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.
Zabka German
From Polish zaba meaning "frog", of Slavic origin.
Zach German
German and Czech from the personal name Zach a short form of Zacharias or in Czech Zachariáš... [more]
Zachmann German
Extended form of Zach.
Zachow German
Meaning unknown. A notable bearer of this name is Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, a organist, musician, and composer who lived from 1663 to 1712. Zachow, Wisconsin is an unincorporated community named after a local landowner, William Zachow.
Zackert English, German
An Americanization of the German surnames Zacher and Zachert. It comes from a vernacular form of the personal name Zacharias.
Zacky German
Americanized form of German Zacher . German: occupational name for a farmer, from dialect zackern 'to plow', from Middle High German ze acker gān 'to go to the field'.
Zager German
habitational name from ZAGER, a place near Wollin
Zahn German
Zahn was a nickname given to a person with a peculiar tooth or a strange or defective set of teeth. It comes from the Middle High German Zan(t), which means "tooth".
Zähne German
The German surname Zähne is derived from the Middle High German word "zan," which means "tooth." It is believed that the surname takes its origin from a nickname, most likely bestowed on the original bearer due to either a prominent tooth or a missing tooth.
Zahner German
Name given to people who lived in Zahna, near Wittenberg.
Zahniser German
Alteration of German Zahneisen and/or Zahnhäuser and/or Zahneiser... [more]
Zähring German, German (East Prussian)
referred to a person from a place called Zehring. Also could refer to a person connected to the Zähringer dynasty that ruled in Southwestern Germany in the 17th century.
Zamloch German (Austrian)
Altered, likely Americanized or Germanized, version of the Czech surname Zemlicka. Zemlicka derives from žemle, meaning "bread roll," and was a name given to bakers.... [more]
Zanto German
Unknown origin and history.
Zaun German
From a topographical name from Middle High German zun "fence, hedge" the German cognitive to Anglo-Saxon tun.
Zbären German (Swiss)
Zbären means "Bear hunter".
Zehner German
(chiefly Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, and Württemberg): occupational name for an official responsible for collecting, on behalf of the lord of the manor, tithes of agricultural produce owed as rent.... [more]
Zehren German (Swiss)
From a prepositional phrase from Middle High German ze hērren, an occupational name for someone was in service of a lord.
Zeilinger German
Habitational name for someone from Zeiling in Bavaria.
Zeimet German, Luxembourgish
Western German and Luxembourgeois: probably a variant spelling of Zeimert, a variant of Zeumer, an occupational name for a harness maker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zoum ‘bridle’.
Zeitz German
From a town called Zeitz in Germany. Might be Germanized from Zajec.
Zelle German, Dutch
Topographic name from Middle High German zelle "(hermit's) cell", or a habitational name from various places called Zelle or Celle.
Zeller German, Dutch, Jewish
Originally denoted someone from Celle, Germany or someone living near a hermit's cell from German zelle "cell". It is also occupational for someone employed at a zelle, for example a small workshop.
Zellmer German
Variant of Selmer.
Zelmer German
Variant of Zellmer.
Zenker German
means light
Zenner Upper German
South German: unflattering nickname for a surly, snarling person, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zannen 'to growl or howl' or 'to bare one's teeth'.
Zentz German
Variant of Zenz.
Zerfas German
Derived from a Low German and Upper German form of the personal name Servatius.
Zickuhr German
Zickuhr is a German surname that means "zigzag." Although, some person believe that Zickuhr means "cuckoo clock."
Ziegenfuss German
Meaning "goat foot".
Ziegenhagen German
Derived from Middle High German zige "goat" and hag "enclosure, hedge, pasture". Could be an occupational name for someone who kept goats, or be derived from any of several places with the name.
Ziegenhorn Upper German (Archaic)
Goat horn, either 1. the horn of a goat, 2. Goat mountain, or 3. From goat mountain.
Zielenbach German
Literally translates to "aiming brook"
Zielsdorf German
Habitational name from an unidentified place, perhaps Ziersdorf in Lower Austria.
Zigeuner German (Austrian)
Means "gypsy" in German.
Zigler German
Variant of Ziegler.
Zimmer German
Means "room" in German.
Zinder German
A mostly Ashkenazi Jewish surname, while specific documentation linking "Zinder" to the German word "Zünder" (meaning "tinder" or "firestarter") is limited, the surname "Zinder" is believed to have German origins, possibly derived from the word "Zindel," which refers to a "bundle of wood shavings." This term is associated with materials used to start fires, suggesting a potential connection to the "firestarter" occupation... [more]
Zinger German
The surname Zinger was first found in Saxony, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. ... In Old German the name meant "lively" and "spritely," or more literally, "a biting, sharp taste."
Zink German
German:... [more]
Zinn German
From the German for word for tin "tin." The name indicated someone who worked with the metal. A famous bearer is Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German botanist. Carl Linnaeus named the flower Zinnia in his honor.
Zinnman German
Occupational name for a pewter smith.
Zipplies German (East Prussian)
Lithuanian-Germanized form of the Swiss German surname Süpply
Zoch German
From a place in Germany named Zochau.
Zoch German
Derived from Middle High German zoche meaning "cudgel, club".
Zoller German, Jewish
Occupational name for a customs officer, Middle High German zoller.
Zopf German
Nickname for someone who wore his hair in a pigtail or plait, Middle High German zopf, zoph, or from a field name from same word in the sense ‘tail’, ‘end’, ‘narrow point’.
Zorn German
From Middle High German zorn "wrath, anger". A notable bearer was Swedish painter Anders Zorn (1860-1920) whose father was German.
Zuber German, German (Swiss)
German: Metonymic occupational name for a cooper or tubmaker, from Middle High German zuber ‘(two-handled) tub’, or a habitational name from a house distinguished by the sign of a tub. ... [more]
Zuckerman German, Yiddish
As a German surname, it is an occupational name for a merchant who sold sugar or nickname for a sweet tooth.... [more]
Zug German (Swiss)
Denotes somebody from either the Canton of Zug or town of Zug.
Zumwalt German
German spelling Zum-Wald (to the forest) older german
Zürcher German
Habitational name for someone from the Swiss city of Zurich.
Zurich German (Swiss)
Habitational name from a city in Switzerland named Zürich.
Zweinstra German
Zweinstra is a German, relatively unknown surname which is also sometimes used in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
Zwilling German, Jewish
Means "a twin", as in a twin brother or twin sister. Often given to those who were twins.