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.
Holter English, German, Norwegian
Derived from English holt meaning "small wood". A topographic name for someone who lived near a small wooden area, as well as a habitational name from a place named with that element.
Holtey German
Old German name meaning "Wood Island". Holt means wood and ey means island. Family can be traced back to around 650 A.D. and is located in the Ruhr and Essen area of Germany.
Holthaus German
North German: topographic name for someone who lived by a copse (a small group of trees), from Middle Low German holt ‘small wood’ + haus ‘house’.
Holtzclaw German (Anglicized, Modern)
Americanized spelling of German Holzklau, which translates into modern German as "wood thief", but is probably a nickname for someone who gathered wood, from Middle High German holz "wood" + a derivative of kluben "to pick up", "gather", "steal".
Holtzmann Upper German, German
Derived from the Upper German word "holz," which means "forest." Thus many of the names that evolved from this root work have to do with living in the woods
Hölzel German
The surname of Austrian singer Johann "Hans" Hölzel (1957-1998), better known by his stage name Falco.
Holzhauer German
Occupational name for a "lumberjack, woodsman" with the element holz "forest".
Holzheim German
The meaning of Holzheim is " wood home". Holz=wood and heim=home. ... [more]
Holzinger German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from any of various places called Holzing or Holzingen.
Holzschuh German
Occupational - from German holz "wood", and schuh "shoe".
Homberg German
The surname Hamberg could be derived from it.
Honig German, Jewish
Metonymic name for a gatherer or seller of honey, from Middle High German honec, honic "honey", German Honig.
Hoorn German (Austrian)
From the Germanic word horn meaning "horn". This was an occupational name for one who carved objects out of horn or who played a horn, or a person who lived near a horn-shaped geographical feature, such as a mountain or a bend in a river.
Hoot Dutch, German
The Dutch form is a habitation name for someone who lived in the hout or "woods" while the German form hoth is from an occupational name for a maker of hats.
Hopp German
Variant of Hoppe.
Hörmann German
The distinguished surname Hormann is of very ancient German origin. It is derived from a Germanic personal name made up of the elements "heri," meaning "army," and "man," meaning "man."
Hornecker German
Habitational name denoting someone from any of various places called Horneck.
Horney German (Anglicized)
German: Eastphalian or Americanized form of a personal name composed of the Germanic elements hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’ + nit ‘battle fury’, ‘eagerness to fight’, or a habitational name from a place so called in Brandenburg or in the Rhineland... [more]
Hornseth German
Name of a German farm.
Hörschelmann German
This denotes familial origin in the former village of Hörschel (annexed to Eisenach in 1994).
Horschwald German
Surname probably of German origin. Most people with this surname live in Poland today.
Hosner German
Occupational name for a knitter of hose (garments for the legs), from the plural form of Middle High German hose + the agent suffix -er (see Hose 3).
Hosp German (Austrian)
Means "odd bird" or "strange man"
Hostetler German
The name itself comes from the word Hostet or Hochstatt meaning "high place". Thus Hostetler is someone living in a high place or on high ground.
Houck German
Nickname from Middle Dutch houck, a marine fish, or from Middle Dutch hoec, houck ‘buck’. variant of Hoek.
Houseal French (Anglicized), German (Anglicized)
French (Lorraine) spelling of German Häusel, a topographic name meaning ‘small house’, a diminutive of Haus... [more]
Howald German
From any several places named, from the elements hoh "high" and wald "forest".
Howdyshell American, German
Americanized (i.e., Anglicized) form of the Swiss German Haudenschild, which originated as a nickname for a ferocious soldier, literally meaning "hack the shield" from Middle High German houwen "to chop or hack" (imperative houw) combined with den (accusative form of the definite article) and schilt "shield".
Hrach German (Austrian, Rare), Czech (Rare)
Originated in the Czech-speaking region of Bohemia in Austria, pre-1900. From Czech hrách, meaning "pea." Given either to a very short man or to a gardener.
Huben German
The roots of the distinguished German surname Huben lie in the kingdom of Bavaria. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "huober," meaning "owner of a patch of farmland." The term "Hube" was used to denote a 40-acre hide of farmland... [more]
Hubertus German, Dutch
From the given name Hubertus.
Hübsch German
Nickname from Middle High German hübesch 'courtly', 'polite', 'refined', 'agreeable', German hübsch.
Huettl Upper German
South German (Hüttl) diminutive of Hütt (see Huett).
Huff German
From the Germanic personal name Hufo, a short form of a compound name formed with hug "heart, mind, spirit" as the first element.
Hügel German
From German meaning "hill".
Hugli German (Swiss)
Meaning: Little Hill
Hulse German
derived from Holtz, means "a wood"
Humbert German, Dutch, French
From a Germanic personal name composed of the elements hun "Hun, giant" or hun "bear cub" and berht "bright, famous". This was particularly popular in the Netherlands and North Germany during the Middle Ages as a result of the fame of a 7th-century St... [more]
Humboldt German (?)
Derived from the Germanic given name Hunibald. Notable bearers of this surname were Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), a Prussian naturalist, geographer, explorer and polymath, and his brother Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835), a linguist, philosopher and diplomat.
Hummer German, English
Hummer is the German word for 'Lobster' in English. It is also the name of a vehicle- the 'Hummer'!
Humperdinck German (?), Literature
From the German surname Humperdinck. As a surname it was born by the composer Engelbert Humperdinck. As a first name it was used for the villain Prince Humperdinck in William Goldman's novel The Princess Bride.
Hundertmark German
A nickname for a wealthy man, from Middle High German hundert meaning "hundred" + mark, a denomination of coin.
Hunsberger German
Habitational name for someone from a place called Hunsberg or Huntsberg.
Huntzinger German
Habitational name for someone from Hintschingen, earlier Huntzingen.
Hurst German
Topographic name from Middle High German hurst "woodland, thicket".
Husemann German
Epithet for a servant or an administrator who worked at a great house, from Middle Low German hus ‘house’ (see House 1, Huse) + man ‘man’.
Husted German
The name was originally spelled "Hustedt" and means "homestead." The family name originated in northern Germany. One branch of the family migrated to England, and a branch of that family to the United States.
Hütter German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a hatter from an agent derivative of Middle High German huot ‘hat’; Yiddish hut, German Hut ‘hat’. German (Hütter): topographic name from Middle High German hütte ‘hut’... [more]
Hutzel German
from a Germanic personal name, Huzo
Hux German
Probably from a topographic name Huck or Hucks, of uncertain origin. It occurs in many place and field names.
Ickes German, English
In German the meaning is unknown.... [more]
Ignatz German
From the given name Ignatz.
Ilgenfritz German
Compound patronymic, meaning "Fritz, the son of Ilg".
Imberi German (Swiss)
It comes from Stuttgart Germany from the late 1800s. Then the name moved to a small village outside of Odessa Ukraine, in my family at least.
Immer German, Anglo-Saxon
German: habitational name for someone from a place named Immer near Oldenburg in Lower Saxony. ... [more]
Immermann German
Habitational name for someone from a place named Immer near Oldenburg in Lower Saxony.
Isenbarger German, Jewish
Respelling of German or Jewish Eisenberger.
Isidor German, Russian
From the given name Isidor.
Itelson Yiddish, German
Yiddish "Son of Itel"
Itzstein German
Topographic surname that originated from broad regions around the river Itz in Thuringia, Germany. The word "Stein" (German word for stone) historically was also used to describe castles on a hill or at a river, thus a possible meaning of the name is "castle at the river Itz".
Jacobi Jewish, English, Dutch, German
From the Latin genitive Jacobi ‘(son) of Jacob’, Latinized form of English Jacobs and Jacobson or North German Jakobs(en) and Jacobs(en).
Jacobsmeyer German
Habitational name from an estate so named.
Jacobsohn German, Jewish
Means "son of Jacob".
Jacoby Jewish, English, German
Variant spelling of Jacobi.
Jaffé German, Jewish
German form of Jaffe.
Jägermeisterssen German
Means son of the "Master-Hunter". Originally given to the son of the master-hunter in hunting camps.
Jahne German
Variant of Jahn.
Jahns German
Patronymic from the personal name Jahn.
Jänicke German
From a pet form of the personal name Johann.
Jannusch German
From a pet form of the personal name Jan.
Japp German
Derived from a diminutive of Jacob.
Jarsdel German
Are you near extinct or possibly extend last name, referring to the opening part of a jar.
Jaschke German (Silesian)
Possibly derivative from the given name Johannes
Jauk German (Austrian)
The meaning of the name Jauk is similar to the word "acre" in English. It is a measure word for how much land an ox can plough in one day. People with the surname Jauk are likely to have descended from farmers... [more]
Jendre German (Anglicized, Rare), Czech (Anglicized, Rare), Slovak (Anglicized, Rare), Danish (Anglicized, Rare)
Jendre is an anglicized version of many surnames throughout Europe that start with 'Jendre'.... [more]
Jenner German
Derived from the name Januarius.
Jenny German (Swiss), Alsatian
Derived from the given name Johannes.
Jeorg German (Anglicized)
Anglicized spelling of Jörg, from the German given name equivalent to English George.
Jeter French (Huguenot), German
Jeter is a French and German surname. It is the last name of former New York Yankees baseball player, Derek Jeter. It's also the last name of Carmelita Jeter, an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 meter sprint.
Joachim German, French, Polish
From the given name Joachim
Job English, French, German, Hungarian
English, French, German, and Hungarian from the personal name Iyov or Job, borne by a Biblical character, the central figure in the Book of Job, who was tormented by God and yet refused to forswear Him... [more]
Jochen German
From the given name Jochen
Jodiet German
Unknown
Johann German
From the given name Johann
Johanneson German, Dutch
Variant of Johannessen which means "son of Johannes
Johanning German
North German patronymic from Johann, German form of John.
Johannknecht German
John The Servant
Jonas Danish, German, Dutch, Norwegian
From the given name Jonas
Jorgenson German, English
Respelling of Jørgensen or Jörgensen (see Jorgensen) or the Swedish cognate Jörgens(s)on.
Jost Dutch, German
Dutch and German: from a personal name, a derivative of the Breton personal name Iodoc (see Joyce), or from the personal name Just.
Juli German
Derived from the given name Julius.
Juncker German, Danish, French
Meaning "young nobleman" in German and Danish.
Jünger German, Jewish
German (Jünger) distinguishing name, from Middle High German jünger ‘younger’, for the younger of two bearers of the same personal name, usually a son who bore the same name as his father... [more]
Jungmann German
Means "young man" from German Jung and Mann.
Junk German
Variant of Jung.
Justus German, Dutch, Finnish
From the given name Justus
Kachel German
Occupational name for a potter, from Middle High German kachel "pot", "earthenware vessel".
Kachler German
Variant of Kachel.
Kackley German
Probably an Americanized spelling of German Kächele (see Kachel).
Kad German
1 German: habitational name for someone from a place called Kade near Magdeburg, Kaaden (German name of Kadeň in North Bohemia), or Kaden in Westerwald.... [more]
Kaden German
Habitational name for someone from Kaaden in North Bohemia, or any of several other places called Kaden.
Kahn German
Derived from German Kahn "small boat" as well as a Germanized form of the Jewish surname Cohen.
Kahr German
Short form of the medieval personal name Makarius.
Kalander German
Status name for the chairman or a member fraternity that held meetings on the first of each month, from Latin ad calendas.
Kalk German, Dutch
Occupational name for a lime burner from Middle High German kalc and Middle Dutch calk "lime" (both a loanword from Latin calx).
Kalkbrenner German
Occupational name for a lime burner from Middle High German kalc "chalk lime" and brenner "burner".
Kallweit German (East Prussian)
East Prussian German (and thus heavily Lithuanian influenced) name meaning "smith; blacksmith; farrier", derived from Old Prussian kalt "to forge; to hammer" and Old Prussian kalweitis "the village smith".
Kalp German, Jewish
From Middle High German kalp ‘calf’, German Kalb, probably applied as a metonymic occupational name for someone who reared calves.
Kalt German, German (Swiss)
From Middle High German kalt "cold" probably applied as a nickname for someone who felt the cold or for someone with an unfriendly disposition.
Kalthoff German
German (Westphalian): habitational name from a place named as 'the cold farm', from Middle High German kalt "cold" + hof "farmstead", "manor farm’, "court".
Kaltman German
From a nickname for a cool, unfriendly person from middle high German kalt "cold" and mann "man".
Kamm Estonian, German
It's origins are of German origin, meaning "comb"... [more]
Kamp German, Dutch, Danish
From the German element kamp (from Latin campus) "field".
Kampf German, Jewish
From middle high German kampf, German kamf "fight, struggle" occupation for a fighter.
Kandt German
Probably from Middle High German kant meaning "jug" (from Latin olla cannata meaning "pot with one spout") and hence an occupational name for a maker or seller of jugs.
Kapeller German, German (Austrian)
Derived from Middle High German kappelle, kapelle "chapel", this name denoted someone who lived near a chapel.
Kari Finnish, German (Austrian), Slovene (?), Hungarian, Indian, Marathi
As a Finnish name, it is a topographic and ornamental name from kari "small island", "stony rapids", "sandbar", or "rocky place in a field". This name is found throughout Finland.... [more]
Kärlin German
German surname from the personal name Karl. Also an altered spelling of German Gerling.
Karling German
A habitational name from Karling in Bavaria.
Karlsberg German
Means "Carl's Mountain" in German language, it is also used in other Germanic languages
Käsemann German
Occupational name for someone who makes or sells cheese.
Kasper German, Czech
From the given name Kasper.
Kasselmann German
Combination of the German place name Kassel (or Cassel) and German Mann "man".
Kastl German
From a pet form of the saint's name Castulus, itself a diminutive of the Latin adjective castus 'chaste'.
Kathriner German (Swiss, Rare)
From the given name Kathrin + er meaning "of, from."
Kau German
From Middle High German gehau "(mountain) clearing" hence a topographic name for a mountain dweller or possibly an occupational name for a logger.
Kau German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a mineshaft, from Middle High German kouw(e) "mining hut".
Kauk German
probably a variant of Kauke from Middle Low German koke "cake" (dialect kauke) hence a metonymic occupational name for a baker or confectioner or a nickname for a cake lover.
Kauke German
Variant of Kauk from Middle high German kauke "cake" hence a metonymic occupational name for a baker or confectioner or a nickname for a cake lover.
Kaus German
From a regional (Hessian) variant of the habitational name Kues, from a place on the Mosel river, probably so named from Late Latin covis "field barn", "rack" and earlier recorded as Couese, Cobesa.
Kausch German
Pet name derived from the Old High German personal name Gozwin, of uncertain origin.
Kausch German
From a medieval form of the Old High German personal name Chuzo.
Kaut German
Netonymic occupational name for a flax grower or dealer, from Middle High German kute, from Kaut(e) "male dove", hence a metonymic occupational name for the owner or keeper of a dovecote.
Kaut German
Topographic name from the Franconian dialect word Kaut(e) "hollow", "pit", "den".
Kautz German
Nickname for a shy or strange person, from Middle High German kuz "screech owl".
Kautzmann German
Variant of Kautz, with the addition of Middle High German -man "man".
Kaylor Scottish, German
Variant of Scottish Keillor.... [more]
Kayser German
Variant of Kaiser.
Keel German (Anglicized)
Americanized spelling of German Kühl (see Kuhl), Kiehl, or Kiel.
Keel German (Swiss)
Swiss German variant of Kehl.
Kegler German
Nickname for a skilled or enthusiastic skittles player, from an agent derivative of Middle High German kegel meaning "skittle", "pin".
Kehler German
Habitational name from various places called Kehl, notably the town across the Rhine from Strasbourg. In some cases it may be a variant of Köhler.
Keicher German
from the East Prussian dialect word keicher "small cake, pastry" hence a metonymic occupational name for a pastry chef or cook.
Keim German
Unknown.
Keinath German
Possibly a variant of Keinrath, from the personal name Konrad. ... [more]
Keiner German
Reduced form of the personal name Kagenher, from Old High German gagan 'against' + heri 'army'.
Keiper German
Similar to the origins of Kuiper (Dutch) and Cooper (English), Keiper was an occupation which means "cooper" or "barrelmaker".
Keiser German
Variation of Kaiser.
Kelch German
nickname from Middle High German kelch "double chin", "goiter". from another meaning of Middle High German kelch "glass", "chalice", hence a metonymic occupational name for a chalice maker or a habitational name for someone living at a house distinguished by the sign of a chalice.
Kellen German
From the name of a place in Rhineland, which is derived from Middle Low German kel (a field name denoting swampy land) or from the dialect word kelle meaning "steep path, ravine".
Kellers German
Variant of Keller.
Kelm German
Germanized form of Polish Chelm ‘peak’, ‘hill’, a topographic name for someone who lived by a hill with a pointed summit, or habitational name from a city in eastern Poland or any of various other places named with this word.
Kelner German, English, Vilamovian
Means "waiter" in German.
Kelsch German (Anglicized)
Partly Americanized form of German Koelsch.
Kemerer German
From the Old German word "kämmerer," which means "chamberlain." A chamberlain was the person in charge of the noble household; to him would fall the duty of ensuring that the castle and court of the noble ran smoothly.
Kemmer German
Kemmer is a surname. The surname Kemmer is an occupational surname. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old German word "kämmerer," which means "chamberlain." A chamberlain was the person in charge of the noble household; to him would fall the duty of ensuring that the castle and court of the noble ran smoothly... [more]
Kemper German, Dutch
German: status name denoting a peasant farmer or serf, an agent noun derivative of Kamp ... [more]
Kepler German
From Middle High German kappe meaning "hooded cloak". This was an occupational name for someone who made these kind of garments. A notable bearer was German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler (1571–1630).
Keppler German
Variant of Kepler.
Kerbel English, German, Russian (Rare)
Means "chervil" in German, a parsley-related herb. The surname probably came into England via Germanic relations between the two languages, hence it being most common in German & English countries.
Kercher German
1 Southern German variant of Karcher .... [more]
Kern German, Dutch, Jewish
from Middle High German kerne "kernel, seed pip"; Middle Dutch kern(e) keerne; German Kern or Yiddish kern "grain" hence a metonymic occupational name for a farmer or a nickname for a physically small person... [more]
Kerstein German
Derived from -kirsch "cherry" and -stein "stone", variant of Kirstein.
Kesler German, Dutch, Jewish
It is an occupational name that means coppersmith. In alpine countries the name derived from the definition: the one living in the basin of a valley.
Kess German (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Keß.
Kessel German
Occupational name for a maker of cooking vessels from Middle High German kezzel meaning "kettle, cauldron, boiler".
Kessenich German
Habitational name from Kessenich near Bonn.
Kessler German, Jewish
Denotes a coppersmith or maker of copper cooking vessels, derived from Middle High German kezzel meaning “kettle, cauldron”.
Keuch German
Variation of Kuch.
Kiebler German
Comes from the Middle High German word "kübel" meaning a "vat," or "barrel." As such it was an occupational name for a cooper, or barrel maker.
Kiel German
German surname of several possible origins and meanings.... [more]
Kiener German (Swiss)
Nickname derived from the dialect verb chienen 'to whimper'.
Kiesler German
Topographic name for someone who lived on a patch of gravelly land, derived from Middle High German kisel or Old High German kisil meaning "pebble, gravel".
Kiestler German
Possibly a form of Kistler an occupation name for a joiner or cabinet maker.
Kiff German
Topographic name from a Westphalian dialect Kiff "outhouse, tied cottage, shack".
Kilburg German, Luxembourgish
"Kyll castle," from German burg (castle) near the Kyll river in Germany. Also "wedge mountain" in Swedish: kil (wedge) and berg (mountain).
Kilian German, Dutch, Polish, Czech
from the Irish personal name Cillín (see Killeen).
Kill German (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Perhaps derived from Kilian.
Kill German (Rare)
A habitational name for someone from a place named Kill.
Killian Irish (Anglicized, Modern), German
Meaning "little church". From cill (Irish for "church") and -ín, a Gaelic diminutive.
Kilmester German
Kilmester is attested as a surname near Rostock in the 13th century.
Kimmel German, Jewish
Derived from Middle High German kumin and German kümmel meaning "caraway" (related to Latin cuminum, a word of Oriental origin, like the plant itself), hence a metonymic occupational name for a spicer, literally a supplier of caraway seeds... [more]
Kimmich German
The surname hence a metonymic occupational name for a spicer.
Kind English, German, Jewish, Dutch
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) from Middle High German kint, German Kind ‘child’, hence a nickname for someone with a childish or naive disposition, or an epithet used to distinguish between a father and his son... [more]
Kinderknecht German
Occupational name for a servant in charge of the children at a manor, derived from kinder (plural of kind) meaning "child" and knecht meaning "servant".
Kindermann German, Jewish
occupational name for a schoolteacher literally "children man", from the elements kind "child" and man "man".
Kindleberger German
One who lights bergs
Kinkle German
Derived from the Middle High German word "kunkel," which meant "spindle." It is thus supposed that the first bearers of this surname were spindle makers in occupation.
Kinne German, Dutch
German: From the female given name Kinne, a Silesian diminutive of Kunigunde.... [more]
Kippenberger German, French, Scottish
Mainly means "Shepard".
Kipping German
German: habitational name from a place named with Middle High German kip ‘point’, ‘peak’ or from Kippingen in the Rhineland.
Kipps German
Topographical name for someone living on a hill, from Kippe 'edge', 'brink'.
Kircher German
from Middle High German kirchner "minister, sexton patron" hence an occupational name for a priest or a church assistant.
Kirchhoff German
An old Norse origin surname. Combination of Norse word Kirkr and Hoff means 'garden'.
Kirchofer German
German topographic name for someone living near a churchyard, or habitational name for the proprietor or tenant of a farm named as "Church Farm", from Middle High German kirche "church" + hof "farmstead", "manor farm".
Kirsch German
Means 'cherry' in German, short form of Kirschstein or other surnames starting with Kirsch.
Kirschenbaum German
From German means "cherry tree".
Kirschner German (Silesian)
From the German word "kirchenære." The other occupation is that of a furrier and, in this case, the name is derived from the word "kuerschner."
Kirschstein German
German surname meaning "cherry stone".
Kirshenbaum German
Means "cherry tree".
Kirstein German
Derivative of the Latin personal name Christianus, also an Americanized spelling of Kirschstein.
Kiser German
Variant of Kaiser.
Kissel German
From a pet form of the Germanic personal name Gisulf.
Kissinger German
HouseofNames.com: The Kissinger surname derives from the Old High German word "kisil," meaning "pebble," or "gravel." The name may have been a topographic name for someone who lived in an area of pebbles or gravel; or it may have evolved from any of several places named with this word.
Kitt English, German
English: From the Middle English personal name Kit, a pet form of Christopher... [more]
Kittell German (Anglicized), English
English: variant of Kettle. ... [more]
Kitz German
Meaning "kid".
Kitzmüller German
Meaning "kid miller".
Klaarwater German
"Clear water."
Klapp German
Nickname for a gossip or a slanderer, derived from Middle High German klapf, klaff meaning "prattle, malicious gossip".
Klarerstein German
German surname meaning "Clear stone".
Klarwasser German
"Clear water."
Klass German
The name is patronymic and it comes from the German first name "Clausen" which is a variant of the name "Nicholas".
Kleber German, English (American)
Derived from German kleben "to bind, to stick", hence an occupational name for someone who applied clay daub or whitewash on buildings.