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.
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
Habitational name for someone from Kuhz, a small village near Prenzlau, Germany.
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.
Lachtrup German
Probably from a place name using the suffix -trup, related to dorf meaning "village". The first element could be lach "laugh, smile", or a corruption of loch "hole, pit".
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".
Lam German, Dutch
From a short form of the given name Lambert.
Lamberg German
Derived from any of several places so named in Germany.
Lamm German, Jewish
German cognate of Lamb. As a Jewish name, it is ornamental.
Lammers Dutch, German
Patronymic form of the given name Lammert, a variant of Lambert.
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.
Lander German, Jewish
Topographic or status name from Middle High German lant "land, territory".
Landers German, Dutch
Patronymic form of Lander.
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.
Leibensperger German (Austrian)
Habitational name for someone who lives in Leiben, Austria.
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
Leininger German
Smeone from any of several places called Leiningen.
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]
Lennard Anglo-Saxon, German
Derived from the baptismal name for Leonard.... [more]
Lennin German
Variant of Lennon.
Lent English, German, Dutch
Nickname from either Old English lencten meaning "spring season, springtime" or from Germanic langa-tinez meaning "long days" which refers to the increasing daylight of spring. Likely a nickname for someone who was born or baptized during springtime.
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 lewo "lion" and hart "hardy, brave, strong".
Leopold English, German, Dutch
From the given name Leopold.
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.
Licht German, Dutch, Yiddish
Means "light" or "candle". Could be an occupational name for a chandler, a topographic name for someone who lived in a clearing (see Lichte), or a nickname for someone who had light hair, or who was agile and slender.
Lichte German
Habitational name for someone who lived in a clearing (see Lucht) or topographic name from a town in Germany, situated by the Lichte river. Alternatively, a variant of Licht.
Lichten German, Jewish
From German licht meaning "light". Nickname for someone with a light complexion.
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".
Liebknecht German
Karl Liebknecht was a German socialist revolutionary.
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]
Lilienthal German
Habitational name from any of the places called Lilienthal in Schleswig-Holstein Lower Saxony and Baden-Württemburg named with Middle High German liljen "lilies" (from Latin lilium) and tal "valley".
Limbach German
Derived from any of numerous places in Germany named with Germanic lindo meaning "lime tree" and bach meaning "stream". Several of these places are in areas such as the Palatinate, which contributed heavily to early German immigration to the United States.
Limbaugh German (Anglicized)
Americanized spelling of Limbach.
Limburg German, Dutch
Derived from places named "Limburg".
Limburger German
Derived from the name of a town named "Limburg", which was located in western Germany.
Limpert German
Of German origin. Could mean wise or smart. Also seeLambert
Linde German, Dutch, Jewish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Derived from Middle Hugh German, Dutch linde or Scandinavian lind "lime tree". Almost exclusively ornamental in Swedish, otherwise probably habitational. There are also a number of feminine names containing the element lind, for example Linda, Dietlinde and Gerlinde, and it's possible that the surname is derived from any of those names.
Lindemann German
Means "soft man" in German, from the elements lind meaning "soft, flexible", and man meaning "man".
Lindenbaum German, Jewish
topographic name for someone who lived by a lime tree Lindenbaum or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a lime tree. Derived from the elements linta "linden" and boum "tree".
Lindenberg German, Jewish, Dutch
As a German and Jewish name, it is derived from any of numerous places called Lindenberg in Germany, composed of Middle High German linde meaning "lime tree" and berg meaning "mountain, hill"... [more]
Lindenmeyer German
Habitational name for the tenant of a farm identified by a lime tree, derived from Middle High German linde meaning "lime tree" and meier meaning "tenant farmer".
Linder German
Derived from the German word linde, which means lime tree.
Lindhorst German
It means "linden forest" in German.
Lindley English, German
English habitational name from either of two places in West Yorkshire called Lindley, or from Linley in Shropshire and Wiltshire, all named from Old English lin ‘flax’ + leah ‘wood’, ‘glade’, with epenthetic -d-, or from another Lindley in West Yorkshire (near Otley), named in Old English as ‘lime wood’, from lind ‘lime tree’ + leah ‘woodland clearing’... [more]
Lindt German, Dutch
Derived from given names containing the elements lind "tender, mild, gentle hearted" or lind "linden tree, shield"... [more]
Linebaugh German (Anglicized)
Americanized spelling of German Leinbach.
Lineberry German (Americanized)
Americanized spelling of Leinberg.
Linelin German (Americanized)
Of German origin, an anglicization of German "Leinlindt", which is a combination of surnames Lein meaning "linen" and Lindt meaning "gentle".
Ling English, German
Variant of Link.
Linn German
Toponymic surname derived from Germanic lin "swamp, bog, marsh".
Linn German
Derived from the given name Linto, a short form of names containing the element lind "soft, flexible".
Linn German (Silesian), Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Derived from the Slavic word lin "tench (fish)", a nickname for a fisherman, or for a person who somehow resembled a tench.
Linzmeyer German, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Means "bailiff of Linz, Austria" in German, derived from Proto-Celtic *lentos (“bend”) and Middle High German meier meaning "bailiff, administrator", derived from Latin maior meaning "greater".... [more]
Lipp German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a short form of the given name Philipp.
Lipps German
Derived from Lippe, a place in Westphalia, Germany. The name is a variant of the first name Philipp.
Lipschitz German, Jewish
The name is derived from the Slavic "lipa," meaning "linden tree" or "lime tree." The name may relate to a number of different place names: "Liebeschitz," the name of a town in Bohemia, "Leipzig," the name of a famous German city, or "Leobschutz," the name of a town in Upper Silesia.
Lischke German
A German surname of slavic origin. A historic bearer was Johann Lischke, a German Protestant reformer in the 16th century. The name may come from the German word “Lisch,” which can refer to a marshy or wetland area.
Littman German (East Prussian), German (West Prussian), German, Jewish
Derived from Germanized Czech personal names like Litomir (Czech: Ljutomir) and Litobor (Czech: Ljutobor) which ultimately go back to Old Slavic ljutu "grim; fierce; ferocious; wild". One theory suggests, however, that these given names might have been influenced by ljub- "love; dear".... [more]
Livengood German
The surname LIVENGOOD is the Americanized version of Leibendgut. Leibengut is Swiss-German in origin. It has been written as Livengood and Levengood in America. Records show the family name back to 1550, in Aarwangen, Canton of Berne, Switzerland... [more]
Löbe German
Variant of Löwe from Middle High German lēwe löuwe "lion" hence a nickname for a brave or regal person. 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.
Lobsang German (Rare, Archaic)
German name meaning "sung praise"
Loch German
From German Loch "hole", ultimately derived from Middle High German loch "hole, hollow, valley".
Lochner German
Means "a place where rivers meet with a partial obstruction from a wooden dam. "
Lochte Dutch, German
Variant of the habitational names Lichte or Lucht.
Lock English, Dutch, German
Habitational name from any of various places derived from Old English loca meaning "(locked) enclosure, stronghold".
Locke English, German
Variant of Lock.
Locke English, German
From Old English or Old High German loc meaning "lock of hair, curl".
Lockhart Scottish, German
Scottish: of uncertain origin, probably from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements loc ‘lock’, ‘bolt’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’. English: occupational name for a herdsman in charge of a sheep or cattlefold, from Old English loc ‘enclosure’, ‘fold’ + hierde ‘herd(er)’.
Loesch German
German metonymic occupational name from Middle High German lösch ‘fine leather’.
Loescher German
German variant of Löscher, an occupational name for a fireman, from Middle High German leschen ‘to extinguish’. Als a variant of Loesch and Lescher or a derivative of Loesche.
Loewen German
Variant of Loewe.
Löffler German
Derived from German löffel, it denotes a person who produces or trades spoons.
Loo Dutch, German
Means "clearing" in Dutch and North German.
Loretz German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from the given name Laurentius.
Lösch Low German, Upper German
North German metonymic occupational name for a maker of fine leather, from Middle Low German losche ‘fine leather’. South German variant of Lesch (see Loesch).
Lothringer German
Indicates origin from Lothringen, German form of Lorraine
Loudermilk German
In German the word “lauter” translates into English as “pure” and the German word “milch” translates into English as “milk”. This surname belonged to those who worked in the dairy industry.
Löwenhaar German
Meaning "lion hair", from German löwe "lion" and haar "hair".
Lowenhar German (East Prussian, Anglicized)
An Anglicized form of Löwenhaar, meaning "lion hair", from German löwe and haar.
Löwenstein German
Habitational name from any of several places called Löwenstein.
Löwenthal German
Habitational name from any of various places called Löwenthal.
Lubahn German
Germanized form of a Slavic or Old Prussian name formed with lub- "love", "dear".
Lubbe German, Slavic, Prussian
Variant of Lubben. Germanized form of a Slavic or Old Prussian name formed with lub- ‘love’, ‘dear’ (see Luba).
Lubeck German
Habitational name from the city of Lübeck in Schleswig-Holstein.... [more]
Luchs German
Means "lynx" in German, a nickname possibly given to someone with good eyesight. Alternatively, a variant form of Lux.
Lucht German, Dutch
Topographic name from Lucht "cleared area, garden", ultimately from Old German leuhtą "light".
Lucius German
Latinized form of Lutz.
Lucius German, Dutch
From the personal name Lucius.
Luckhardt German
Metronymic derived from the given name Liutgard.
Ludenberg German
From Latin ludere meaning "to play" and German berg meaning "mountain".
Lüdi German (Swiss)
Probably derived from the given name Ludwig
Luker German
Luker see also Lucher or Luchre, meaning money more specifically money obtained by nefarious means.
Lüll German
From a short form of any of the Germanic personal names formed with liut- ‘people’ as the first element.
Lunz German
Nickname for a careless or slovenly person, from Middle High German lunzen 'to doze'. Can also be a habitational name for someone from Lunz in Tyrol.
Lustig Swedish, German, Jewish, Dutch
A nickname for a cheerful person, derived from Swedish and German lustig "humorous, funny, enjoyable" or Middle High German lustig "merry, carefree". Usually ornamental as a Jewish surname.
Lütke German
From a pet name of Ludolf.
Lutter Dutch, English, German
Dutch and English: variant of Luter.... [more]
Lutz German, German (Swiss), French
From the given name Lutz, a short form of Ludwig, or of names containing the element liut "people" such as Luitgard.
Lux German, French, Belgian, Dutch
Patronymic from a vernacular form of Lucas. Alternatively, a variant form of Luchs.
Luxenberg German, Jewish, Luxembourgish, Belgian, French, Walloon
Habitational name from various places named Luxenberg, Luxemberg, Luxenburg, or Luxembourg, including the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Lyboult German
Famous Warrior... [more]
Lyday German (Anglicized)
Probably an Americanized form of German Leidig.
Lyman German
Americanized form of German Leimann, Americanized form of Leinemann, habitational name for someone from Leine in Pomerania, or for someone who lived by either of two rivers called Leine, near Hannover and in Saxony.
Maag German
Comes from the Middle High German “mage”, meaning “relative” or “kinsman”.
Macher German
Either a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Machern, for example one near Leipzig... [more]
Mack German, Dutch, French
From the Germanic personal name Macco or Makko.
Macon French, German
French: See Maçon. An occupational name for a mason, French maçon. Habitational name from places so called in Saône-et-Loire, Allier, Aube, the Côte d’Or, Gers, and Deux-Sères... [more]
Mahler German
Variant of Maler, a German occupational surname meaning "painter", particularly a stained glass painter.... [more]
Mai German
Derived from German der Mai meaning "May", perhaps indicating a person who was baptized in that month.
Maisel Yiddish, German, French
Predominantly seems to be a matronymic surname from the Yiddish feminine name Mayzl. Although it is believed that it derived from the Hebrew name Meïser, which means “representative of God”... [more]
Makovoza Baltic (Latinized, Rare), German (Latinized, Rare), Russian (Rare)
There is no history of the name just a family name I on't know if some people have it as a first name too.
Maletz German (Silesian)
German-Silesian variant of Slavic surname Malec.
Maller German
An occupational name given to a painter of stained glass.
Mallow German
Variant spelling of Malow, a habitational name from Malow in Mecklenburg.
Mandrisch Polish, German
Upper Silesia
Manhart German (Modern)
From the Germanic personal name Manhard, composed of the Germanic elements man "man", "human" + hard "hardy", "brave", "strong"... [more]
Manheim German, Jewish
Habitational name from the city of Mannheim in southwestern Germany (formerly the residence of the electors Palatine) so named from the ancient Germanic personal name Manno (see Mann ) annd Old High German heim "homestead"... [more]
Mani German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a short form of the given name Emmanuel.
Mannheim German, Jewish
Variant of Manheim. A habitational name from the city of Mannheim in southwestern Germany.
Mannheimer German, Jewish
variant of Mannheim and Manheimer with the German agent suffix -er.