West Germanic Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the language is West Germanic.
usage
language
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Grato English
From a nickname given to somebody with grass-like hair, making this surname’s meaning “he with grass-like hair.”
Gratz German
From a short form of a Germanic personal name reflected by Old High German gratag 'greedy'
Grau German, Jewish
Nickname for someone with gray hair or a gray beard, from German grau "gray".
Graue German
Habitational name from a place so named near Hannover.
Graue German
Variant of Grau.
Graupman German
Occupational name for someone who produced or dealt with grits and legumes, from early modern German graupe "pot barley" (bohemian krupa) and man "man".
Grave English
Variant of Graves.
Grave English
Topographic name, a variant of Grove.
Grave German
Either from the northern form of Graf, but more commonly a topographic name from Middle Low German grave "ditch", "moat", "channel", or a habitational name from any of several places in northern Germany named with this word.
Graves English
Variant of Grave.
Graves English, French, German
Derives from someone who had an occupation as a grave digger or a caretaker for a graveyard.
Grawert Low German, German (East Prussian)
As a Low German name, Grawert is derived from Middle High German grā and Old High German grāo "gray" (originally "shimmery, gleaming"). As a surname, it was a nickname given to someone with gray hair.... [more]
Graybill English (American)
Anglicized form of Swiss German Krähenbühl, meaning "crow hill".
Grayling English (British)
Uncommon surname of unclear origin; possible medieval locational name, or a derivative of the French surname Grail or the diminutive Graillon.... [more]
Grazer English
Not available.
Grealish English
The name derives from the Old Norman French word "greslet", meaning pitted or scarred, and is itself derived from the very early Germanic word "gresle", or hailstone.
Greasby English
One who came from Greasby, a parish on the Wirral Peninsula, in Cheshire, now Merseyside.
Greaser English, Spanish
Means “mechanic, engineer”
Greay English (Rare)
The name Greay originated when a family matriarch changed the name to differentiate between the two families with the same name Grey. There was a wedding between the two families and it was easier if the name was changed.
Grebenstein German
Means "stone from the cliff or ridge" from German greben, (cliff or ridge) and stein (stone).... [more]
Greeley English, Norman
English (of Norman origin): nickname for someone with a pock-marked face, from Old Northern French greslé ‘pitted’, ‘scarred’ (from gresle ‘hailstone’, of Germanic origin).
Greenall English
From Lincolnshire in England, meaning "green hill".
Greenberger German, Jewish
Anglicized form of the German surname Grünberger, which is formed from the words grün "green", Berg "mountain", and the habitational suffix -er. This name indicated a person who lived on or near a forest-covered mountain.
Greenburgh German, Jewish
The surname Greenburgh is anglicized for the German Jewish surname Greenberg which translates into English as green mountain.
Greenfeld English
Partly Americanized form of the Ashkenazic Jewish ornamental name Grun(e)feld or Grinfeld, a compound of Yiddish grin + German Feld 'field', or of German Grünfeld (see Grunfeld).
Greenfield English, German (Americanized)
habitational name either from any of numerous minor places called Greenfield, for example in Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Sussex, and Yorkshire, from Old English grene "green" and feld "pasture, open country"... [more]
Greengrass English
Notable bearers include film director Paul Greengrass and baseball player Jim Greengrass.
Greenhill English
The name is derived from a geographic locality, "at the green hill", or rather, more specifically of "Greenhill". The surname could also derive from the liberty on the wapentake of Corringham in Lincolnshire, or a hamlet in the parish of Harrow in Middlesex... [more]
Greenidge English
From Greenhedge Farm in Aslockton, Nottinghamshire, itself derived from Old English grene “green” + hecg “hedge”.
Greening English
Meaning unknown.
Greenland English (Germanized)
Greenland Name Meaning. English: topographic name for someone who lived near a patch of land left open as communal pasturage, from Middle English grene 'green' + land 'land'. Translated form of German Grönland, a topographic name with the same meaning as 1, from Low German grön 'green' + Land 'land'.
Greenlaw English
From one of two placenames, located near the Anglo-Scottish border. Named with Old English grēne, 'green' and halw, 'hill, mound'.
Greenleaf English
From Old English grēne "green" and lēaf "leaf", presumably applied as a nickname, the significance of which is now lost.
Greenlee English
habitational name from any of various minor places, for example in Staffordshire, so named from Old English grene ‘green’ + leah ‘woodland clearing’.
Greensmith English
Occupational name for a greensmith, a smith who works with lead.
Greenway English
Originally given to a person who lived near a grassy path, from Middle English grene "green" and weye "road, path" (cf. Way).... [more]
Greet German
Americanized form of German Fried.
Greg English
Variant spelling of Gregg.
Gregerson English
Means "son of Gregory/Greg"
Gregg English
Derived from the given name Greg, a short form of Gregory or Gregor.
Greggs English
Variant of Gregg.
Gregson English
Means "son of Greg"
Greif German
Means "Griffin" in German. From the mythological creature.
Greiner Upper German, German (Swiss)
Nickname for a quarrelsome or cantankerous person, derived from Middle High German grīner meaning "squabbler, quarreler" (ultimately an agent derivative of grīn meaning "loud, cry, screaming, shouting")... [more]
Grell German
Nickname for an irritable or irascible person, from Middle High German, Middle Low German grellen "to be angry".
Grell German
Habitational name from a place named Grelle.
Grelle German
Variant of Grell.
Grenard French, Walloon, English (British)
Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Henri, Armand, Emile, Jacques, Marielle, Michel, Monique, Olivier, Pierre, Remi, Serge.... [more]
Grene English
Variant of Green.
Gresham English
From a place name meaning "grazing homestead" in Old English.
Gresley English
From the name of either of two villages in Derbyshire, derived from Old English greosn "gravel" and leah "woodland clearing, glade".
Gretzinger German
Habitational name for someone from any of three places named Grötzingen (Old High German Grezzingun) in Baden-Württemberg.
Grewe German, Low German
Low German form of Graf via Middle Low German grave / greve.
Griebe German
Occupational name for a butcher or fat dealer from Middle High German griebe griube "rendered bacon pieces crackling".
Griece German
Presumably a variant of Griese or Grieser.
Gries Upper German
Topographic name for someone who lived in a sandy place from Middle High German griez meaning “sand pebble” or a shortened form of German Griese.
Griese Low German
Nickname for a gray-haired man from Middle Low German grīs meaning “gray.”
Grieser Upper German
topographic name for someone living on a sandy site, from Middle High German griez ‘sand’ + -er suffix denoting an inhabitant.
Griessler German
Topographic name for someone who lived or farmed in an area of sand.
Griezmann German (Rare)
This is the surname of French professional footballer Antoine Griezmann.
Griffioen Dutch
Dutch cognate of Griffin 2. Could be a habitational name referring to a sign depicting a griffin, or derived from a coat of arms.
Griggs English
Means "son of Grigg", Grigg being a short form of Gregory.
Grill German
From a nickname for a cheerful person, from Middle High German grille "cricket" (Old High German grillo, from Late Latin grillus, Greek gryllos). The insect is widely supposed to be of a cheerful disposition, no doubt because of its habit of infesting hearths and warm places... [more]
Grimes English, Irish
Patronymic derived from Grime.... [more]
Grimké German (Americanized)
Americanised form of the German surname Grimk or Grimke with French inspiration. This was the name of a prominent American family of abolitionists.
Grimme German
Variant of Grimm.
Grimmie English
American variant of Grimm.
Grimshaw English
A habitational surname originating from the hamlet of Grimshaw in Lancashire, derived from Old English elements grīma "mask" and sċeaga "copse". Famous bearers of this surname include , English Victorian-era artist John Atkinson Grimshaw and Irish writer Beatrice Grimshaw, as well as the Grimshaw family in Coronation Street.
Grinder English
Occupational name for a grinder.
Grindstaff German (Anglicized)
Americanized form of German Frenzhof or Grenzhof, a place near Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg or Granzow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany.
Grindy German (Modern), French
I have seen elsewhere explanations about this name being German or French in origin. Sorry, I do not have the sources to hand
Griner German (Anglicized), Jewish
Americanised form of German Greiner. It could also denote a person who came from various German places called Grüna or Grünau. In Jewish, it is a topographic name for someone who lived in a green of leafy area, derived from Yiddish grin meaning "green" or Middle High German gruene meaning "greenery".
Grissom English
From a diminutive of Grice, which was originally a nickname for a grey-haired man, derived from Middle English grice, gris meaning "grey" (itself from Old French gris, apparently of Germanic origin).
Griswold English
meaning: from the gray forest.
Grob German
A nickname for a strong, heavy man, or for a lout, from Middle High German g(e)rop "coarse".
Grob Jewish, Yiddish
From Yiddish grob. May also mean "fat".
Groeneveld Dutch
Means "green field" in Dutch.
Groeneweg Dutch
Dutch cognate of Greenway. habitational name from any of various minor places called Groeneweg a compound of groen "green" and weg "road path" for instance from the hamlets Groeneweg near Hoog Blokland in the province of South Holland and near Westbroek in the province of Utrecht.
Groenewold Dutch, East Frisian
Cognate of Grünwald and Grünewald. Habitational name from any of various minor places so named from groen "green" and wold "wood forest".
Groenewoud Dutch
Derived from a place name meaning “green wood”.
Grohl German
Meaning uncertain, but likely a variant of Groll.
Groll German
Derived from grollen, 'to be angry', often used as a nickname for an angry or sulky individual.
Groote Dutch
Variant of De Groot.
Groover English (American)
Americanized form of German Gruber.
Grosch German
Either a metonymic occupational name for a moneyer or possibly a nickname for an avaricious person from Middle High German Middle Low German grosche "groschen" a medieval thick silver coin its name ultimately derived from medieval Latin denarius grossus literally "thick coin".
Großkreutz German
From German "groß" meaning big and "kreutz" meaning cross.
Grosvenor English
English surname of Norman origin meaning ‘the master huntsman’. Derived from Le Grand Veneur, this title was held by Hugh d'Avranches who accompanied William the Conqueror in the Norman invasion of England in 1066.
Grote Low German
Low German form of Groß meaning "big, great".
Grotius Dutch (Latinized)
Latinized form of De Groot. This name was used by the Dutch humanist, theologian and jurist Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), born as either Huig de Groot or Hugo de Groot... [more]
Grove English
Variant of Groves.
Grove German
Form of Grob.
Grove German
Habitational name from any of several places named Grove or Groven in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, derived from Middle Low Germany grove "hole, pit, ditch, channel"... [more]
Grove German
Variation of Graf.
Grow English
Likely from the English word "grow".
Grube German
Name for someone who lived in a depression or hollow, from Middle High German gruobe "pit", "hollow". See also Gruber.
Grube German
From the personal name Grubo.
Grumbach German (Swiss), Alsatian
From the name of various places in Switzerland and Germany, for example the municipality of Grumbach in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Grumpy English, English (American)
Grumpy was english name possibly origin of Germanic languages and other spoken languages or other European languages
Grün German, Jewish
from Middle High German gruoni "green fresh raw" hence a nickname for someone who habitually dressed in green a topographic name for someone who lived in a green and leafy place or a habitational name for someone from a place called with this word such as Gruna Grunau in Silesia... [more]
Grünbaum German, Jewish
from Middle High German gruoni "green" and boum "tree" probably a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a tree in leaf... [more]
Grundel German, Swedish
A German/swedish name. Meaning unknown, possibly means "bottom". A person bearing this surname is Heinz Grundel, a former footballer. ... [more]
Grundy English
Probably a Middle English metathesized form of the Old French personal name Gondri, Gundric (see Gundry).
Grünfeld German, Jewish
Habitational name from any of several places in northern and central Germany named Grünfeld named with elements meaning "green open country" derived from the elements gruoni "green" and feld "field"... [more]
Grünwald German, Jewish
Habitational name from any of various places called Grünewald from Middle High German gruoni "green" and wald "wood forest"... [more]
Grunwald German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German and Swiss German (Grünwald): habitational name from any of various places named Grün(e)wald, from Middle High German gruene ‘green’ + walt ‘wood’, ‘forest’. ... [more]
Grylls English (Rare)
There was an old and distinguished family of Grylls of Tavistock (Devon) and Lanreath (Cornwall) in the 17th century; two high sheriffs of the county then bore the name. The manor of Gryils (commonly mispronounced Garles), near the rocks called the Gryils or Garles, from which they probably derive their name, is in the parish of Lesneweth in that county.
Gschwendtner German (Austrian)
From the German word "schwenden", which means "swidden agriculture" in English
Gubbels Dutch
Dutch cognate of Göbel.
Gubler German (Swiss)
Means "Of the Mountains"... [more]
Gudgeon English
from Middle English gojon, gogen, Old French gougon ‘gudgeon’ (the fish) (Latin gobio, genitive gobionis), applied as a nickname or perhaps as a metonymic occupational name for a seller of these fish... [more]
Guelda Dutch
From province Gelderland
Guengerich German (Americanized)
Potentially from German “junge” and “reich,” meaning “rich at a young age.” Anglicized by immigrants as either Guengerich or Gingrich.
Guenther German
German: from a Germanic personal name composed of gund ‘battle’ + hari, heri ‘army’.
Guernsey English
Denoted someone who lived in Guernsey, an island in the Channel Islands, derived from Old Norse Grani and ey "island"... [more]
Guest English
Nickname for a stranger or newcomer to a community, from Middle English g(h)est meaning "guest", "visitor" (from Old Norse gestr, absorbing the cognate Old English giest).
Guggenberger German
A habitation surname originating from Guggenberg, Bavaria.
Guido Italian, German
From the given name Guido.
Guilder English
Occupational name for someone who worked in gold. The derivation is from the Old English pre 7th Century "gyldan" and the Old High German "gold", a refiner, jeweller, or gilder.
Guilleaume French, German
Possibly related to the French given name Guillaume.
Gülden German
Variant of Gulden, a metonymic occupational name for a craftsman who gilded objects, or a habitational name referring to a house name such as In den silvren Gulden ("In the Silver Guilder"), De Gulden Hoeve ("The Gilded Farmhouse") or De Gulden Zwaan ("The Gilded Swan").
Gulden Dutch, German
Means "golden, gilded" or "guilder, florin (coin)", possibly an occupational name for a goldsmith, or a habitational name derived from a house.
Gullick English
From the Middle English personal name Gullake, a descendant of Old English Gūthlāc, literally "battle-sport".
Gullit Dutch, Dutch (Surinamese)
Possibly derived from Old Dutch golt meaning "gold", most likely referring to a person who worked with gold. The former Dutch soccer player Ruud Gullit (1962-; birth name Rudi Dil) is a famous bearer of this name.
Gulliver English
From a medieval nickname for a greedy person (from Old French goulafre "glutton"). Jonathan Swift used it in his satire 'Gulliver's Travels' (1726), about the shipwrecked ship's surgeon Lemuel Gulliver, whose adventures "offer opportunities for a wide-ranging and often savage lampooning of human stupidity and vice."
Gum German
North German:... [more]
Gumm English
From a nickname or byname from Middle English gome, Old English guma "man".
Gundry English
From Gondri, Gundric, an Old French personal name introduced to Britain by the Normans, composed of the Germanic elements gund "battle" and rīc "power(ful)".
Gunner English
Derived from the given name Gunnvǫr
Gunner English
From Old English gunne meaning "cannon, gun" and the agent suffix "-er"
Gunnery English
The surname Gunnery was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons.
Gunzenhauser German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from either of two places named Gunzenhausen, one in Württemberg and the other in Bavaria.
Guppy English
English habitational name from a place in Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset, Gupehegh in Middle English. This is named with the Old English personal name Guppa (a short form of Guðbeorht "battle bright") + (ge)hæg "enclosure"... [more]
Gurney English, French, Norman
Originated from the region Normandy in France, is also a biospheric name from Gournay-en-Bray, a commune in France. It is also a fictional character's maiden name, Jacqueline "Jackie" Bouvier from the animated sitcom show, The Simpsons.
Gus English
From the given name Gus 1.
Gust German
German: from a short form of the personal name Jodocus, which is either a Latinized form of a Breton name, Iodoc, borne by a 7th-century Breton saint (compare Jost and Joyce) or from a reduced form of the personal name Augustus.... [more]
Gutfreund German
From the words gut freund, which means "good friend."
Gutherz German, Jewish
Nickname for a kindly or righteous person. Derived from Middle High German guot meaning "good" and herz meaning "heart".
Gutjahr German, German (Swiss)
nickname for someone born on New Year's Day from a New Year's greeting meaning "Good year".
Gutknecht German, German (Swiss)
Status name for a page of noble birth (Middle High German guot kneht).
Gutknecht German, German (Swiss)
status name for a page of noble birth (Middle High German guot kneht). Derived from the elements guot "good" and kneht "servant, apprentice".
Gütlin German, Yiddish
Diminutive of GUTE and GUTA, recorded in Frankfurt, Germany throughout the 14th century.
Gutmann German, Jewish (Ashkenazi)
German cognate of Goodman. from Middle High German guot man literally "good man, capable man" derived from the elements guot "good" and man "man"... [more]
Gutnik Ukrainian, Russian, Yiddish
Yiddish surname meaning "glassworker" from Yiddish hute meaning "glassworks".
Gutting German
Of uncertain origin. Probably from a Germanic personal name formed with god "good" or god, got "god".
Gutwald f German
Gutwald is a surname of German origin, which can be derived from the German words ‘Gut’ meaning ‘good’ and ‘Wald’ meaning ‘woods’, thus creating the meaning ‘good woods’. The surname is also derived from the German personal name 'Gottwald', which was derived from the Old High German 'Gottwalt' meaning ‘rule of God’ or ‘God’s power’.
Guy English
Occupational name for a guide, Old French gui (a derivative of gui(d)er "to guide", of Germanic origin).
Guy English, French
From a French form of the Germanic personal name Wido, which is of uncertain origin. This name was popular among the Normans in the forms Wi, Why as well as in the rest of France in the form Guy.
Guyatt English
Diminutive of Guy.
Guyton English
Means "hill of Gaega".
Gwilliam English
Anglicised form of the Welsh given name Gwilym.
Gyatt English, French
Variant of Guyatt, Guyet, or Guyot, all diminutives of Guy.
Haack German
One who lived at the bend or hook in the river. (See Hooker)
Haag Germanic (Archaic)
'The German surname Haag, like many surnames, was taken from some geographical feature near the dwelling place of its first bearer. Coming from the Old Norse haga, or some local variation of the word, the name means "one who lives near a hedged or fenced enclosure."... [more]
Haar Dutch, Low German
Probably from the place name Haar, derived from Middle Dutch harr "sandy hill".
Habelt German
from a pet form of the Germanic personal name Habo, a short form of various compound names formed with had(u) ‘battle’, ‘strife’
Haberfeld German
Means "oat field". From the words habaro "oat" and feld "field
Haberfield German (Anglicized)
Partial anglicization of Haberfeld
Haberland German
Topographic name from Middle High German haber(e) "oats" and land "land", or a habitational name from any of various places so called.
Häberli German (Swiss)
Derived from Alemannic and Upper German Haber, a variant of Standard High German Hafer "oats" in combination with the diminutive suffix -li. This name denoted a young farmer of oats.
Habermann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a grower or seller of oats, composed of the elements Haber and the agent suffix -mann.
Habermehl German
metonymic occupational name for a producer or seller of oatmeal from Middle High German habaro "oats" and melo "flour".
Habets Dutch
Patronymic from the given name Habert, a diminutive of Haribert, Hadubert, or Hagabert.
Habsburg German
This surname may have been used by someone whose descendants originated from the House of Habsburg, which was one of the most important royal houses in Europe. It is assumed that the surname is derived from High German Habichtsburg meaning "hawk castle," but some historians and linguists believe that it may actually be derived from Middle High German hab/hap meaning "ford", as there is a river with a ford nearby.
Hack German
Variant of Haack.
Hackberry English
Means simply "hackberry".
Hackmann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a butcher or a woodcutter.
Hackney English, Scottish
Habitational name from Hackney in Greater London, named from an Old English personal name Haca (genitive Hacan) combined with ēg "island, dry ground in marshland".
Hackney English, Scottish
From Middle English hakenei (Old French haquenée), an ambling horse, especially one considered suitable for women to ride; perhaps therefore a metonymic occupational name for a stablehand... [more]
Haddock English
Haddock is a surname of English. It may refer to many people. It may come from the medieval word Ædduc, a diminutive of Æddi, a short form of various compound names including the root ēad, meaning prosperity or fortune... [more]
Haddon English
Derived from the Old English word had meaning "heathland" and the Old English suffix -don meaning "hill"; hence, the "heathland hill" or the "heather-covered hill".... [more]
Hadfield English
Habitational name from a place so named in Derbyshire named from Old English hæþ "heathland heather" and feld "field" meaning "heath open land".
Hadley English
A habitational name from either a place named Hadley, or a place named Hadleigh. The first is named from the Old English personal name Hadda + lēah (means ‘wood’, ‘(woodland) clearing’), and the other three are from Old English hǣð (meaning ‘heathland’, ‘heather') + lēah.
Hadnot English (American), African American
Corruption of Hodnett. Primarily given to African slaves in the USA.
Haefele Upper German
Occupational name for a potter.
Haëntjens French, Belgian, Dutch, Luxembourgish
Either a diminutive form of the surname De Haan, or a pet form of the given name Hanne 1.
Häfeli German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a potter.
Hafer German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a grower of or dealer in oats, from German Hafer "oats". Compare Haber. As a Jewish surname, it is in many cases ornamental.
Hagedorn German, Dutch
German and Dutch cognate of Hawthorne. Topographic name from Middle High German hagedorn "hawthorn" from hag "hedge" and dorn "thorn"... [more]
Hagelberg German
From German hagel meaning "hail" and berg meaning "mountain".
Hagelstein German
nickname for a hot-headed irascible man from Middle High German hagelstein "hailstone" derived from the elements hagel "hail" and stein "stone"
Hageman Dutch
Combination of Middle Dutch haghe "hedge, enclosure" and man "man".
Hageman German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Hagemann.
Hagemann German, Danish
Derived from Middle Low German hage "enclosure, hedge" and mann "person, man".
Hagen German, Dutch, Danish
from the ancient Germanic personal name Hagen a short form of various compound names formed with hag "enclosure protected place" as the first element... [more]
Hager Dutch, North Frisian
From a Germanic personal name, either Hager, composed of hag "hedge, enclosure" and heri "army", or Hadegar, from hadu "battle, combat" and gar "spear" or garu "ready, prepared".
Hägler German (Swiss), Jewish
Accented form of Hagler. Primarily used in Switzerland.