content. Anyone who has info about the origin or other info can contact me at masterpeacefarm yahoo. Accept all cookies. Klein - This surname means "small" in English. Bierhals - Beer-throat. Family names only came into use in the Middle Ages, from around the 12th century, as a means of better differentiating between people. The last name could, for example, also be what you would call a farm name. Even after , Germany's land area and political influence shifted several times. Should you ever have the chance to stroll upon German soil, you will likely bump into one or two people who carry these common surnames.

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.

Use profiles to select personalised content. Retrieved 12 February Some of the following names can seem quite peculiar to non-German speakers, adding an extra layer of intrigue and uniqueness. And perhaps the knowlegde about the meaning of names can also influence a person's choice of name when getting married. After all, your baby is the best gift of all! They immigrated to the US over about 20 years and all settled in a small town in western Minnesota, right on the border with South Dakota. Related links. Means "miller" Schmidt - Comes from the trade of being a blacksmith. If doing ancestry searches, you should be aware that in some areas of Germany, such as Westfalen, Hannover, Lippe-Detmold, Oldenburg, and Schlesien, there are exceptions to the rule which make research more complicated. Retrieved 2 May MEIER 6. Siegfried , Sieghart, etc. The last name could, for example, also be what you would call a farm name. Ingrid Bauer, who is fluent in German, has been teaching and tutoring the German language since The thing which makes them different from traditional surnames, however, is that when a person moved onto a farm, he would change his name to that of the farm a name which usually came from the farm's original owner.