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.
Ruhr German
Name given to a person who lived near the Ruhr River in Germany.
Ruland German
Medieval form of Roland.
Rumfelt German, Dutch
Altered spelling of German Romfeld, derived from Middle Low German rüm- meaning "to clear (land)" and feld meaning "open country, field", hence a topographic name or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a person engaged in clearing woodland, or in some cases a habitational name for someone from Romfelt in the Ardennes... [more]
Rumfield German (Anglicized)
Americanized form of Rumfelt.
Rummel German, Dutch
North German and Dutch: variant of Rommel.... [more]
Rummenigge German
Meaning uncertain. It could possibly be an occupational name for a viticulturist who grew grapes to make wine, a seller or producer of Romanian wine, or a nickname for a person who preferred to drink Romanian wine... [more]
Rumple German
It is derived from Rumbald, an Old German personal name.
Rumschlag German
This name is possibly a derivative of the German word for "envelope" which is spelled 'Umschlag'.
Rumsfeld German
Variant spelling of Rumfelt. A notable bearer was the American politician, businessman and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (1932-2021).
Runge German
From the old word "runga", meaning stick or whip
Ruprecht German
From the given name Ruprecht.
Rusch German
Derived from Middle High German and Middle Low German rusch "rush reeds".
Rusch German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Rudolf.
Ruschel German
Variant of Rusch
Rusher German (Americanized)
Americanized version of the German surname Rüscher or Roshcer. Either a topographic name for someone who lived among rushes or an occupational name for someone who created things out of rushes.
Ruth English, German (Swiss)
English: from Middle English reuthe ‘pity’ (a derivative of rewen to pity, Old English hreowan) nickname for a charitable person or for a pitiable one. Not related to the given name in this case.... [more]
Rutman Jewish, German
1. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of Rothman. ... [more]
Rutmann German
German: see Rutman.
Rutt English, German
English: variant of Root.... [more]
Rutz Romansh, German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Rudolf.
Ryne German (Swiss)
Respelling of Swiss German Rhyn, a topographic name for someone living on the Rhine river, Middle High German Rin.
Rynearson German, German (Swiss)
Derived from the Rhine River.
Sachse German
Variant of Sachs.
Sachtleben German
Nickname for someone perceived to lead a carefree, easy life, from Middle Low German sacht(e) meaning "soft" + leben meaning "life".
Sackhoff German
Occupational name for a farmer who cultivated land to grow plants, particularly crops, derived from Middle High German sack meaning "sack, end of a valley, area of cultivation" and hof meaning "farmstead, manor, farm"... [more]
Sackmann German
Occupational name from Middle High German sacman meaning "baggage servant", one who was in charge of transporting and looking after a knight’s baggage and supplies on campaign.
Sadat German (Rare)
The last name Sadat means "master" and "gentleman," and is originally a religious last name which was popular in the west, more precisely in Germany.
Saenger German, Jewish
Occupational name for a chorister or a nickname for someone who liked singing, from Middle High German senger, German Sänger meaning "singer".
Saffeels English (Rare), German (Rare)
Used as a last name a minimum of 82 times in (USA, Germany).
Sallwasser German
It is derived from the German words (Salz) meaning "salt", & (Salweide) meaning "water".
Saltzman Jewish, German
Altered spelling of Salzmann.
Salzer German
For someone who worked with salt from Middle High German salz "salt" (from Latin sal).
Salzmann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a producer or seller of salt, from German salz "salt" + mann "man".
Samet German, Jewish, Yiddish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of velvet, from Yiddish samet ‘velvet’ (German Samt, ultimately from Greek hexamiton, a compound of hex ‘six’ + mitos ‘thread’).
Samis Dutch, German
From a pet form of the personal name Samuel.
Sand English, Scottish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, German, Jewish
From the vocabulary word sand. As a Swedish and Jewish name, often ornamental. Otherwise topographic.
Sande German
Variant of Sand.
Sandmeier German, German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
From Middle High German sand combined with Meier, referring to a tenant farmer whose farm was on sandy soil.
Sankt Johann German
Means Saint John in German.
Saperstein Jewish, German
“Sapphire” and “stone”
Sarnow Polabian (Germanized), German
From the village of Sarnow in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Surname of the mayor of Stralsund Karsten Sarnow.
Sass German
Variant of Sasse.
Saß German
Variant of Sass.
Sasse German
Variant of Sachs via the form Sachse.
Sattler German
An occupational name meaning "saddle maker".
Sauerwein German
Occupational nickname for someone who sold sour wine, or perhaps a nickname for someone with a sour disposition, from Middle High German sur "sour" + win "wine", i.e. vinegar.
Saur German
Variant of Sauer.
Sax Upper German, Dutch, Luxembourgish
Upper German variant of Sachs and Dutch variant of Sas.
Saxer German (Swiss), Romansh
Habitational name for someone from a place called Sax or Saxe.
Schaaf German
Metonymic occupational name for a shepherd, from Middle High German schāf ‘sheep’. In some cases it may have been a nickname for someone thought to resemble a sheep, or a habitational name for someone living at a house distinguished by the sign of a sheep... [more]
Schaal German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Jewish
Either a nickname for a braggart or a market crier, (derived from Middle High German schal meaning "noise, bragging"), an occupational name for someone who made dishes for scales and vessels for drinking, (from Middle Low German and Dutch schale "dish"), a habitational name from Schaala in Thuringia or the Schaalsee lake near Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, or a topographic name for someone living on marshy land, (from Dutch schald "shallow")... [more]
Schaben German
Describes an inhabitant of the region Swabia
Schachner German
German origins (as told to me by my family); popular in Austria and also has Jewish and Slavic origins, according to the internet/ancestry.com.
Schacht German, Dutch
North German and Dutch: metonymic occupational name for someone who prepared shafts for tools or weapons, a turner, from Middle Low German schacht, Middle Dutch scacht ‘shaft’.
Schade German, Dutch, Scottish, English
German and Dutch: from schade ‘damage’, a derivative of schaden ‘to do damage’, generally a nickname for a thug or clumsy person, or, more particularly, a robber knight, who raided others’ lands.... [more]
Schaden German, Dutch
From schade 'damage', a derivative of schaden 'to do damage', generally a nickname for a thug or clumsy person, or, more particularly, a robber knight, who raided others' lands.
Schaefer German (?)
Originating in Germany SCHAEFER is a given surname meaning Shepard in German.
Schaff German
Name given to sheepherders, accounding to personal family history.
Schäffler German
Occupational name for a cooper, from an agent derivative of Middle High German scheffel "bushel".
Schaffner German, Jewish, German (Swiss)
German: occupational name for a steward or bailiff, variant of Schaffer.
Schalk German
germany
Schall German
Nickname for a braggart or for a market crier from Middle High German schal "noise" "bragging".
Schaller Upper German
From Middle High German word "schal," which means "noise," or "bragging," and as such is was thought to have originally been a nickname for a braggart, or for a market crier.
Schattner German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from any of several places named Schaten or Schatten, or a topographic name for someone living in a shady location, from Middle High German schate "shade", "protection".
Schatz German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) metonymic occupational name for a treasurer, from German Schatz ‘treasure’, Middle High German scha(t)z. It may also have been a nickname for a rich man (or ironically for a miser), or else for a well-liked person or a ladies’ favorite, from the use of the vocabulary word as a term of endearment... [more]
Schätzel German
German diminutive of Schatz, or a nickname for a lover meaning "little sweetheart" (from the same word used as a term of endearment).
Schauble German
Diminutive of Scaub
Schauer German
The Schauer surname comes from the Middle High German word "schouwen" meaning "to inspect;" as such, the name is thought to have originally been occupational, for some kind of inspector, perhaps an official of a market.
Schaumburg German, Dutch, Belgian
Habitational name from any of the places called Schaumburg or Schauenburg in Germany, or Schauwberg in Brabant, Belgium.
Schaus German, Luxembourgish
A nickname for a simpleton, from schaus, a word in Rhenish Franconian and Lower Rhine dialects of German.
Schauwecker German
habitational name for someone from Schaubeck near Marbach (Württemberg).
Scheele German, Dutch, Swedish (Rare)
From Middle Low German schele and Dutch scheel meaning "squinting, cross-eyed". A notable bearer was German-Swedish pharmaceutical chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786) who discovered oxygen and identified several other elements.
Scheetz German
Anglicized version of the German surname, Schütz, "archer," "yeoman," "protect."
Scheid German, Jewish
Either a topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary (between two valleys etc.) or crossroads Middle High German scheide, a habitational name from any of various places called Scheidt Scheiden... [more]
Scheidegger German, German (Swiss)
Topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary or watershed. The name was derived from the Old German word SCHEIDE, meaning 'to part, to divide'. It may also have been a habitation name from any of the numerous places named with this word.
Schein German, Jewish
from Middle High German schīn German schein "shining brightness" hence a nickname for someone with either a radiant personality or possibly for someone living in a sunny location or a Jewish artificial name.
Schell German
Means "noisy" or "loud" from the German word "schel"
Schemmel German
Nickname for a disabled person, from Middle High German schemel "stool", which was used as a crutch by invalids.
Schenkel German, Dutch, Jewish
German, Dutch, and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname for someone with long or otherwise notable legs, from Middle High German schenkel, Middle Dutch schenkel, schinkel ‘thigh’, ‘lower leg’, German Schenkel ‘thigh’.
Scheremet German
German cognate of Şeremet.
Scherf German
from Middle High German and Middle Low German scherf a coin worth half a penny possibly applied as a nickname for a poor person.
Scherl German
Derived from the Middle Low German word “scherl” or “scherle,” which means “small shield.” It may have been from a person known for carrying a small shield, a person who lived near a small shield-shaped sign or symbol, or a person who lived in a place named after the small shield.
Scherman German
German version of Sherman
Schermann German, Jewish
German cognate of Sherman 1 derived from the elements skeran "to cut, to shear" and Middle High German man German mann "man".
Scherzer German (Austrian)
Habitational name for someone from a place called Scherz in Switzerland
Scheunemann German
It literally means someone who either lives near (or in, if poor &/or homeless) a barn or works within its general vicinity.
Scheunert German
Scheunert - deutsch - Besitzen einer Scheune... [more]
Schick German
A nickname given to a person who's smart, stylish, and well-dressed.
Schicklgruber German (Austrian)
This was the surname of Maria Schicklgruber (April 15, 1795 - January 7, 1847), the grandmother of Adolf Hitler.
Schie German
From a nickname that meant "shy".
Schiefelbein German
Habitational name from Schievelbein in Pomerania.
Schiff German, Jewish
From Middle High German Schif "ship", indicating the bearer was either a sailor, or lived in a house distinguished by a ship sign.
Schiffmann German
Occupational derived from the elements schiff "ship" and mann "man" meaning "shipman, German cognate of Shipman.
Schild German, Dutch
Occupational name for a maker or painter of shields, from Middle High German, Middle Dutch schilt "shield".
Schildhauer German
First appeared during the Middle Ages in Central Europe/Germany. The name means "Shield-Maker" and suggests correlation to Blacksmiths or or other forms of metalwork in the time period.
Schildknecht German
From the occupation of a page or squire for a knight derived from schilht "shield" and kneht "servant".
Schiller German
Nickname for someone with a squint, from an agent derivative of Middle High German schilhen, schiln 'to squint'.
Schilling German, Dutch, Jewish
Nickname for a serf who had paid his rent or fee to his lord for his freedom, derived from Middle High German schillinc, Middle Low German schillink and German schilling meaning "shilling"... [more]
Schiltz German
German: variant of Schilz and, in North America.... [more]
Schimmelpfennig German
From Middle High German schimel "mildew, mould" and pfennic "penny", a nickname for someone who was miserly or stingy with their money, hence it growing mouldy in its purse.
Schink Upper German, Dutch
Nickname for someone with long or otherwise remarkable legs, from Middle High German schinke ‘thigh’, ‘leg’. Compare Schenkel. ... [more]
Schinker German
Unknown, though I would very much like to know. Possible Hungarian influence as well as German.
Schirmacher German
occupational name for someone who makes harnesses and bridles for horses from Middle High German geschirre "harness" and macher "maker".
Schirokauer German, Yiddish
Derived from the town of Sieraków in the Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.
Schlatter Upper German
Topographic name from Middle High German slâte "reedy place", or a habitational name from any of several places named Schlatt, from the same word.
Schleicher German
Could derive from the word schleifen meaning "to grind" but most likely is derived from the word schleicher "to sneak, creeper".
Schleifer German
Derived from the word schleifen "to grind, polish".
Schleiger German
Occupational name for a maker or seller of scarves and veils from Middle Low German sleiger sleier "(head)scarf".
Schlemmer German
Derived from a Middle High German word meaning "feast" and thus used as a nickname for a "gourmet".
Schlep German
Probably a nickname or occupational name for a laborer or carrier, especially in a mine, from Middle Low German slepen, Middle High German slepen 'to drag or carry (a load)' (modern German schleppen, schleifen).
Schley German
Name for someone living by the Schlei river.
Schliwka German
A notable person bearing the surname was athlete Gunther Schliwka.
Schloss German
Shortened form of Schlosser.
Schlossberg German
Ornamental name composed of German Schloss ‘castle’ + Berg ‘mountain’, ‘hill’.
Schlote German
literal meaning: smokestack
Schlott German, Low German
Occupational name for a locksmith, from Middle Low German slot 'lock'.
Schmal German
Derived from the Middle High German and Middle Low German word smal meaning "small, slight, thin". It was originally used as a nickname.
Schmaltz German (Rare), German (Austrian, Rare)
Schmaltz is a German and Austrian surname. It was used as an occupational surname for chandlers.
Schmeichel German
Nickname for a flatterer, derived from Middle High German smeichen literally meaning "to flatter". Famous bearers of this surname include Peter Schmeichel (1963-) and his son Kasper Schmeichel (1986-), both of whom are Danish soccer goalkeepers.
Schmelzer German
occupational name for a smelter from an agent derivative of Middle High German smelzen German schmelzen "to smelt metal" or "make glass".
Schmidlapp German
Derived from Middle High German smit "smith, metalworker" and lap(pe) meaning "cloth, patch, rag".
Schmidlkofer German, German (Austrian)
Occupational name for a farmer who was also a blacksmith, derived from a diminutive of Middle High German smit meaning "smith" and the suffix -kofer (a variant of -hofer).
Schmidtberger German
A distinguishing name for someone named Berger who worked as a blacksmith or a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Schmidtberg in Bavaria and Switzerland.
Schmidtke German
Diminutive form of Schmidt.
Schmiedt German
Variant spelling of Schmidt.
Schmoeckel German (East Prussian)
Originally Smekel. In the 17th century the ‘Sm’ in Low German was gradually replaced by the ‘Schm’ from High German. ... [more]
Schmuck German, German (Austrian)
From Middle High German smuc meaning "jewel", "finery", hence a metonymic occupational name for a jeweler, or a nickname for someone who wore a prominent jewel or ornament.North German: nickname from Middle Low German smuck meaning "neat", "dainty".
Schnapp German
Derived from Middle High German snappen meaning "to chatter", or Middle Low German snappen meaning "to grab". This was originally a nickname for a chatterer or a greedy person.
Schnee German, Jewish, Alsatian
from German schnee "snow" Middle High German sne sneo a nickname for someone with white hair or an exceptionally pale complexion... [more]
Schnee German, Popular Culture
A German surname meaning "snow". One fictional bearer of this surname is Weiss Schnee, a main character from the popular web series RWBY.
Schneid German, Jewish
Variant form of Schneider. Means "cut"
Schneller German
Means “faster” in German
Schnieder German
North German and American variant of Schneider
Schock German
German origin. Means "shock" in German, as in surprise.
Schoen German, Jewish, Dutch
German (Schön) nickname for a handsome or pleasant man, from Middle High German schoene ‘fine’, ‘beautiful’; ‘refined’, ‘friendly’, ‘nice’. ... [more]
Schoenbeck German, Jewish
Means "beutiful stream" in German.
Schoenberg German, Jewish
Means "beautiful mountain" in German
Schoene German
German (Schöne): variant of Schoen 1.
Schoenwetter German
German (Schönwetter): nickname for someone with a happy disposition, from Middle High German schœn ‘beautiful’, ‘fine’, ‘nice’ + wetter ‘weather’.
Schömer German
Nickname for an offensive person, from Middle High German schemen "to insult."
Schommer German
"one who was a gossip, a vagabond or rascal"... [more]
Schön German, Swedish
Derived from Middle High German schoene "beautiful, friendly".
Schönenberger German
Habitational name for someone from any of several places in Germany and Switzerland named Schönenberg.
Schönrock German
Either a metonymic occupational name for a baker from Middle High German schœn "fine" (see Schoen ) and rogge "rye"... [more]
Schopenhauer German
Derived from German schöpfen meaning "to scoop, ladle" and hauen meaning "to chop", referring to a maker of wooden and metal scoops and buckets. This name was borne by the German pessimist philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), the author of the 1818 book The World as Will and Representation among other works.
Schops German
Means "scoop maker"
Schorgl German (Austrian)
Austrian meaning, “Lover of the land”, used by farmers.
Schorr German
In the south a topographic name from Middle High German schor(re) 'steep rock', 'rocky shore'.
Schorsch German
Possibly from the given name George, pronounced SHORSH in South-Western Germany. As a Jewish name, it may come from the surname Shor.
Schortgen German
Of a German origin, the fist part meaning short or small.
Schotte German
From schotte, an ethnic name for a Scottish person or somebody of such descent.
Schottenstein German, Jewish
Ornamental name meaning "bulkhead stone" in German.
Schottlander German, Jewish, Dutch
From German Schottland, 'Scotland' and, in some cases, denoted an immigrant from Scotland or Ireland. Numerous Irish fled to continental Europe after the Anglo-Norman invasion in the 13th century.... [more]
Schottler German
Occupational name for a wood turner, Middle Low German scoteler (an agent derivative of scotel ‘wooden bowl’).
Schram German, English, Yiddish
Derived from German Schramme (Middle High German schram(me)) and Yiddish shram, all of which mean "scar".
Schramm German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic nickname for a person with a scar, from Middle High German schram(me), German Schramme, Yiddish shram ‘scar’.
Schreiner German
Occupational surname for a joiner (maker of wooden furniture), ultimately from Middle High German schrīnære.
Schrepfer German (Swiss), German
Derived from from Middle High German schrepfer "barber-surgeon's assistant", ultimately from the verb schrepfen "to bleed someone".
Schrock German
Some think that the last name Schrock comes from the German word which meant something along the lines of "Jump" or "Leaps" and was probably a nickname to someone who was a great jumper, or someone who was easily startled.
Schrödinger German
Denoted a person from Schröding, a old placename in Bavaria.
Schuch German
Likely derived from SCHUMACHER (Shoe Maker)
Schue German, Jewish
Variant of Schuh.
Schueler German
The surname Schueler was first found in southern Germany, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history.
Schuft German
Means "wretch, blackguard" in German.
Schug American, German
From the German word Schuh "shoe". ... [more]
Schuh German, Jewish
Occupational name for a maker or repairer of shoes, derived from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe". In some cases, it may have denoted a person to a house distinguished by the sign of a shoe.
Schuknecht German
Occupational name for a shoemaker’s assistant, from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe" + knecht meaning "journeyman", "assistant".
Schuller German
Possibly a habitational name from Schüller in the Eifel.
Schuman German
From the old german scuoh "shoe" and man "man", an occupational name for a shoe maker
Schumer Jewish, German (Rare)
Possibly taken from Middle Low German schumer meaning "good for nothing, vagabond". Notable bearers are American comedian Amy Schumer (b. 1981) and American politician Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (b... [more]
Schurr German
From a nickname meaning "quarrel" in German, given to a hot-tempered person.
Schürrle German
Variant of Schurr. A famous bearer is the retired German soccer player André Schürrle (1990-).
Schutz German
Occupational surname for an archer or a watchman (from Middle High German schützen "to guard or protect"). Also a habitational name from Schutz, a place near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Schwaab German
The surname of German VfB Stuttgart footballer Daniel Schwaab, born in Waldkirch, Germany.
Schwab German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): regional name for someone from Swabia (German Schwaben), from Middle High German Swap, German Schwabe ‘Swabian’. The region takes its name from a Germanic tribe recorded from the 1st century BC in the Latin form Suebi or Suevi, of uncertain origin; it was an independent duchy from the 10th century until 1313, when the territory was broken up.
Schwabe German
1. The name given to those who lived in Swabia
Schwan German
Means "Swan" in German.
Schwanbeck German
Habitational name from any of several places so named, for example near Lübeck and near Anklam.
Schwandt German
Topographic name for someone who lived in a forest clearing, from Middle High German swant (from swenden "to thin out", "make disappear", causative from swinden "to disappear" modern German schwinden.
Schwandt German
Habitational name from any of the various places called Schwand or Schwanden, all in southern Germany, named with this element, from Middle High German swant (from swenden "to thin out", "make disappear", causative from swinden "to disappear" modern German schwinden.
Schwank German
Either a nickname for a thin person, (derived from Middle High German swanc meaning "little, slender, thin"), a pretty person (from Middle Low German swank "fine, dainty") or a fun, loving person (from Middle High German swanc and Middle Low German swank "funny idea, joke, jest, foolery").
Schwanke German
From a short form of the German given name Swaneke, a pet form of Swane, ultimately derived from a Germanic compound name formed with swan meaning "swan" as the first element (see Schwenke 2).
Schwanz German
Form of Schwan. Also means tail in German.
Schwarm Low German, German
habitational name from Schwarme a place south of Bremen... [more]
Schwarzberg German
Variant of Schwartzberg, which means "black mountain" in German.
Schwarzkopf German
Means "black head", from German Schwarz "black", and Kopf "head".
Schweder German, Upper German
German: ethnic name for a Swede.... [more]
Schwehr German
German: relationship name, a variant of Schwäher, a variant of Schwager.
Schweigert German
Derives from an agent derivative of the German "schweigen", to be silent, and the nickname would have been given to a silent, quiet, taciturn person.