Browse Submitted Surnames

This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is German; 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.
Abshire English (American), German (Americanized)
Probably an altered form of Upsher. In some cases, it could instead be an Americanized form of German Ibscher, a nickname for someone living on unallotted land derived from Middle High German überscher "surplus"... [more]
Adelstein German, Jewish
Variant of Edelstein. Paul Adelstein (1969-) is an American actor known for his role as Paul Kellerman in the 2005-2017 television series Prison Break.
Aigner German (Austrian)
German: from an agent derivative of Middle High German aigen ‘own’ a status name originally denoting a landowner who held his land outright rather than by rent or feudal obligation. In the Middle Ages this was sufficiently rare to be worthy of remark and was normally a special privilege granted in recognition of some exceptional service... [more]
Altbauer German (Austrian)
“Old farmer” from the root Bauer meaning “farmer” in German
Altmeyer German
Status name for an older steward, headman, or tenant farmer, as distinguished from a younger one, from Middle High German alt ‘old’ + meier ‘steward’, ‘headman’, ‘tenant farmer’
Ammann Upper German, German (Swiss)
Alemannic form of Amtmann "official". Ultimately derived from Middle High German ambet man "retinue man; retainer", this word came to denote various kinds of administrator including a tax farmer.
Amsler German (Swiss)
Derived from German Amsel "(European) blackbird", this was an occupational name for a fowler (bird catcher).
Anschütz German
Occupational name for someone whose job was to keep a dam or pool filled with water. (Anschützen "to fill up")
Apfel German, Jewish
Means "apple" in German, from Middle High German apfel, an occupational name for someone who grew or sold apples. As a Jewish name, it is ornamental.
Appel German, Dutch, Jewish, Yiddish
From Low German Appel, Middle Dutch appel, or Yiddish epl "apple", an occupational name for a grower or seller of the fruit. As a Jewish surname, it is generally ornamental rather than occupational.
Appelmann German
German cognate of Appelman.
Appler German
Variant of Eppler.
Arbeiter German
German cognate of Arbeider.
Aßman German
Derived from Middle Low German asse "axle", this name used to denote an axle maker. In some cases, however, it can also be a variant of Asmussen.
Ast German
German and Ashkenazic Jewish: from German Ast ‘knot (in wood)’ hence a nickname for a tough or awkward individual or a metonymic occupational name for a lumberjack. ... [more]
Aurifaber German (Latinized)
Latinised form of Goldschmidt. This name was born by three prominent men of the Reformation period in Germany.
Ax German
Variant form of Axt.
Axt German
From a Middle High German ackes or axt, meaning "axe". Name for a woodcutter, carpenter, or axe maker.
Baack German, North Frisian
Either from a reduced form of the Germanic personal name Baldeke (a short form of any of the compound names with the first element bald "bold, brave ", for example Baldewin), or from Middle Low German baec, bake "pork, bacon", hence a metonymic occupational name for a butcher or pig farmer.
Backman English, Swedish, German
Combination of Old English bakke "spine, back" and man "man". In Swedish, the first element is more likely to be derived from Swedish backe "hill", and in German the first element can be derived from German backen "to bake"... [more]
Bade German
Occupational name for a messenger, derived from an element related to Old Germanic budą "message, offer".
Baeder German (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Bäder, itself a variant of Bader.
Balsam German
Occupational name for a seller of spices and perfumes.
Balsan German
Variant of Balsam.
Baptist German, English
From the given name Baptist, or an Anglicized form of Baptiste.
Barbe German
From Middle High German barbe, the name of a species of fish resembling the carp; hence by metonymy an occupational name for a fisherman or fish dealer, or possibly a nickname for someone thought to resemble the fish in some way.
Bauknecht German, Upper German
Occupational name for a farm worker from Middle High German buknecht "plowboy, farmhand" derived from the elements bu "farm" and kneht "servant, apprentice".
Bauman German, Jewish, Scandinavian
Respelling of German Baumann or Jewish (Ashkenazic) or Scandinavian spelling of the same name.
Baumeister German
Occupational name for a "builder" in German; from Middle High German 'buwen' 'to build' + meister 'master'.... [more]
Baumkötter German (Modern)
From the German words 'Baum' meaning 'tree' and 'Kötter' a type of villager who dwelt in a cottage, similar to the Scottish Cotter. "Presumably a 'Baumkötter' earned money from a small orchard on their property."
Becher German
Shortened form of Becherer as well as a surname given to for someone who distilled or worked with pitch, in which case it is derived from Middle High German bech / pech "pitch".
Bechmann German (Rare)
Surname denoting someone who worked with pitch, from Middle High German bech / pech "pitch" and man, a suffix which can mean "man" or simply be used as a name suffix.
Beer German, Dutch
From Middle Low German bare, Middle Dutch bere "bear". Given as a nickname to someone who was thought to resemble a bear, a metonymic occupational name for someone who kept a performing bear, or a habitational name for someone who lived near a sign depicting a bear... [more]
Beil German
Means "axe, hatchet" in German, an occupational name for someone who made or used axes, such as a carpenter.
Beilke German
From ancient Germanic bīl "sword" or bīhel "axe".
Beilschmidt German
means "Axe Smith" in german
Bekker South African, German (Russified), Dutch
Regional variant of Bakker or Becker, and Russified form of Becker or Bäcker.
Belzer German
Occupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative of Middle High German bel(li)z "fur"
Bender German, German (East Prussian)
As a German surname, Bender is a regional occupational surname from the Rhineland area denoting a "barrel-maker" (the Standard German Fassbinder became "Fassbender" in the local dialects and ultimately was shortened to Bender).... [more]
Benner German
Occupational name for a basket and bassinet maker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German benne 'work basket', 'bassinet', 'cradle'.
Berghold German
Surname that denoted the owner of a vineyard.
Berner German, Low German
German habitational name, in Silesia denoting someone from a place called Berna (of which there are two examples); in southern Germany and Switzerland denoting someone from the Swiss city of Berne. ... [more]
Bernius German (Latinized), Lithuanian
German-Latinized form of Berner.... [more]
Besemer German
Occupational name meaning "broom maker".
Bickel German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German: from bickel ‘pickaxe’ or ‘chisel’, hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made pickaxes or worked with a pickaxe or for a stonemason. South German: from a pet form of Burkhart... [more]
Biehl German
From Middle Low German bil "hatchet", Middle High German biel; given to someone who made or used hatchets.
Bieler German, Jewish
Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of the many places in eastern Europe whose name incorporates the Slavic element byel- ‘white’.... [more]
Bier German, Jewish
from Middle High German bier "beer" German bier Yiddish bir a metonymic occupational name for a brewer of beer or a tavern owner or in some cases perhaps a nickname for a beer drinker.
Bierbrauer German
occupational name for a brewer German bierbrauer. Derived from the elements bier "beer" and brauen "to brew".
Binderman German
From an occupation, a variant of Binder.
Bindschädler German (Swiss)
Derived from German binden "to bind" and Swiss German schädlen "to make wood vessels", this is an occupational surname referring to a cooper, a barrel maker.
Birne English, German, Jewish
Means "pear" in German, making it the German equivalent of Perry 1, perhaps originally referring to a person who harvested or sold pears... [more]
Bittenbinder German
Occupational name for a cooper, from Middle High German büte(n) "cask", "(wine) barrel" + binder "binder" (agent derivative of binden "to bind").
Blakesmith German (Anglicized)
Derived from the German, Blechschmidt, it means "tin smith", and/or, blacksmith.
Bleuler German (Swiss)
From an agent derivative of Middle High German bliuwen meaning "to pound". Hence an occupational name for the owner of a pounding mill.
Blöcker German
Occupational name for a jailer.
Bluemel German
Diminutive of the Middle High German bluome meaning "flower." The name is believed to be an occupational name.
Bode German, Dutch, English, Danish
Means "messenger, deliverer, herald; prophet, omen", ultimately from Old Germanic budą. This can be an occupational name, or a patronymic derived from a given name containing the element (see Bothe).
Bodeman German
Bodeman is an occupational name meaning "adherent of the royal messenger".
Boehner German
Variant form of Bohner.
Boettcher German
Occupational name for a cooper, from Middle High German botecher, bötticher, bütticher, an agent derivative of botech(e), bottich, bütte "vat", "barrel".
Bohner German
Occupational name from an agent derivative of Middle Low German bönen meaning "to board, to lay a floor", and a topographic name for someone who lived in a loft, derived from a variant of Bohne combined with the suffix -er, denoting an inhabitant.
Boltz German
May designate a creator of bolts for crossbows or bowmen. May also be a short form of Baldwin.
Bontrager German
Coming from the Old German, Bonträger or Bornträger, meaning 'water carrier'.
Boot German, Dutch
Metonymic occupational name for a boat builder, sailor, or a ship’s carpenter, from Dutch boot "boat, ship".
Bootz German, Dutch
Could be a patronymic form of Booz or Bodo, or a variant of Boots.
Branner Danish, German, English
Danish variant of BRANDER and German variant of BRANTNER.
Breitner German
Derived from Middle High German breit meaning "broad, fat, wide". This was either a nickname for a stout or fat person, a topographic name for someone who lived on fertile and flat land, or an occupational name for a farmer who owned such land... [more]
Brenn German
Variant of Brenner.
Brenner German, German (Austrian), Jewish
Derived from Middle High German brennen "to burn". Both as a German and a Jewish name, this was an occupational name for a distiller of spirits. As a German surname, however, it also occasionally referred to a charcoal or lime burner or to someone who cleared forests by burning.
Breuer German, Jewish
occupational name for a brewer of beer or ale from Middle High German briuwer "brewer". Cognate of Brewer.
Breunig German, German (Austrian), American
Origin probably in Frankfurt am Main... [more]
Breyer German (Americanized)
Americanized variant of Brauer.
Brook German, Jewish
Americanized spelling of German Bruch and Jewish Bruck.
Brot Alsatian
Derived from German Brot "bread", this surname was given to someone who sold or baked bread.
Brottman German
Dr Mikita Brottman
Bruckman German, English
German (Bruckmann): variant of Bruck, with the addition of the suffix -mann ‘man’. ... [more]
Brucks German
A variant of the German based surname 'Bruck', which roughly means 'bridge'.
Brueckner German, German (Silesian)
German (Brückner): from Middle Low German brugge, Middle High German brugge, brücke, brügge ‘bridge’ + the agent suffix -ner, hence a topographic name for someone living by a bridge, an occupational name for a bridge toll collector, or in the southeast (Silesia for example) a bridge keeper or repairer... [more]
Brueggemann Low German, German
North German (Brüggemann): topographic name for someone who lived near a bridge or a metonymic occupational name for a bridge keeper or street paver, Middle Low German brüggeman (see Bruckman, Brueckner).
Brüggemann German
Name for someone who worked as a street paver or bridge keeper, or someone who lived near a bridge. From Middle Low German brügge "bridge" or brüggeman "street paver".
Brugger German, American
South German variant or Americanized spelling of North German Brügger (see Bruegger). habitational name for someone from any of various (southern) places called Bruck or Brugg in Bavaria and Austria.
Buchbinder German, Jewish
German cognate of Bookbinder.
Büchler German
Habitional name for someone from Büchle or Büchel, or who lived near beech trees, ultimately from Büche "beech (tree)". Alternatively, could be an occupational name for someone who pressed oil from beechnuts.
Buckler German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Büchler.
Buechler German
From the common field name Büchle 'beech stand', the -er suffix denoting an inhabitant. from buchel 'beech nut', hence a metonymic occupation name for someone who owned or worked in an oil mill producing oil from beech nuts.
Buehman German
Variant of Bauer.
Buermeister German
North German: status name for the mayor or chief magistrate of a town, from Middle Low German bur ‘inhabitant, dweller’, ‘neighbor’, ‘peasant’, ‘citizen’ + mester ‘master’.
Burgmeier German
Occupational name for the tenant farmer of an estate belonging to a castle or fortified town, from Middle High German burc "(fortified) town, castle" and meier "tenant farmer" (see Meyer 1).
Burmeister German
North German: status name for the mayor or chief magistrate of a town, from Middle Low German bur ‘inhabitant, dweller’, ‘neighbor’, ‘peasant’, ‘citizen’ + mester ‘master’.
Busse German, English
German: variant of Buss. ... [more]
Butkereit German (East Prussian)
Derived from Prussian-Lithuanian butkėrė (Standard Lithuanian butkėrė), a Balticized form of German Böttcher "cooper, barrel maker" combined with the East Prussian German patronymic suffix -eit.
Butter English, German
1. English: nickname for someone with some fancied resemblance to a bittern, perhaps in the booming quality of the voice, from Middle English, Old French butor ‘bittern’ (a word of obscure etymology)... [more]
Buttermann German
An occupational name for a dairyman or seller of dairy produce. See Butter.
Büttner German
Occupational name for a cooper or barrel-maker, an agent derivative of Middle High German büte(n) "cask", "wine barrel". This name occurs chiefly in eastern German-speaking regions.
Caan Scottish, German, Jewish
Altered spelling of Jewish Cohen, or probably denoted a person from the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. Famous bearers of this surname include American actor James Caan (1940-2022), as well as his son Scott Caan (1976-), also a noted actor.
Cabell Catalan, English, German
As a Catalan name, a nickname for "bald" from the Spanish word cabello. The English name, found primarily in Norfolk and Devon, is occupational for a "maker or seller of nautical rope" that comes from a Norman French word... [more]
Caradine English, German (Anglicized)
Americanized form of German Gardein, itself a Germanized spelling of French Jardin. It could also denote someone from the village and civil parish of Carden in Cheshire, England.
Carradine English, German (Anglicized)
Variant spelling of Caradine. This name is borne by members of the Carradine family of actors, notably the American actor John Carradine (1906-1988).
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]
Ceasar African American, German (Americanized)
Possibly derived from the given name Ceasar (a variant of Caesar), or an Americanized form of German Zieser.
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]
Coogler German (Americanized)
Americanized form of Kugler.
Coppersmith English, German (Americanized)
Occupational name for someone who is a maker of copper goods. Sometimes it is an Americanized form of German Kupferschmidt.
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.
Cramer German, English
Variant of German surname Krämer.
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.
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).
Dagen German
Variant of Degen.
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".
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.
Decker German
Cognate of Dekker.
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.
Deitrich German
lock pick
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.
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.
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”
Drangmeister German
Occupational name for a healer or someone who made medicinal drinks, from Middle Low German drank "beverage, potion" and meistar "master" (from Latin magister).
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]
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, Dutch, Jewish
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]
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]
Dutcher German (Americanized), Dutch (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Deutscher or of Dutch Duyster.
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]
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.
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
Occupational name for a cooper, derived from German Fass "barrel, keg, cask" and Binder "girder, tie". Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945-1982) was a German filmmaker considered as one of the major figures and catalysts of the New German Cinema movement.
Fechter German
Occupational name for a fencer or a duelist who fought for public entertainment, derived from Old High German fehtan or Middle Low German vechten, both meaning "to fight".
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.
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".
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.
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-).
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.
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".
Forster English (Anglicized), German, Jewish, Slovak
English: occupational and topographic name for someone who lived or worked in a forest (see Forrest). ... [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.
Freyer German
Variant of Freier.
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".
Froehner German
Derived from Middle High German vröhner meaning "servant".
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]
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]
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.
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]
Gasser German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a goat herd from Middle High German geiz meaning "Goat" and (n)er an agent suffix.
Gaul Scottish (Latinized, Rare), Irish, German
Scottish and Irish: variant of Gall ... [more]
Gayer German
Derived from Slavic gaj "grove", this name denoted a forest warden.
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'.
Geister German (Silesian)
Occupational name for a goatherd, from an agent derivative of Geist
Glaessel German (Anglicized)
Anglicized spelling of German Gläßel.
Goebbels German, History
Originally an occupational name for a brewer. Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.
Golder German
Meaning "gold worker, jeweller".
Goldfarb English, German, Jewish
Goldfarb is a Jewish occupational name that was originally derived from the Old German word gold.
Goldmann German, Jewish
occupational name for someone who worked with gold denoting anything from a gold-miner to a maker of gold jewelry or a gilder (someone skilled in decorating surfaces with a very thin layer of gold leaf)... [more]
Goldner German
"Gold maker, gilder".
Goldschmid German
Variant spelling of Goldschmidt.
Goldschmitt German
Variant of Goldschmidt, meaning "gold smith" in German.
Goldschneider German
Means "gold cutter" in German, from the elements gold "gold" and snidan "to cut".
Goodbar German (Anglicized), English
Possibly an altered spelling of English Godber, derived from the medieval given name Godebert, or an occupational name for a beer brewer and a nickname for a toper... [more]
Grable German
Means "digger of ditches or graves" (from a derivative of Middle High German graben "ditch"). A famous bearer was US actress, dancer and singer Betty Grable (1916-1973).
Graef Dutch, German
Variant form of Graf or De Graaf.
Grammer German, English
Variant of Krämer or a habitational name for someone possibly from German places called Gram or Grammen. It can also be an English occupational name for a scholar or an astrologer, derived from Old French gramaire meaning "grammarian, scholar, astrologer"... [more]
Grass English, German
Topographic name for someone who owned or lived by a meadow, or a metonymic occupational name for someone who made or sold hay, from Middle English gras, Middle High German gras "grass, pasture, grazing".
Graupman German
Occupational name for someone who produced or dealt with grits and legumes, from early modern German graupe "pot barley" (bohemian krupa) and man "man".
Graves English, French, German
Derives from someone who had an occupation as a grave digger or a caretaker for a graveyard.
Grawert Low German, German (East Prussian)
As a Low German name, Grawert is derived from Middle High German grā and Old High German grāo "gray" (originally "shimmery, gleaming"). As a surname, it was a nickname given to someone with gray hair.... [more]
Grewe German, Low German
Low German form of Graf via Middle Low German grave / greve.
Griebe German
Occupational name for a butcher or fat dealer from Middle High German griebe griube "rendered bacon pieces crackling".
Grindy German (Modern), French
I have seen elsewhere explanations about this name being German or French in origin. Sorry, I do not have the sources to hand
Grosch German
Either a metonymic occupational name for a moneyer or possibly a nickname for an avaricious person from Middle High German Middle Low German grosche "groschen" a medieval thick silver coin its name ultimately derived from medieval Latin denarius grossus literally "thick coin".
Gschwendtner German (Austrian)
From the German word "schwenden", which means "swidden agriculture" in English
Gülden German
Variant of Gulden, a metonymic occupational name for a craftsman who gilded objects, or a habitational name referring to a house name such as In den silvren Gulden ("In the Silver Guilder"), De Gulden Hoeve ("The Gilded Farmhouse") or De Gulden Zwaan ("The Gilded Swan").
Gulden Dutch, German
Means "golden, gilded" or "guilder, florin (coin)", possibly an occupational name for a goldsmith, or a habitational name derived from a house.
Häberli German (Swiss)
Derived from Alemannic and Upper German Haber, a variant of Standard High German Hafer "oats" in combination with the diminutive suffix -li. This name denoted a young farmer of oats.
Habermann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a grower or seller of oats, composed of the elements Haber and the agent suffix -mann.
Habermehl German
metonymic occupational name for a producer or seller of oatmeal from Middle High German habaro "oats" and melo "flour".
Hackler German
Occupational name for someone who used a small hoe in the field or a vineyard.
Hackmann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a butcher or a woodcutter.
Haefele Upper German
Occupational name for a potter.
Häfeli German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a potter.
Hafer German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a grower of or dealer in oats, from German Hafer "oats". Compare Haber. As a Jewish surname, it is in many cases ornamental.
Hagemann German, Danish
Derived from Middle Low German hage "enclosure, hedge" and mann "person, man".
Hahm German
Metonymic occupational name for a sealer of weights and measures, from Middle High German hāme ‘(standard) measure’.
Hahner German
Occupational name for a poultry farmer, from an agent derivative of Middle High German hane "rooster".
Haircut English (Australian, Archaic), German (Anglicized, ?)
Possibly an occupational name for a barber. Alternatively, it could also be an anglicized form of Herrgott.
Hamer English, German
From the town of Hamer in Lancashire from the old english word Hamor combining "Rock" and "Crag". It is also used in Germany and other places in Europe, possibly meaning a maker of Hammers.
Hammer German, English, Jewish
From Middle High German hamer, Yiddish hamer, a metonymic occupational name for a maker or user of hammers, for example in a forge, or nickname for a forceful person.
Hammerschmidt German, Jewish
Occupational name for a blacksmith, from German hamer, 'hammer' and schmidt, 'smith. See Hammersmith.
Hammersmith German, English
Normally an anglicization of German Hammerschmidt. Perhaps also from Norwegian Hammersmed.... [more]
Handschuh German
Occupational name for a maker or seller of gloves or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore gloves from Middle High German hantschuoch "glove" literally "hand shoe" from the elements hant "hand" and schuh "shoe".
Hartnagel German
Occupational name for a nailsmith from the Middle High German elements hart "hard" and nagal "nail".
Haselbauer German
Translates to 'hazel farmer'
Hattler German
Occupational name for someone who raises goats.
Haueis German
Derived from Middle High German houwen "to beat" and isen "iron". This surname denoted a smith.