Brahms GermanDerived from the given name
Abraham. A famous bearer of this surname was the German composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).
Gehring GermanDerived from a short form of Old German names starting with the element
ger "spear".
Giese German, DanishDerived from a short form of the given name
Giselbert or other Old German names beginning with the element
gisal meaning "pledge, hostage".
Herschel German, JewishDiminutive form of
Hirsch 1 or
Hirsch 2. A famous bearer was the British-German astronomer William Herschel (1738-1822), as well as his sister Caroline Herschel (1750-1848) and son John Herschel (1792-1871), also noted scientists.
Leitzke GermanEither from
Leitzkau, the name of a town in Saxony-Anhalt, or from a diminutive of the given name
Leutz, a variant of
Lutz.
Luther GermanFrom the old given name
Leuthar. It was notably borne by the religious reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546).
Mendel 2 GermanDerived from a diminutive of the given name
Meino. A famous bearer was Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), a Czech monk and scientist who did experiments in genetics.
Merkel GermanFrom a diminutive of the given name
Markus. A notable bearer is the former German chancellor Angela Merkel (1954-).
Porsche GermanPossibly derived from German
Bursche meaning
"boy, servant" or from the given name
Boris.
Siegel 2 GermanDerived from the diminutive of Old German given names beginning with the element
sigu meaning "victory".
Sitz 1 GermanDerived from a given name beginning with the Old High German element
sigu meaning "victory".
Thälmann GermanFrom the given name
Thilo. It was borne by the German communist party leader Ernst Thälmann (1886-1944).
Tschida GermanPossibly derived from a Slavic given name of unknown meaning.
Volk GermanDerived from given names beginning with the Old High German element
folk meaning "people".