German Submitted Surnames

German names are used in Germany and other German-speaking areas such as Austria and Switzerland. See also about German names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Kohlman German
This surname comes from the Middle High German word kol which translates into English as coal. However, German Kohl, kol or Kohle also translate into English as cabbage. Middle High German man and German Mann translate into English as man... [more]
Köhn German
From the given name Köhn.
Köhnlein German
From the personal name Köhn + the diminutive suffix -lein
Kohr German
1. occupational name for a guard or watchman on a tower, Middle Low German kure.... [more]
Kolb German
Comes from Middle High German Kolbe.
Kolber German
From an agent derived from Middle High German kolbe "club, cudgel" an occupational name for someone who made wooden clubs later for an armorer, or a habitational name for someone from Kolben in Württemberg or Cölbe in Hesse.
Kolden German, Norwegian
From Middle Low German kolt, kolde ‘cold’, a nickname for an unfriendly person; alternatively, it may be a habitational name, a shortened form of Koldenhof ‘cold farm’ in Mecklenburg (standardized form: Kaltenhof, a frequent place name in northern Germany, East Prussia, Bavaria, and Württemberg).Norwegian: habitational name from a farm called Kolden, from Old Norse kollr ‘rounded mountain top’.
Kolesar Czech (Modern, Rare), German (Modern, Rare), German (Austrian, Modern, Rare)
Means either 'wheelwright' or 'coleminer' depending on the region.
Kolkmann German
Kolk is an old German word that means '' man who lives by the river'' and Mann is German for 'man'. The name Kolkmann comes from a man who lived by the North Rhine.
Koll German
From the given name Colo or Koloman. Alternatively derived from Middle Low German kolle "head".
Kollar German
Derived from the kolar "cartwright".
Kölle German
Variant of Koll.
Koller German
The name is derived from the Alemmanic word "Kohler," meaning "charcoal burner," and was most likely originally borne by a practitioner of this occupation.
Kölsch German
From German kölsch, denoting someone from Cologne (Köln in German).
Kömm Upper German
Possible East Franconian dialect variant of Kempf meaning "champion, warrior, fighter".
Konitzer German
A German habitational name for someone who lives in various places called Konitz in places like Thuringia, Pomerania, Moravia, or West Prussia.
Konrad German
From the given name Konrad.
Konzelman German
Orginating from Konrad, which is a variant of Conrad, meaning "brave counsel." The second half of the name indicates one who was a councilman or advisor to someone of importance or power.
Kopf German
Means "head" in German.
Köppel German (Silesian)
Derived from Silesian German Köppel "head" (ulitmately derived from Low German Kopp), this name was a nickname for someone with a visible deformity or peculiarity of the head.
Koppen German
Patronymic from a reduced pet form of the personal name Jakob.
Koppen German
Habitational name from any of several places named Koppen.
Korb German
Means "basket" in German, denoting a basket maker or a basket vendor.
Korbeci German, Albanian
German name for Korb "basket" changed over time to Korbeci
Korbel German
Diminutive of Korb "basket".
Korn German
From Middle High German korn "grain", a metonymic occupational name for a factor or dealer in grain or a nickname for a peasant.
Kornfeld German, Jewish
Means "cornfield" in German.
Kosmas German, Greek
From the given name Kosmas.
Kossow German
unknown
Kot Polish, Slovak, Czech, Belarusian, Jewish, German
From a personal name or nickname based on Slavic kot "tom cat".
Koten German
Derived from German Kate / Kote, originally from Middle Low German kote "small house; hut".... [more]
Köth German
From Middle High German, Middle Low German kote ‘cottage’, ‘hovel’, a status name for a day laborer who lived in a cottage and owned no farmland.
Kott German, Polish, Czech
German: variant of Koth or Kotz.... [more]
Kraeft German
Possible variant of Kraft and Kräft
Kräft German, Jewish
Nickname for a strong man, from Old High German kraft, German Kraft ‘strength’, ‘power’.
Krah German
Nickname from Middle High German kra "crow" given to someone who resembles a crow.
Krahe German, Spanish
From the German word Krähe, meaning "crow".... [more]
Krähenbühl German (Swiss)
Combination of German Krähen "crow" and Bühl "hill".
Krahn German
German: nickname for a slim or long-legged person, from Middle Low German krane ‘crane’. Compare Kranich.
Krais German, Brazilian
Brazilian adaptation of the German surname Greis; altered for easier comprehension by the Portuguese-speaking population of Brazil.
Krakau German
Indicates familial origin from Krakau.
Krakauer German
Indicates familial origin from Krakau.
Kranich German
German: nickname for a long-legged or tall and slender person, from Middle High German kranech ‘crane’.
Kratochwil German
German cognate of Kratochvil.
Kratochwill German
Variant spelling of Kratochwil.
Kratt German
German metonymic occupational name for a ''basketmaker'', from Middle High German kratte ''basket''.
Krauczun German (East Prussian)
East Prussian German form of Kriaučiūnas (via Prussian-Lithuanian kraucźius).
Krauledat German (East Prussian)
East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) name referring to a barber-surgeon well versed in bloodletting, derived from Lithuanian kraujaleidys.
Kraut German
metonymic occupational name for a market gardener or a herbalist from Middle High German krūt "herb plant; cabbage".
Krautschat German (East Prussian)
Derived from Prussian-Lithuanian kraucźius (kriaučius in Standard Lithuanian), meaning "tailor".
Kray German
Variant of Krah nickname for someone who resembled a crow from Middle High German kra "crow".
Krebsbach German
From a place name meaning "crab stream" in German.
Krechter German
Possibly derived from Krämer
Kreger German
Mercenary or warrior for hire.
Kreh German
Meaning: Crow. A variant of Krah and Kray
Kreisel German, Jewish
Jewish family name and originally a nickname for an active or disorganized person, derived from German kreisel meaning "spinning top, top", ultimately from kreis "circle". Alternatively, it could've be used as a nickname for a person with curly hair in the context of "spiral" or "curl".
Kreisler German, Jewish
Derivative of Kreisel with the agent suffix -er.
Kremer German
Variant of Krämer.
Krengel German, Jewish
An occupational name for a pastry chef from Middle High German krengel German kringel "(cake) ring doughnut". As a Jewish name this may also have been adopted as artificial name.
Krepp German
topographic name for someone living in a hollow
Kress German
From Middle High German kresse "gudgeon", hence probably a nickname for someone thought to resemble the fish in some way or an occupational name for a fisherman.
Kress German
From Old High German krassig, gratag "greedy".
Kress German
From a much altered pet form of the personal name Erasmus.
Kretzer German
Occupational name for a basketmaker or a peddler, from an agent derivative of Middle High German kretze 'basket'.
Kreutz German
Topographical name for someone who lived near a cross set up by the roadside, in a marketplace, or as a field or boundary marker, from Middle High German kriuz(e) 'cross'.
Kreutzer German
Variant of Kreutz otherwise it indicated that the bearer of the surname lived in Kreitz near Neuss in Germany
Kreuz German
From German meaning "cross".
Krey German
Nickname from Middle Low German krege "crow".
Krieg German
German word meaning "war"
Krieger German
Noun to kriegen, kämpfen meaning "to fight (with words)". Describes a person who likes to argue. A wrangler, a quarreler, a brawler. Literal translation "warrior", from the German noun krieg "war" and the suffix -er.
Kriegshauser German
Probably a habitational name for someone from an unidentified place called Kriegshaus, literally "war house".
Krier German, Luxembourgish
Occupational name from Middle High German krier "herald".
Kries German
From Middle High German kriese "cherry" hence an occupation for someone who sold soft fruits or a locational surname for some who lived by a cherry tree.
Kritzman German, Jewish
German (Kritzmann): topographic name for someone living near a cross.... [more]
Kroll German, Dutch, Polish
Nickname for someone with curly hair, from Middle High German krol 'curly', Middle Low German krulle 'ringlet', 'curl', Middle Dutch croel, crul (apparently a loanword from German)... [more]
Kronberg German, Swedish
German habitational name from any of the places called Kronberg near Frankfurt in Hesse and in Bavaria from the elements krone "crown" and berg "mountain, hill". Swedish ornamental name from kron "crown" and berg "mountain hill".
Kronecker Jewish, German (Austrian)
Derived from the place name Kroneck in Austria. A famous bearer of this surname was Leopold Kronecker(1823~1891),the German mathematician who worked on number theory.
Kronen German
From German Krone 'crown', probably as an ornamental name. Or a nickname for a slender, long-legged individual, from a dialect form of Kranich.
Kronenberg German, German (Swiss)
Habitational name from a place called Kronenberg (there is one near Wuppertal) or possibly from any of the places called Kronberg (see Kronberg ) from German Krone "crown" and German Berg "mountain, hill".
Kronstadt German
Means "crown state" (i.e., capital city) in German
Kroos German
Unknown
Krug German
Means "tavern keeper"
Krumbach German, German (Austrian)
From the name of various places in Austria and Germany, for example the town of Krumbach in the state of Bavaria.
Krumholz Jewish, German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) from Krumbholz ‘bent timber’, ‘mountain pine’, hence probably a metonymic occupational name for a cartwright or wheelwright. As a Jewish surname it is ornamental.
Krumm German
From a nickname, which in turn is from the Middle High German word krum, meaning "crooked" or "deformed".
Krumreihn German
Possibly derived from Middle High German krum(b) meaning "crooked" and rein meaning "border of a field, margin", and hence a topographic name for someone who lived by a field with a crooked edge, or perhaps a nickname for a farmer who plowed a crooked furrow... [more]
Krumwiede German
Location-based name for people who lived by a gnarled old willow tree.... [more]
Krusch German (Silesian)
Derived from dialectal Polish krusza (gruszka in Standard Polish), Lower Sorbian ksusa and Upper Sorbian kruswa "pear, pear tree".
Kübler German, German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German kübel "tub vat barrel", this is an occupational surname referring to a cooper.
Kuch German
German metonymic occupational name for a pastry cook, from German kuchen ‘cake’, or simply a variant of Koch ‘cook’.
Kuchenmeister German
Occupational name for a master cook (literally "kitchen master"), a court official.
Kucher German
Occupational name for a pastry cook from an agent derivative of Middle High German kuoche "cake pastry".
Kuchler German (Rare)
Often confused with Küchler a name for a cookie baker, Kuchler is a noble name for an old german family. Kuchler is origined in a city named Kuchl at the border of todays german bavaria... [more]
Kues German, Dutch
Habitational name from Cues, now part of Bernkastel-Kues in the Rhineland Palatinate.
Kühl German, Low German
The spelling Kühl results from a folk-etymological association with High German kühl ‘cool’ (Middle High German küel(e), a nickname from Middle High German küel ‘cool’, ‘calm’... [more]
Kuhlman German
Nickname from Middle High German küel ‘cool’, ‘calm.’
Kuhlmann German
German (also Kühlmann) nickname from Middle High German küel ‘cool’, ‘calm’ (see Kuhl).
Kul German, Dutch
Derived from Old High German kol meaning "coal", perhaps an occupational name for a miner or coal seller.
Kulp German
anglicized version of Kolbe
Külper German
German cognate of Culpeper.
Kummerer Upper German (Germanized, Rare)
Kummerer means ""bringer of sorrow""
Kummerow German
Habitational name from any of various places in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg called Kummerow.
Kuni German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Konrad.
Kunis German, Dutch
From a derivative of the personal name Konrad.
Künnen German
Metronymic from the given name Kunigunde.
Künzi German (Swiss)
Derived from a diminutive of Kunz.
Künzler German
Nickname for a flatterer, from an agent derivative of Middle High German künzen "to flatter".
Kupfer German, Jewish
German (Küpfer) and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a worker or trader in copper, Middle High German kupfer, German Kupfer ‘copper’... [more]
Kurpjuhn German (East Prussian)
East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) name meaning "shoemaker", derived from Old Prussian kurpjuns "shoemaker", ultimately from Old Prussian kurpe, kurpi "shoe".
Kürschner German
Occupational name for a furrier, Middle High German kürsenære, from Middle High German kürsen meaning "fur coat".
Kurth German
From the given name Kurt
Kurtz German
Variant of Kurz.
Kurzberg German, Yiddish, Jewish
From a location name meaning "short mountain" in German, from Middle High German kurz meaning "short" and berg meaning "mountain". As a Jewish surname it is ornamental.
Kurzhals German
Short Neck
Kuschmann German, Jewish
Probably derived from a Germanized form of the Ancient Greek given name Kosmas.
Kushman German, Jewish
Variant spelling of Kuschmann.
Küster German
It literally means "sexton".
Kutch German (Anglicized)
Americanized variant of German Kutsch.
Kutsch German
Topographic name of Slavic origin, from Sorbian kut ‘corner’, ‘nook’. Variant of Kutsche, metonymic occupational name for a coachman or coachbuilder, from the Hungarian loanword kocsi (see Kocsis).
Kutschera German
German cognate of Kučera.
Kuttelwascher German
Surname given to those who had the occupation of cleaning tripe. Combines the words kuttel meaning "tripe" and washer meaning "washer". Bearers of the surname typically live in Austria.
Kuttner German
Originally from a nickname for someone wearing monk robes from Middle High German kuttner "robe wearing monk".
Kutz German
From a pet form of the personal name Konrad.
Kutzer German
Occupational name for a coachman or coach builder from old high German kutsche from Hungarian kocsi "coach". Variant of Kutscher.
Kutzler German
This is the surname of my great-grandfather, of German ancestry.
Ladstetter German
JEWS AND GREMAM
Laemmle German, Jewish
Variant spelling of Lämmle. A famous bearer was the German-American film producer Carl Laemmle (1867-1939).
Lahm German, Jewish
From middle-high German lam "slow, lame".
Lahner German, Hungarian
Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Lahn in Hungary and Germany. In southern Germany and Austria, Lahn denotes a place where there had been an avalanche or landslide, from Middle High German laen, lēne meaning "avalanche".
Lamberg German
Derived from any of several places so named in Germany.
Lämmle German, Jewish
Derived from German lamm meaning "lamb", a nickname for a meek and inoffensive person or a shepherd.
Lampe German
From German meaning "lamp".
Lampert German, English
German & English variant of Lambert.... [more]
Land English, German
Topographic name from Old English land, Middle High German lant, "land, territory". This had more specialized senses in the Middle Ages, being used to denote the countryside as opposed to a town or an estate.
Landauer German
Possibly a variant of Landau. American professional stock car racing driver and motivational speaker Julia Landauer bears this surname.
Landis German, German (Swiss)
German and Swiss German nickname for a highwayman or for someone who lays waste to the land, from Middle High German landoese.
Langhans German
German and Dutch: distinguishing nickname for a tall man (see Lang) called Hans.
Langhofer German
Habitational name for someone from any of several places called Langhof.
Langwiesner German
Derived from location means 'Long field'
Lantz German
Habitational name from places called Lanz or derived from the given name Lanzo.
Lanzo English (?), German (?)
From the given name Lanzo
Lapp German
From Middle High German lap(pe) ‘cloth’, ‘patch’, ‘rag’; a metonymic occupational name for a mender of clothes or shoes, or a nickname for a simple-minded person.... [more]
Lars Swedish (Rare), Norwegian (Rare), German
Patronymic from the given name Lars.
Lau German
nickname for a physically strong person from Middle High German louwe lauwe "lion". In some cases the surname may have been a topographic or habitational name referring to a house or inn distinguished by the sign of a lion... [more]
Läufer German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from a place called Lauf, also an occupational name for a messenger or a nickname for a fast runner, from an agent derivative of Middle High German loufen, German laufen ‘to run’.
Lauffer German
The lauffer name is generally thought to have evolved from a place name to a surname. ... Versions of the name that evolve from the word "läufer," which meant "runner," are thought to have originally been an occupational name for a messenger.
Laumann German
Meaning unknown.
Lauper German (Swiss)
From the short form of a Germanic personal name composed of the elements liut 'people', 'tribe' + berht 'famous'. topographic name for someone who lived at a Lauben, a row of houses and stores with an arcade in front, from Middle High German loube 'arbor', 'bower', 'gallery'.
Lautemann German
From laute "lute" and man "man". This name was used by musicians who played the lute
Lautenschläger German, Alsatian
Derived from Middle High German lutenslaher meaning "lute player".
Lauterbach German
From the name of various places in Germany, for example the village of Lauterbach in the district of Rottweil, Baden-Württemberg.
Lautermilch German (Modern)
Comes from German words Lauter, meaning 'pure', or 'nothing but', and Milch, meaning 'milk'. This could mean that the people who first used this name were farmers.
Lauth German
Variant of Laut
Lautz German
abgeleitet vom deutschen Vornamen Lutz (Kurzform von Ludwig)
Lautzenheiser German
A German surname meaning "From Lautzenhausen, Germany"
Lebkuchen German
A German surname meaning "gingerbread".
Lechner German
This name finds its origin in the Austrian Lechtal, where the Lech river flows.
Lederer German
Leatherworker
Ledermann German
Variant form of Leatherman.
Leffler German, Swedish
Occupational name for a spoonmaker. Derived from German Löffel "spoon".
Lehigh German, Irish
Derived from a Native American word "Lechauwekink", meaning "where there are forks in the stream". Variant of Lechau .
Lehmkuhl German, Low German
topographic or occupational name for someone working or living by a clay pit from Middle Low German lēm "clay" and kule "pit" a habitational name from any of several places called with this term for example Lehmkuhlen near Kiel.
Lehner German
Status name for a feudal tenant or vassal, from an agent derivative of Middle High German lehen 'to hold land as a feudal tenant'. variant of Leonhardt.
Lehnhart German
"Lean deer." From the German words lehn and Hart, "lean" and "deer" respectively.
Leibniz German
The German surname Leibnitz emerged in the lands that form the modern state of Lower Saxony, which is presently bordered by the North Sea, the Hartz mountains and the Elbe and Ems rivers. Lower Saxony was previously a medieval dukedom... [more]
Leich German
A coworker at my job has this surname and they told me that it’s German. I know nothing more about this surname.
Leidig German
From a short form of any of several Germanic personal names composed with the first element liut ‘people’, ‘tribe’. Also a nickname for a disagreeable, cantankerous person, from Middle High German leidic ‘disagreeable’, ‘tiresome’.
Leinbach German
German topographic name from any of several streams called leinbach, from Middle High German lin ‘flax’ or Middle Low German leie (genitive leien) ‘rock’, ‘stone’ + bach ‘stream’.
Leinberg German
Habitational name for someone in Bavaria, or a topographic name from Middle High German lin meaning "flax" and berg meaning "mountain".
Leinen German
Name means LINEN in German. The first known Leinen was a tailor
Leiter German
From Leiter ‘leader’, status name for a foreman or for the leader of a military expedition, from Middle High German leiten ‘lead’.German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Leitner.
Lemberg German
Habitational name from a place called Lemberg in Silesia, originally Löwenberg, from Middle High German lewe, löwe "lion" and berg "mountain".
Lemke German
Prussian Pommerania
Lenders German
Variant of Lender.
Lenkeit German (East Prussian)
East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) surname.... [more]
Lennin German
Variant of Lennon.
Lentz German
Variant of Lenz.
Leonardo Italian, Spanish, German
Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese from the Germanic personal name Leonhard, formed from the elements leo ‘lion’ + hard, ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’; this was an early medieval saint’s name (see Leonard).
Leonhardt German, Dutch
From the Germanic personal name Leonhard, composed of the elements leo "lion" and hard "hardy, brave, strong".
Leopold English, German, Dutch
From the given name Leopold and French variant of Léopold.
Lepp German
Unflattering nickname from Middle High German lappe "coxcomb", "puppy" (modern German Laffe).... [more]
Lerner German, Jewish
Its literal meaning can be either "student" or "scholar".
Lesch German
German variant of Loesch.
Lescher German
German metonymic occupational name for a mediator or arbitrator, or possibly for a fireman, from Middle High German leschære ‘extinguisher’.
Lesnar German
Variant spelling of German Lessner, a habitational name from any of various places in eastern Germany called Lessen, all named with Slavic les 'forest'.
Leuenberger German (Swiss)
Means "one who came from Löwenberg" in German.
Leupold German
German form of Leopold.
Levin Jewish, Lithuanian, Belarusian, German, Russian, French (Quebec, Anglicized), Various
As a Lithuanian Jewish and Belarusian Jewish name, it is a Slavicized form of Levy. As a German and German Jewish name, it is derived from the given name Levin... [more]
Levin German
German cognate of Lewin. Derived from the given name Levin the modern German form of Leobwin a cognate of Leofwine.
Lex German, Dutch
From a short form of the personal name Alexius, Alexis.
Liberman German, Jewish
Variant spelling of Liebermann.
Lichtenstein German, Jewish
habitational name from any of several places called Liechtenstein from Middle High German lieht "bright" and stein "stone rock"... [more]
Lichter German, Jewish
Occupational name for someone who made candles or possibly for someone who tended a light, from an agent derivative of from Middle High German lieht, Yiddish likht "candle, light".
Lickert German (East Prussian)
Derived from the German feminine name Luitgard, and thus ultimately from Old High German liut "people" and garto "garden; enclosure".
Lieb German, Jewish
Nickname for a pleasant or agreeable person, from Middle High German liep "dear, beloved"; Yiddish lib or German lieb. This word was also used as a personal name, both alone (German) and in compounds (German and Jewish).
Lieb German
From a short form of the various compound Slavic personal names formed with lubo- "love" as the first element.
Lieber English, German, Polish, Jewish
From the given name Lieber.
Lieberherr German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Lieber.
Lieberknecht German
A compound name where lieber is derived from the given name Liebert and kneckt is an occupational surname for a journeyman, derived from the Middle Low German knecht meaning "knight’s assistant, servant".
Liebermann German, Jewish
Derived from German lieb or Yiddish lib meaning "dear, beloved". Many Liebermann families originally spelled the name in Hebrew or Cyrillic characters, so variations in the spelling occurred during transliteration to the Latin alphabet.
Liebhart German
From a Germanic personal name, composed of the elements liub "beloved, dear" and hard "brave, strong".
Liebling German, Yiddish, Jewish
Derived from German lieb meaning "dear, beloved" or German liebling meaning "darling".
Liebrecht German
From a Germanic personal name formed with liut "people, tribe" and berht "shining, famous".
Lienhard Upper German, German (Swiss), Alsatian
Upper German and Alemannic form of the given name Leonhard.
Lietzen German
Lietzen is a municipality in the district Märkisch-Oderland, in Brandenburg, Germany.... [more]