German surnames are more than just family identifiers; they often reveal a lot about a person’s history and heritage. This collection of 101 common German last names provides insight into the diverse origins and meanings behind these names.
German Last Names
1. Schwarz
A surname meaning “black-haired” or associated with dark traits, often reflecting a person’s physical appearance.
2. Wagner
This name refers to the occupation of a “wainwright,” someone who makes or repairs wagons.
3. Schulte
An occupational name referring to a medieval mayor, often an administrative figure in a village or town.
4. Beck
This surname could either relate to a “baker” or be a house name, meaning “stream.”
5. Weiß
A surname that signifies a person who is “white-haired” or has “fair” skin.
6. Schmitz
A variation of “smith,” this is an occupational surname indicating a metalworker or blacksmith.
7. Schneider
This name signifies someone who worked as a “tailor.”
8. Frank
The surname Frank refers to the historical Germanic tribe, the Franks.
9. Otto
A forename that later became a surname.
10. Bauer
An occupational name referring to a “farmer” or “peasant.”
11. Schmitt
Another variation of “smith,” indicating a person who worked as a blacksmith or metalworker.
12. Lang
This surname describes someone who is “tall” or “long” in stature.
13. Fuchs
A surname that can mean “fox hunter” or refer to someone who is “fox-like” in behavior or appearance.
14. Kühn
This surname means “brave” or “bold,” highlighting personal traits.
15. Jäger
An occupational name meaning “hunter.”
16. Scholz
This surname refers to the position of a medieval mayor.
17. Maier
Originally indicating a manorial landlord, this surname later became associated with self-employed farmers.
18. Jung
A surname meaning “young,” often used to distinguish between two people with the same name.
19. Ludwig
A forename that evolved into a surname, rooted in the meaning “famous warrior.”
20. Keller
An occupational name for a “winemaker” or cellar master.
21. Schäfer
A surname meaning “shepherd,” someone who herds sheep.
22. Huber
An occupational surname referring to a “farmer.”
23. Kaiser
This surname translates to “emperor,” often associated with nobility or house names.
24. Krüger
An occupational surname meaning “innkeeper.”
25. Braun
This surname often refers to a person who is “brown-haired” or could be linked to the forename “Brunhold.”
26. Herrmann
A forename that developed into a surname, meaning “army man.”
27. Müller
An occupational surname meaning “miller,” someone who grinds grain.
28. Meier
A surname that initially denoted a manorial landlord but later described a self-employed farmer.
29. Peters
A surname derived from the forename Peter.
30. Walter
A forename turned surname, meaning “ruler of the army.”
31. Zimmermann
An occupational surname meaning “carpenter.”
32. Pohl
A surname denoting origin from Poland or Polish ancestry.
33. Klein
This surname refers to someone who is “small” or “short” in stature.
34. Engel
A surname meaning “angel,” possibly reflecting a forename or house name.
35. Stein
This surname translates to “rock,” often used as a house name.
36. Koch
An occupational surname meaning “cook.”
37. Hartmann
A forename turned surname, meaning “strong man” or “hardy warrior.”
38. Heinrich
A common German forename that became a surname, meaning “ruler of the home.”
39. Krause
A surname describing someone with “curly hair.”
40. Seidel
This surname may have originated from the forename Siegfried or Sieghart.
41. Thomas
A forename that became a surname.
42. Kuhn
A surname that possibly derives from the forename Konrad.
43. Hofmann
An occupational name meaning “steward” or “courtier.”
44. Günther
A German forename that developed into a surname.
45. Wolf
This surname could either derive from the forename Wolfgang or describe someone “wolf-like.”
46. Ludwig
A forename that became a surname, meaning “famous warrior.”
47. Albrecht
A forename meaning “noble” and “bright” that later became a surname.
48. Heinrich
Another common forename that evolved into a surname, meaning “ruler of the household.”
49. Kaiser
A noble surname that means “emperor.”
50. Winter
A surname associated with the season, often reflecting a characteristic related to the time of birth or occupation.
51. Dietrich
A forename meaning “ruler of people,” from Old High German roots.
52. Bender
An occupational surname derived from “Fassbender,” meaning “cooper” or “barrel maker.”
53. Scholz
An occupational surname referring to a mayor in medieval times.
54. Winkler
A surname related to an occupation, likely meaning “grocer” or “shopkeeper.”
55. Graf
A noble title meaning “count,” later used as a surname.
56. Schreiber
An occupational surname meaning “scrivener” or “clerk.”
57. Fischer
An occupational surname meaning “fisherman.”
58. Ziegler
An occupational surname meaning “brickmaker.”
59. Sauer
A surname meaning “grim” or “stern,” possibly related to personal traits.
60. Horn
A house name meaning “horn,” possibly related to the musical instrument or a geographical feature.
61. Busch
A house name meaning “shrub” or “bush.”
62. Franke
A surname referring to the tribe of Franks.
63. Groß
A surname meaning “big” or “large” in stature or personality.
64. Möller
An occupational surname meaning “miller,” someone who grinds grain.
65. Voigt
An occupational surname meaning “bailiff” or “overseer.”
66. Brandt
A surname associated with “fire” or something “burned.”
67. Hoffmann
An occupational name referring to a “steward” or “courtier.”
68. Friedrich
A forename composed of Old High German elements meaning “peace.”
69. Pfeiffer
An occupational surname meaning “piper,” referring to someone who played the pipe or a similar instrument.
70. Simon
A forename that evolved into a surname, meaning “he has heard.”
71. Bender
Derived from “Fassbender,” meaning “cooper,” a craftsman who makes barrels.
72. Schuster
An occupational surname meaning “shoemaker.”
73. Albrecht
A forename meaning “noble” and “bright,” which became a surname.
74. Huber
An occupational surname meaning “farmer.”
75. Roth
A surname that signifies “red-haired” or someone with a reddish complexion.
76. Seidel
Possibly derived from forenames like Siegfried or Sieghart.
77. Brandt
A surname relating to “fire” or something “burned.”
78. Böhm
A surname indicating Bohemian origin or descent.
79. Engel
A surname meaning “angel,” often reflecting a spiritual or celestial association.
80. Schulte
An occupational surname for a medieval mayor or village official.
81. Ziegler
An occupational surname meaning “brickmaker,” indicating a person involved in making bricks.
82. Engel
A surname meaning “angel,” derived from either a forename or house name.
83. Jäger
An occupational surname meaning “hunter.”
84. Peters
Derived from the forename Peter.
85. Kaiser
A surname meaning “emperor,” reflecting a high-ranking title or nobility.
86. Scholz
An occupational surname referring to a medieval mayor.
87. Wolff
A surname that could mean “wolf-like” or be derived from the forename Wolfgang.
88. Seidel
A surname possibly originating from forenames like Siegfried.
89. Lehmann
An occupational or class surname meaning “vassal.”
90. Heinrich
A forename turned surname meaning “ruler of the household.”
91. Schmid
A variation of “smith,” an occupational name for a metalworker.
92. Hofmann
An occupational surname meaning “steward” or “courtier.”
93. Huber
An occupational surname meaning “farmer.”
94. Albrecht
A forename meaning “noble” and “bright,” which later became a surname.
95. Braun
A surname meaning “brown-haired,” or linked to the forename Brunhold.
96. Schneider
An occupational surname referring to a “tailor.”
97. Schreiber
An occupational surname meaning “scrivener.”
98. Schulte
An occupational surname for a medieval mayor.
99. Weiß
A surname meaning “white-haired” or “fair-skinned.”
100. Bach
A surname meaning “brook” or “stream.”
101. Richter
An occupational surname meaning “judge,” indicating a person who serves in a judicial capacity.
