Medieval German Origin Surnames

This is a list of surnames in which the origin is Medieval German. This was the form of the German language that was spoken in medieval times.
usage
origin
Bachmeier German
Originally referred to a farmer whose farm was beside a stream, from Middle High German bach "stream" and meier "steward, tenant farmer".
Böttcher German
Occupational name meaning "cooper, barrel maker" in German.
Fromm German
From a nickname derived from Middle High German vrume meaning "noble, honourable".
Kraus German
From Middle High German krus meaning "curly", originally a nickname for a person with curly hair.
Krause German
Variant of Kraus.
Krauss German
Variant of Kraus.
Krauß German
Variant of Kraus.
Krüger 1 German
In northern Germany an occupational name for a tavern keeper, derived from Middle Low German kroch meaning "tavern".
Kruse German
Variant of Kraus.
Kunkel German
Occupational name for a maker of distaffs, from Middle High German kunkel "distaff, spindle", of Latin origin.
Kunkle German
Variant of Kunkel.
Meyer 1 German
From Middle High German meier meaning "bailiff, administrator", derived from Latin maior meaning "greater". Later it also denoted a tenant farmer. The spellings Meier and Meyer are more common in northern Germany while Maier and Mayer are more common in southern Germany.
Meyers German, English
Patronymic form of Meyer 1, Mayer 3 or Myer.
Schweitzer German
Indicated a person from Switzerland (see Schweiz).