Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is Danish or Dutch or English or German or Norwegian or Swedish; and the source is Occupation.
usage
source
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Cassel English, French, German
A surname derived from the Latin military term castellum "watchtower, fort". A variant spelling of the word castle. Denoted someone hailing from the commune of Cassel in the Nord départment in northern France or the city of Kassel (spelled Cassel until 1928) in Germany... [more]
Catching English
Likely a variant of Kitchen.
Catchpole English
Meant "bailiff, especially (originally) one who could seize domestic animals in lieu of tax or debt" (from Anglo-Norman cachepol, from cacher "to chase" + pol "chicken").
Cave Norman, French, English
A name of various possible origins. As a Norman French name Cave can mean "bald" from cauf or it can mean "worker in a wine cellar" or "one who dwelt in or near a cave". As an English name Cave refers to a Yorkshire river whose fast current inspired the name meaning "swift".
Caylor English
Anglicized form of Kaylor.
Ceasar African American, German (Americanized)
Possibly derived from the given name Ceasar (a variant of Caesar), or an Americanized form of German Zieser.
Cestare English (American, Modern)
There is a similar name, Sastre, which is the Spanish form of the surname Sarto, meaning "tailor." The name CESTARE is phonetically similar to Sastre and could be a derivative of that name.... [more]
Challinor English
Occupational name for a blanket maker, derived from Middle English chaloun "blanket", itself derived from the French city of Châlons-sur-Marne (now Châlons-en-Champagne), where blankets were made in the Middle Ages.
Chamberlin French, English
French cognate and English variant of Chamberlain. Occupational name for an official in charge of the private chambers of his master from Old French chamberlenc "chamberlain".
Champlin Belgian, English
Means Champion, was a family name in Belgium, a status and influence that was envied by the princes of the region.... [more]
Chan English (Modern, Rare)
Shortened form of Chandler used by lolcow Christian Weston Chandler (1982-), who goes by the nickname Chris-Chan, most likely influenced by the Japanese diminutive suffix ちゃん (chan) commonly used in anime and manga fandom.
Chantry English
Means "singer in a chantry chapel" or "one who lives by a chantry chapel". A chantry was a type of chapel, one endowed for the singing of Masses for the soul of the founder (from Old French chanterie, from chanter "to sing").
Chaplyn English
son of chaplain or servant of chaplain
Chaucer English
Meaning a "worker who makes leggings or breeches". Notable bearer is author Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400), most well known for his classic 'The Canterbury Tales'.
Cheeseman English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of cheese.
Cheever English
Means "goatherd", or from a medieval nickname for someone thought to resemble a goat (e.g. in capriciousness) (in either case from Anglo-Norman chivere "goat"). It was borne by American author John Cheever (1912-1982).
Chrysler German, Jewish
From a German name referring to spinning or related to a Yiddish word, krayzl meaning "spinning top." The name can refer to a potter who spun a wheel to make utensils or to a person with curly hair or someone known for being continually active... [more]
Churchward English
Occupational name for a churchwarden, someone who handled the secular affairs of a parish.
Citrone English, Italian
Ultimately from Latin citrum meaning "lemon, citrus fruit". Possibly an occupational name for someone who sells or raise lemons or any citrus fruit.
Clarks English
Variant of Clark.
Claver English, Catalan
occupational name from Old French clavier Catalan claver "keeper of the keys doorkeeper" (from Latin clavarius from clavis "key").
Clegg English
From Old Norse kleggi 'haystack'
Clerk English
Variant spelling of Clark.
Clevenger English
Occupational name for a keyholder derived from the word claviger, itself from Latin claviger meaning "key-bearer".
Clinger English (American)
Americanized spelling of German Klinger.Possibly a variant of Clinker. an English occupational name for a maker or fixer of bolts and rivets.
Clutterbuck English
English surname of unknown origin, possibly a corrupted form of a Dutch surname derived from Dutch klateren "to clatter" and beek "brook", or from klateren and bok "buck, billy goat", or from an older form of kladboek meaning "account book, minute book".
Coath English
Derived from the Cornish word for smith, goff.
Cobalt English
Name given to a person who mined cobalt.
Collier English
From the English word for someone who works with coal, originally referring to a charcoal burner or seller. Derived from Old English col "coal, charcoal" combined with the agent suffix -ier.
Comegys Dutch (Americanized)
from a combination of the stems of two Dutch surnames: the occupational name Komen and the patronymic Gijsen... [more]
Comer English
Occupational name for a maker or seller of combs, or to someone who used them to prepare wool or flax for spinning, derived from Middle English combere, an agent derivative of Old English camb meaning "comb"... [more]
Commander English
From Middle English comander "commander, leader, director", derived from Old French comandeor "military commander". This may have been either an occupational name or a nickname.
Coney English
Means "seller of rabbits", or from a medieval nickname for someone thought to resemble a rabbit (in either case from Middle English cony "rabbit").
Coogler German (Americanized)
Americanized form of Kugler.
Coolidge English
Probably an occupational name for a college servant or someone with some other association with a university college, for example a tenant farmer who farmed one of the many farms in England known as College Farm, most of which are or were owned by university colleges.
Cope English
From Middle English cope "cape, cloak", an occupational name for a maker of cloaks, or a nickname for someone known for wearing one.
Copus English
Uncertain etymology. Possibly related to Cope, Copas, or Copp.
Cordell English
Means "maker of cord" or "seller of cord" in Middle English.
Corden English
Derives from Old French Cordon meaning "a seller of ribbon" or from Cordoan, a locational job description for a worker in fine kid leather. Originally associated with the city of Cordova in Spain... [more]
Corder French (Anglicized, Archaic), English (American)
Linked to both English, French and Spanish origin. Cordier, Cordero, Corder- one who makes cord. Can refer to both the act of making cords (rope), cores of fire wood, or actual location names.... [more]
Core English (American), German (Anglicized)
Core is the anglicized form of the German surname Kohr, also spelled Kürr. Alternately, it is an English name of Flemish origin.
Cork English
Metonymic occupational name for a supplier of red or purple dye or for a dyer of cloth, Middle English cork (of Celtic origin; compare Corkery).
Corke English
Variant of Cork.
Cornet English
Variant of Cornett, meaning Horn.
Cossart English, French
From French, referring to "a dealer of horses" (related to the English word "courser"). This surname was brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066, and became one of the many Anglo-Norman words that made up Middle English.
Coster English
Metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of costards (Anglo-Norman French, from coste 'rib'), a variety of large apples, so called for their prominent ribs.
Cott English
From the Old English personal name Cotta. Possibly an altered spelling of French Cotte, a metonymic occupational name for a maker of chain mail, from Old French cot(t)e ‘coat of mail’, ‘surcoat’... [more]
Cotter English
Derived from the Old English elements cot "cottage, hut" and the suffix -er. In the feudal system a cotter held a cottage by service (rather than by rent). Reaney gives the surname deriving from the Old French cotier "cottager" (see: villein)... [more]
Cottrell English, French
First found in Derbyshire where the family "Cottrell" held a family seat and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege lord for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings, 1066CE... [more]
Court English, French, Irish
A topographic name from Middle English, Old French court(e) and curt, meaning ‘court’. This word was used primarily with reference to the residence of the lord of a manor, and the surname is usually an occupational name for someone employed at a manorial court.... [more]
Cramer German, English
Variant of German surname Krämer.
Creamer English
Derived from Middle English and Old French creme "cream". This was an occupational name for a seller of dairy products.
Creme English
Variant spelling of Cream.
Cripps English
Occupational name of a pouch maker. Derived from the Middle English plural "crippes" meaning pouch. Metathesized version of Crisp.
Crisler German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Kreisler or Griessler or, in the south, an occupational name for a grocer from Middle High German griezmel meaning “milled grain.”
Criss German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Gries or Kries.
Crock English
Means "stone or earthenware jar, pot, vessel", possibly an occupational name for a potter. Compare Crocker.
Crocker English
Occupational name for a potter, from Middle English crockere "potter". Compare Crock.
Crofter English
A surname of Scottish origin used in the Highlands and Islands and means “an owner or a tenant of a small farm”. The Old English word croft seems to correspond with the Dutch kroft meaning “a field on the downs”.
Croom English
An occupational surname for a maker, seller, or user of hooks. Derived from Middle English crome or cromb, meaning "hook" or "crook".
Crowner English
Means "coroner" (from Anglo-Norman corouner "coroner", a derivative of Old French coroune "crown").
Crowther English
Originally meant "person who plays the crowd (an ancient Celtic stringed instrument)". It was borne by British entertainer Leslie Crowther (1933-1996).
Crozier English, French
English and French occupational name for one who carried a cross or a bishop’s crook in ecclesiastical processions, from Middle English, Old French croisier.
Culpeper English
Variant of Culpepper. Known bearers of this surname include: Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1664), an English herbalist, physician and astrologer; and English colonial administrator Thomas Culpeper, 2nd Baron Culpeper (1635-1689), governor of Virginia 1680-1683... [more]
Culpepper English
Means "person who collects, prepares and/or sells herbs and spices" (from Middle English cullen "to pick" + pepper).
Culver English
Means "person who keeps or looks after doves", or from a medieval nickname for someone thought to resemble a dove (e.g. in mild disposition) (in either case from Middle English culver "dove")... [more]
Currier English
Occupational surname meaning "a worker who prepared leather".
Cushing English, French (Anglicized)
Altered form of Cousin, or an Americanized spelling of Cauchon. The English actor Peter Cushing (1913-1994) was a famous bearer of this name.
Custer German (Anglicized)
Anglicization of the German surname Köster or Küster, literally "sexton". A famous bearer was George Custer (1839-1876), the American cavalry general. General Custer and his army were defeated and killed by Sioux and Cheyenne forces under Sitting Bull in the Battle of Little Bighorn (1876; also known colloquially as Custer's Last Stand).
Cutler English
Given to a "knife maker" or a man that "makes cutlery"
Cutright English (?)
Possibly an occupational name for someone who makes carts.
Cutter English
This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the cutter,' i.e. cloth-cutter
Cuvelier French, Walloon, Flemish
Occupational name for a Cooper derived from an agent in Old French cuve "vat tun". Also found in the Netherlands.
Dagen German
Variant of Degen.
Daggett English
Derived from the Old French word "Dague", meaning knife or dagger, and as such was a Norman introduction into England after the 1066 Conquest. The name is a medieval metonymic for one who habitually carried a dagger, or who was a manufacturer of such weapons.
Daiber German
Derived from either Middle High German tiuber "pigeon breeder, pigeon fancier" or from Middle High German touber "wind musician, musician who plays a wind instrument".
Damask English
Presumably an occupational name for someone who sold damask a richly woven material of a kind originally made in Damascus.
Dancer English
Occupational name for someone who dances.
Danser German, French, English
German: variant of Danzer. Altered spelling of English Dancer.... [more]
Dänzer German
Occupational name for a professional acrobat or entertainer; variant of Tanzer.
De Beer Dutch, Afrikaans, South African
Means "the bear" or "the boar" in Dutch and Afrikaans, a nickname for a person who resembled the animal in some way, such as being very large, strong, or aggressive, or a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting one... [more]
De Bie Dutch
Means "the bee" in Dutch, a nickname for a beekeeper or a for a busy person, or perhaps a habitational name for someone who lived near a sign depicting a bee.
Debije Dutch
Variant of De Bie.
Debye Dutch
Variant of De Bie. A notable bearer of the surname was the Dutch-American physicist and physical chemist Peter Debye (1884-1966), born Petrus Debije.
Decker German
Cognate of Dekker.
Defoor Flemish
Derived from Dutch voort "ford". Alternatively, can be a variant of the French surnames Dufour or Deford.
Degen German, Swiss
Means "rapier, small sword, dagger" in German, an occupational name for someone who made rapiers. Alternately, it could be derived from a given name containing Old High German degan "soldier, warrior", such as Degenhard or Herdegen.
De Graaff Dutch
Variant spelling of De Graaf "the count", an occupational name for someone who worked for a count, or perhaps a nickname for someone who behaved like one.
De Groeve Flemish
Etymology uncertain. Possibly a habitational name from any of several places called De Groeve, derived from groeve "quarry, pit; excavated watercourse"... [more]
De Hart Dutch
Can mean "the hart", "the heart", or "the hard", derived from Middle Dutch hart "male deer, stag" (see Hart), harte "heart" (see Hertz), or hart "hard, solid, sturdy; harsh, cruel"... [more]
De Heer Dutch
Means "the lord" or "the gentleman" in Dutch, derived from Middle Dutch hêre "feudal lord, master, leader, gentleman". Could be a nickname for a person who acted as a leader, or an occupational name for someone who worked for a lord... [more]
Deitrich German
lock pick
De Jager Dutch, South African
Means "the hunter" in Dutch, an occupational name. In some cases, it could derive from the name of a house or ship.
Dekkers Dutch
Variant of Dekker.
De Kok Dutch
Means "the cook" in Dutch.
De Laat Dutch
Derived from Middle Dutch laet "serf, freed serf, tenant", probably an occupational name for a tenant farmer.
Delger Dutch
Possibly an occupational name from an agent derivative of (ver)delgen, meaning “to nullify” or “to exterminate.”
Delk German (?)
Possibly an altered form of German telke, meaning “proud” or “famous,” or a shortened form of German Delker.
Delker German
Probably a variant of Delger.
Demand German
from Middle Low German demant "diamond" a metonymic occupational name for either a cutter or dealer in diamonds.
Dempster Manx, English, Scottish
The name for a judge or arbiter of minor disputes, from Old English dem(e)stre, a derivative of the verb demian ‘to judge or pronounce judgement’. Although this was originally a feminine form of the masculine demere, by the Middle English period the suffix -stre had lost its feminine force, and the term was used of both sexes... [more]
Den Hartog Dutch
Derived from Dutch hertog "duke", a nickname for someone behaved in a haughty manner, or an occupational name for someone who worked for a duke’s household.
Den Hertog Dutch
From Dutch meaning "the Duke".
Denier French, French (Swiss), English, English (British, Rare)
from Old French denier (from Latin denarius) "penny" originally the name of a copper coin or penny later a term for money in general hence probably an occupational name for a moneyer or minter... [more]
Denyer English
Variant of Denier.
Depooter Flemish
Variant of De Poorter, or alternatively, an occupational name for a farmer or gardener derived from poten "to plant, to sow seeds". Compare Potter.
Deremer Dutch
Occupational name for a belt maker or cutter of leather straps, from Dutch riem "belt, strap". It could also be a name for a peat digger, someone who "riems" peat.
De Ruiter Dutch
Means "the rider" in Dutch, derived from Middle Dutch ruter "freebooter, vagrant, robber", later meaning "cavalryman, soldier, armed horseman". It could also be a nickname based on an event, in one case deriving from an incident involving a ride on a runaway pig.
De Visser Dutch, Belgian
means "the fisherman" variant of Visser
De Waard Dutch
From Dutch waard "innkeeper, host, landlord, protector", derived from Middle Dutch weert. Alternatively, from Middle Dutch waert "floodplain, riverine island".
Dicker English
Either an occupational name for a digger of ditches or a builder of dikes, or a topographic name for someone who lived by a ditch or dike, derived from Middle English dike or dik meaning "dyke.
Dickter German
From dichter, the German word for "poet".
Diener German
Means "butler" in German.
Dimondstein German
This is a German name which translates into English as diamond stone. It most likely belongs to a miner who mined diamonds or perhaps a jeweler.
Dinger English
Means "one who rings the bell," which is most likely a butler
Dinjer German (Rare)
Occupational surname that originated in the German dialect spoken in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. ... [more]
Dinklage German
Occupational name for a grain farmer or grain merchant, derived from an agent derivative of Middle High German dinkel meaning "spelt" (a variety of wheat). It could also be derived from Dinkelsbühl, a historic town in the state of Bavaria (formerly in central Franconia), or Dinklage, a town in the Vechta district, in Lower Saxony, Germany... [more]
Dobberstein German
Metonymic occupational name for a dice maker or a nickname for a dice player, from Middle High German topel ‘die’ + stein ‘stone’, ‘cube’.
Dock German
An occupational name for someone who worked with textiles, related to the German word Tuch "cloth, piece of fabric".
Doepner German
Derived from Middle Low German top and dop "pot". This is an occupational surname originally given to a potter.
Dolle German (?)
“Dolle is a German word for a specific type of lock used on boats and also a small town in Germany”
Dome English
Occupational name from the Old English root doma, dema ‘judge’, ‘arbiter’. Compare Dempster.
Dowler English
Occupational name for a maker of dowels and similar objects, from a derivative of Middle English “dowle”.
Dragon French, English
Nickname or occupational name for someone who carried a standard in battle or else in a pageant or procession, from Middle English, Old French dragon "snake, monster" (Latin draco, genitive draconis, from Greek drakōn, ultimately from derkesthai "to flash")... [more]
Drangmeister German
Occupational name for a healer or someone who made medicinal drinks, meaning "potion maker".
Dransfield English
Means "Drains the fields".
Draxler German
Derived from the Middle High German "Drehseler," meaning "turner," and was most likely initially borne by a turner or lathe worker.
Drescher Yiddish, German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a thresher, German Drescher, Yiddish dresher, agent derivatives of Middle High German dreschen, Yiddish dresh(e)n 'to thresh'.... [more]
Driver English
Occupational name for a driver of horses or oxen attached to a cart or plow, or of loose cattle, from a Middle English agent derivative of Old English drīfan ‘to drive’.
Drost Dutch, German, Danish
Means "reeve, steward; sheriff, bailiff" in German and Dutch, a title for the administrative head of a court or district.
Drucker German, Jewish, Dutch
Occupational name for an operator of a printing press, derived from German drucken "to print".
Druckmann German, Jewish
Variant of Drucker. A famous bearer of the name is the Israeli-American writer Neil Druckmann (1978-).
Drux German
Variant of Trux, which itself is a contracted form of Truxes and derived from the German word Truchsess, ultimately from Middle High German truhsaeze and Old High German truhtsazzo (from truht "band; cohort; regiment" and saza "seat; chair").... [more]
Drye English
Variant of Dryer.
Dryer English
From an agent derivative of Old English dr̄gean "to dry"; possibly an occupational name for a drier of cloth. In the Middle Ages, after cloth had been dyed and fulled, it was stretched out in tenterfields to dry.
Duck English, Irish
English from Middle English doke "duck", hence a nickname for someone with some fancied resemblance to a duck, or an occupational name for someone who kept or hunted ducks. Alternatively, a variant form of Duke... [more]
Dukelow English
This surname is of Old French origin. It was initially introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066, and subsequently by French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecutions in their own country... [more]
Dürer German, History
In the case of the German painter Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), this was a variant of the German surname Türer, a German translation of Hungarian Ajtósi, meaning "doormaker", to adapt to the local Nuremberg dialect... [more]
Durward English, Scottish
Occupational name meaning "doorkeeper, porter", derived from Old English duru "door" and weard "guard, guardian". In Medieval Scotland, this was a hereditary title for the warden of the king’s door.
Dutcher German (Americanized), Dutch (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Deutscher or of Dutch Duyster.
Dyker English
From Middle English and Older Scots diker, dicher, denoting someone who dug or maintained ditches. Compare Dicker.
Eamer English
Possibly derived from the given name Eomer, or from Middle English yẹ̄mer "guardian, keeper, protector; guard".
Earle English
Variant of Earl.
Economy Greek (Americanized), English
Americanized form of Greek Οικονόμος (see Economos) meaning "steward", or of the patronymic Οικονόμου (see Economou).
Edler German
"Noble man." It comes from Edelman.
Eiermann German
Occupational name for an egg collector or dealer in eggs, from Middle High German ei 'egg' + man 'man'.
Eingeweide German
A German surname meaning "guts" or "viscera".
Eisele German
Either from a diminutive of any of the Germanic given names formed with the element isarn meaning "iron" (such as Isanhard) or from Isenlin, a nickname for a blacksmith, ironworker or dealer in iron, composed of Middle High German īsen "iron" and the diminutive suffix -līn.
Eisen German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for an ironworker or smith, or an ironmonger, from Middle High German isen ‘iron’, German Eisen. It may also have been used as a nickname, with reference to the strength and hardness of iron or to its color, while as a Jewish name it was also adopted as an ornamental name from modern German Eisen ‘iron’ or the Yiddish cognate ayzn.
Eisenhauer German
Occupational name meaning "iron cutter" where Eisen- means "iron" and -hauer means "hewer". The verb 'hew' being less well used in English than in earlier times, but still understood to mean cut, such as in hewing tree limbs... [more]
Eisenhower English (American)
American form of German Eisenhauer. A notable bearer was Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969), president of the United States between 1953 and 1961. His ancestors immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany in the 1740s and at some point the spelling changed from Eisenhauer to Eisenhower.
Eisenmenger German
occupational name for an "iron dealer" from Middle High German isarn "iron" and mengære "dealer".
Eisenstein German, Jewish
topographic name for someone who lived by a place where iron ore was extracted or perhaps a habitational name from a place called for its iron works. Jewish artificial compound of German isarn "iron" and stein "stone".
Eisner German, Jewish
Occupational name for an ironworker, smith, or ironmonger, from an agent derivative of Middle High German īsen and German Eisen, meaning ‘iron’ (see Eisen).
Emmer German
A topographic name for someone who lived by land where grain was grown, a status name for someone who owned such land, or a metonymic occupational name for someone who grew or dealt in grain.
Eppler German
Occupational name for a fruit grower or dealer, from Middle High German epfeler meaning "grower of or dealer in apples".
Ertel German
South German: from a pet form of a personal name beginning with Ort-, from Old High German ort "point" (of a sword or lance)
Esler German
German: byname or occupational name for someone who drove donkeys, from Middle High German esel ‘donkey’ + the agent suffix -er.
Euler German, Jewish
Occupational name for a potter, most common in the Rhineland and Hesse, from Middle High German ul(n)ære (an agent derivative of the dialect word ul, aul "pot", from Latin olla).
Exner German (Silesian)
Variant of Oxner (see Ochsner).
Faber German, Dutch, French, Danish
An occupational name for a blacksmith or ironworker, ultimately derived from Latin faber "artisan, creator, craftsman, smith".
Fabronius German
An elaboration of the name Faber.
Fackrell English
It means woodcutter
Failor English (American)
Americanized spelling of German Failer or Fehler, variants of Feiler.
Farand English (Canadian), French (Quebec)
Derived from the given name FARIMOND or from the French word ferrer meaning "to be clad in iron" or "to shoe a horse".
Farrar English (British)
Northern English: occupational name for a smith or worker in iron, from Middle English and Old French farrour, ferour, from medieval Latin ferrator, an agent derivative of ferrare ‘to shoe horses’, from ferrum ‘iron’, in medieval Latin ‘horseshoe’... [more]
Farrow English
Northern English: hyper-corrected form of Farrar, occupational name for a smith or worker in iron. The original -ar or -er ending of this name came to be regarded as an error, and was changed to -ow.
Fass German
From Middle High German faz, German Fass 'cask', 'keg', hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of casks and kegs, or a nickname for someone as rotund as a barrel. German: variant of Fasse, Faas.
Fassbender German
Occupational name for a maker of keg barrels.
Fassbinder German
Derived from German Fass "barrel, keg, cask" and binder "girder, tie", denoting a barrel maker. Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945-1982) was a German filmmaker, dramatist and actor, considered as one of the major figures and catalysts of the New German Cinema movement.
Fawley English
This is a name for someone who worked as a person who worked as the fowler or the bird-catcher having derived from the Old English word "fugelere" which literally means "hunter of wild birds, fowler"... [more]
Feather English
from Middle English fether fedder "feather" or perhaps a shortened form of Middle English fetherer applied as a metonymic occupational name for a trader in feathers and down a maker of quilts or possibly a maker of pens... [more]
Featherman English
Derived from the Old English word "feþerman," which means "falconer" or "hawk trainer." It was likely used as an occupational surname for someone who was involved in hunting with birds of prey using the falconry or hawking methods.
Fechter German
Occupational name derived from Middle High German vehten "to fence", denoting a fencer. Notable bearers include German bricklayer Peter Fechter (1944–1962), and American engineer and inventor Aaron Fechter (1953-), creator of the band Rock-afire Explosion.
Feder German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name for a trader in feathers or in quill pens from Middle High German vedere German feder "feather quill pen"... [more]
Federspiel German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German vederspil "bird of prey (trained for hunting)", this was an occupational name for a falconer.
Feemster English, Scottish
Occupational name meaning "herdsman", from Middle English fee "cattle" and English master.
Feig German
From German meaning "fig".
Feigenbutz German
Occupational name for someone who sells figs.
Feiler German
Occupational name for a filemaker, from Feil + the agent suffix -er.
Felder German, Croatian
Derived from German feld, meaning "field".
Fell English, German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a furrier, from Middle English fell, Middle High German vel, or German Fell or Yiddish fel, all of which mean "skin, hide, pelt". Yiddish fel refers to untanned hide, in contrast to pelts "tanned hide" (see Pilcher).
Feller English, German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative of Middle English fell, Middle Low German, Middle High German vel, or German Fell or Yiddish fel "hide, pelt". See also Fell.
Fendrich German
From German Fähndrich (older form Fähndrich) meaning "ensign, flag-bearer".
Fenner English
A surname of either Old French origin, allegedly meaning “huntsman”, or else more probably referring to those who were brought over from the Low Countries to assist in draining the “fens” or wetlands of England and Ireland – a process which lasted from the 9th to the 18th centuries.
Fenrich De Gjurgjenovac German
Fenrich is a German family name, derived from a military title 'fenrich'/'fähn(d)rich' meaning "ensign" or "standard bearer" (bannerman), from early New High German fenrich. The term was formed and came into use around 1500, replacing Middle High German form vener, an agent derivative of Alemannic substantive van (flag).... [more]
Fenster German, Jewish
Occupational name for a window maker from Middle High German venster German fenster "window".
Fenstermaker German
Means 'one who makes windows' in German.
Fettiplace English (British)
Means “make room” from Anglo-French fete place, probably a name for an usher.
Feuer German
Metonymic occupational name for a stoker in a smithy or public baths, or nickname for someone with red hair or a fiery temper, from Middle High German viur "fire".
Feuerstein German
This name comes from the German feuer meaning fire, and stein meaning stone. This was a name commonly given to a blacksmith.
Feulner German
Franconian dialect form of Feilner (see Feiler), or derived from Feuln, a town near the district of Kulmbach, Bavaria, Germany. A notable bearer is the American academic Edwin Feulner (1941-).
Fieldman English
Meaning "ploughman".
Fifield English
Local. Has the same signification as Manorfield. Lands held in fee or fief, for which the individual pays service or owes rent.
Firestone German (Americanized), Jewish (Americanized)
Calque (translation into English) of the German and Ashkenazi surname Feuerstein.
Fisch German, Jewish
From German (fisch) meaning "fish".
Fische German
Variant of Fisch.
Fischkus German
tax collector (fiscal)
Fischmann German, Jewish
Cognate of Fishman. occupational name for a fish seller from Middle High German fisc Yiddish fish (German fisch) "fish" and Middle High German and Yiddish man (German mann) "man".
Fiscus German
From Latin fiscus "basket", a humanistic Latinization of the German surname Korb. This is a metonymic occupational name for a basketmaker or a peddler, or a habitational name for someone who lived at a house distinguished by the sign of a basket.
Fisk English (British)
English (East Anglia): metonymic occupational name for a fisherman or fish seller, or a nickname for someone supposedly resembling a fish in some way, from Old Norse fiskr ‘fish’ (cognate with Old English fisc).
Fiske English, Norwegian
From the traditionally Norwegian habitational surname, from the Old Norse fiskr "fish" and vin "meadow". In England and Denmark it was a surname denoting someone who was a "fisherman" or earned their living from selling fish.
Flack English
Probably from Middle English flack / flak meaning "turf, sod" (as found in the place name Flatmoor, in Cambridgeshire), and hence perhaps an occupational name for a turf cutter.
Flanner English
This early occupational and mainly 'midlands' English surname, is actually of pre-medieval French origins. Introduced into England at the time of the Norman Conquest of 1066, it derives from the French word flaonet meaning a 'little flan', and described a maker of patisserie or pancakes.
Flax English
Metonymic occupational name for someone who grew, sold, or treated flax for weaving into linen cloth,
Fleisch German
Metonymic occupational name for a butcher. Derived from Middle High German fleisch or vleisch "flesh meat".
Fleischhacker German, Jewish
Occupational name for a butcher from German fleisch "flesh meat", and an agent derivative of hacken "to chop or cut".
Fleischhauer German
Occupational name for a butcher from Middle High German fleisch or vleisch "flesh meat" and an agent derivative of Middle High German houwen "to cut". Variant of Fleischauer.
Fleischman German (Austrian)
Fleischman translates in English to Meat Man, or Butcher It is most often used with a single "n" for those who were persecuted as Jews. Other Germanic spellings for Christians and others not deemed Jewish are Fleischmann, or Fleishmann... [more]
Fleischmann German, Jewish
occupational name for a butcher literally "meatman, butcher" from Middle High German fleisch "flesh, meat" and man "man".
Flook English
From Old English flōc "flathead, flounder (fish)".
Flower English
Occupational name for an arrowsmith, from an agent derivative of Middle English flō ‘arrow’ (Old English flā).
Fluke English
Variant of Flook. Can also be an Americanized form of German Fluck or Pflug.
Fluter English
Named after the action of playing a flute or the job of making a flute.
Forman English
An occupational surname for a keeper of swine, Middle English foreman, from Old English for hog, "pig" and mann ‘man’. The word is attested in this sense from the 15th century but is not used specifically for the leader of a gang of workers before the late 16th century.
Forster English (Anglicized), German, Jewish, Slovak
English: occupational and topographic name for someone who lived or worked in a forest (see Forrest). ... [more]
Frankland English
Status name for a person whom lived on an area of land without having to pay obligations. From Norman French frank, 'free' and Middle English land, 'land'. This surname is common in Yorkshire.... [more]
Freier German
Status name of the feudal system denoting a free man, as opposed to a bondsman, from an inflected form of Middle High German vri "free".
Freier German
Archaic occupational name, from Middle High German, Middle Low German vrier, vriger, denoting a man who had the ceremonial duty of asking guests to a wedding.
Frett English
English from Middle English frette, Old French frete ‘interlaced work (in metal and precious stones)’ such as was used for hair ornaments and the like, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such pieces.
Freyer German
Variant of Freier.
Friar English
Denoted a member of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders. (Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans)
Frischkorn German, Jewish
An occupational name for a farmer composed of German frisch "fresh" and korn "grain"... [more]
Friseur German
From German meaning "barber, hairdresser".
Frobisher English
The surname Frobisher is derived from an occupation, 'the furber' or 'furbisher.' (Middle English fourbishour, from Old French forbisseor). A furbisher was a scourer of armour and metals generally, found also as' furbearer.' Frobisher is the most prominent modern form of the surname... [more]
Froehner German
Derived from Middle High German vröhner meaning "servant".
Froment French, Walloon, English
from French froment "wheat" (from Latin frumentum "grain") probably applied as a nickname for a peasant or as metonymic occupational name for a dealer in wheat... [more]
Fruitman English
Likely referring to someone who sold fruit.
Fuhrer German
Originally, an occupational name for a carrier or carter, a driver of horse-drawn vehicles.... [more]
Funke German
German: variant of Funk.
Furman Polish, Czech, Slovak, Jewish, Slovene, English, German (Anglicized)
Polish, Czech, Slovak, Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic), and Slovenian: occupational name for a carter or drayman, the driver of a horse-drawn delivery vehicle, from Polish, Yiddish, and Slovenian furman, a loanword from German (see Fuhrmann)... [more]
Fyler English (American)
Americanized spelling of German Feiler.
Gaarder Norwegian
Norwegian form of Gardener.
Gaither English
Occupational name for a goatherd, derived from Middle English gaytere literally meaning "goatherd".
Galishoff Upper German, German (Austrian)
Derived from the ancient Roman name Gallus, meaning "rooster" in Latin. Hoff meaning house combines the growing or tending to poultry on a farm house, hence the name Galishoff which has been modified over the millennia... [more]
Galpin English
English: occupational name for a messenger or scullion (in a monastery), from Old French galopin ‘page’, ‘turnspit’, from galoper ‘to gallop’.
Gans German, Dutch
Means "goose" in German and Dutch, either an occupational name for someone who worked with geese, a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting a goose, or a nickname for someone walked oddly or was considered silly or foolish... [more]
Ganser German
From the Middle High German word ganser meaning "gander", occupational name for a geese shepherd.
Garlick English
(i) "grower or seller of garlic"; (ii) perhaps from a medieval personal name descended from Old English Gārlāc, literally "spear-play"; (iii) an anglicization of the Belorussian Jewish name Garelick, literally "distiller"
Garson Scottish, French, English, German (Anglicized), Spanish, Jewish
Variant of Scottish Carson and Corston, French Garçon, Spanish-Jewish Garzon and English Garston, or an Americanised form of German Gerson... [more]
Garten German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name for a gardener or overseer of a garden or enclosure. Originally the term denoted the keeper of an enclosure for deer later of a vineyard or smallholding from Middle High German garte "garden enclosure"... [more]
Garth English
Means "garden" from northern Middle English garth (Old Norse garþr, garðr) "piece of enclosed ground; garden, paddock" originally denoting one who lived near or worked in a garden.
Gasser German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a goat herd from Middle High German geiz meaning "Goat" and (n)er an agent suffix.
Gauge English
Variant of Gage.
Gaul Scottish (Latinized, Rare), Irish, German
Scottish and Irish: variant of Gall ... [more]
Gaydos Hungarian, English
Anglicized spelling of Hungarian GAJDOS.
Gayer German
Derived from Slavic gaj "grove", this name denoted a forest warden.
Gear English
Derived from the Germanic name element ger, meaning "spear".
Geigle German
Meaning "violinist" in Swabian German.
Geiser German, German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a goatherd, from a derivative of Middle High German geiz 'goat'.