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.
Mick German, Dutch
Occupational name from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch micke "(wheat or rye) bread". Alternatively, a Germanized form of Mik.
Minor English, German, French
English: variant spelling of Miner.... [more]
Mittelkauff German (Archaic)
An extinct occupational name for a broker or middleman from Middle High German mittel meaning "middle" and kauf meaning "purchase".
Mohler German (Swiss)
Derived from the Low German word möhl, meaning "mill." Variant of Müller.
Mohrenschildt German
From the surname Mohren and scilt "shield"
Most German
Metonymic occupational name for a producer or seller of must, i.e. unfermented grape juice, from Middle High German most, ultimately derived from Latin mustum vinum meaning "young (i.e. fresh) wine"... [more]
Mower German (Americanized)
Americanized form of Maurer and Mauer.
Müllerleile German
Derived from Middle High German mülnære, müller meaning "miller" (see Müller), and the German given names Lawlin, Lauwelin and Lawelin, medieval diminutives of Nikolaus.
Munich German
From the lower German word for monk, most likely first used as a surname for a former member of a monastery.
Munk German, Scandinavian, Dutch, English
From Middle High German münich Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish munk Middle Dutch munc "monk" a nickname for someone thought to resemble a monk or a metonymic occupational name for someone in the service of a monastery... [more]
Muskat German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spice merchant from Middle High German muscāt meaning "nutmeg mace". As a Jewish name however it is mainly ornamental.
Mutter German
(also Mütter): occupational name for an official employed to measure grain, from Middle High German mutte, mütte 'bushel', 'grain measure' (Latin modius) + the agent suffix -er.
Nacht German, Jewish
From middle German naht meaning "night".
Nachtmann German, Jewish
Derived from German nacht "night" and mann, referring to a night watchman. As a Jewish name it is ornamental.
Nadel German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a maker of needles, or in some cases for a tailor, from Middle High German nadel(e), German Nadel "needle".
Naegele German
Variant of Nagel.
Nagelschmidt German
Means "nail smith" in German
Nagler German
Form Middle High German nagel "nail".
Nast German
Topographic name for someone who lived in a thickly wooded area, or a metonymic occupational name for a woodcutter, from Middle High German nast meaning "branch", a regional variant of ast, resulting from the misdivision of forms such as ein ast meaning "a branch".
Nater German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German nâtaere "tailor; furrier".
Nau German
A variant of Neu; meaning "ship" or "boat."
Negley German (Swiss)
Altered spelling of Swiss German Nägele, Naegeli, or Nägeli, variants of Nagel.
Neher German
An occupational name for a tailor from a deritive of Middle Low German, 'nehen' which means 'to sew' or 'to embroider'
Nestle German
Variant of Nestler.
Nestler German
Derived from the middle high German word nesteler meaning "maker of string or thread".
Neubecker German
From German neu meaning "new" and becker meaning "baker".
Neuber German
Contracted form of Neubauer.
Neuwirth German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname for a new innkeeper, from Middle High German niuwe ‘new’ + wirt and German neu + Wirt ‘master of a house’, ‘innkeeper’.
Nichter German, Yiddish
Possibly means "negator, negate" from Middle High German nicht meaning "not", or "sober", from Middle High German nüchter. Perhaps it originally denoted a person who was a philosopher, judge, or bartender.
Niedermeier German, German (Austrian)
Occupational name for a farmer who had a farm lower than the neighboring one(s). This surname and its variant spellings are common to Austria and the state of Bavaria in Germany.
Niedermeyer German
Means "lower farmer", a distinguishing name for a farmer who worked further south or in a low-lying location.
Nonnenmacher German
Occupational name for a gelder of hogs, from Middle High German nunne, nonne meaning "nun", and by transfer "castrated hog" + an agent derivative of machen meaning "to make".
Obst German, Jewish
Means "fruit" in German, denoting someone who grows or sells fruit. As a Jewish name, it is ornamental.
Ochs German, Jewish
Means "ox" in German, derived from Middle High German ohse, possibly denoting a strong person or someone who worked with oxen. As a Jewish name it is ornamental.
Ochsner German (Swiss)
Means "oxen herder" in Swiss, from Middle High German ohse "ox".
Oechslin German (Swiss)
South German (also Öchslein): from Middle High German ohse ‘ox’ + the diminutive suffix -lin. An occupational name for someone who tended cattle, or for a cattle dealer; or a nickname for a farmer who used oxen for plowing, or for someone perceived to resemble an ox.
Orowitz Jewish, German
The name comes from a famous Rabbinical dynasty.... [more]
Pach German
Pach is an occupational hereditary surname for a baker in Old German. Pach is also a German local name for someone who lived by a stream, which was originally derived from the German word "bach" which means stream... [more]
Packard English, Norman, Medieval English, German (Anglicized)
English from Middle English pa(c)k ‘pack’, ‘bundle’ + the Anglo-Norman French pejorative suffix -ard, hence a derogatory occupational name for a peddler. ... [more]
Page German
Metonymic occupational name for a horse dealer, from Middle Low German page "horse".
Panzer German
Metonymic occupational name for an armorer from Middle High German panzier "mailcoat" (Old French pancier "armor for the stomach, body armor" from Late Latin).
Papier French, German, Jewish
Means "paper" in French and German, denoting a paper maker or merchant, both derived from Old French papier.
Parduhn German
Variant Of Pardon From Middle English Pardun, Pardon "Pardon" A Metonymic occupational name for a pardoner, a person licensed to sell papal pardons or indulgences. German: either a cognate of 1 (also for a sexton), from Old French pardon ‘pardon’, or perhaps a nickname from Middle Low German bardun, Middle High German purdune ‘pipe’ (instrument), ‘tenor’ (voice).
Parr German
Variant of Pfarr.
Pastorius German (Latinized)
Derived from Latin pastor "shepherd", a Latinized form of German surname Schäfer. This surname is no longer found in Germany. Jaco Pastorius (1951-1987), full name John Francis Anthony Pastorius III, was the most influential American jazz bassist, composer, and producer... [more]
Pater Dutch, German, English, Polish
From Latin pater "father", used as a religious title for a priest in Roman Catholicism. Possibly used semi-literally for a man who worked in the church, or figuratively for a solemn or pompous man.
Pechman German
"Pechman" means "man with bad luck" in many European languages (Polish, German, and Dutch predominantly), though in German, it originally referred to one who prepared, sold, or used pitch.
Pechtold German, Dutch, Jewish
From the Old German given name Pechtholt, which is composed of the elements pecht "rotation" and holdt "hero". As a Dutch-language surname, it is derived from the Middle Dutch given name Pechte combined with Old High German walt "power, authority"... [more]
Peikert German
Probably an occupational name for a drummer.
Peiper German (Austrian)
Occupational name for a piper, from Middle High German piper. In some cases it may be derived from Sorbian pipar "pepper", thus being an occupational name for a spicer or a nickname for one with a fiery temper.
Pelle German
From Middle Low German pelle "precious purple silk cloth", presumably an occupational name for a maker or seller of such cloth or for a maker of official and church vestments.
Peltz German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from Middle High German bellez, (modern German pelz) "fur", "animal skin".
Pelz German, Jewish
Variant of Peltz.
Pelzer German
Occupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative Middle High German bellez "fur".
Perlman German
Occupational name for a person who makes or sells pearls.
Pfannebecker German
Occupational name for a maker of roof tiles, cognate of Dutch Pannebakker.
Pfarr German
From Middle High German pfarr 'district' 'parish' or pfarre(r) 'parish priest', hence an occupational name for a parson.
Pfarrer German
Means "Pastor" in German.
Pfeffer German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spicer, or a nickname for a person with a fiery temper, for a small man, or for a dark-haired person. Derived from German Pfeffer "pepper".
Pfefferle German
South German diminutive of Pfeffer, and a nickname for a person who sells spices.
Pflaum German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name or possibly a nickname from Middle High German pflūme, German pflaume "plum", as a Jewish name it is artificial... [more]
Pflug German
Means "plough, plow" in German, an occupational name for a plowman or plowwright.
Pflüger German
Occupational name for a Ploughman, literally meaning "Ploughman/Plowman" in German.
Pfund German
metonymic occupational name for a sealer of weights, or for a wholesale merchant, from Middle High German pfunt ‘pound’ (as a measure of weight and a unit of currency).
Pieper German, Dutch
Occupational name for a piper.
Pinn English, German
Derived from Middle English pin and Middle Low German pinne, both meaning "peg" or "pin". This was an occupational name from a maker of these things. The German name can in some cases be an occupational name for a shoemaker.
Pitcher English, German
From an agent derivative of Middle English pich ‘pitch’, hence an occupational name for a caulker, one who sealed the seams of ships or barrels with pitch. English variant of Pickard... [more]
Plate German, Dutch
metonymic occupational name for a maker of plate armor from Middle High German blate plate Middle Dutch plate "plate armor plating".
Plato German, Dutch, Polish, English
From the Given name Plato the Latinized form of Platon. English variant of Plater.
Plum English, German
From Old Germanic *plūmā "plum", used as a topographic name for someone who lived by a plum tree, a metonymic occupational name for someone who grew or sold plums, or perhaps a nickname referring to a plum-coloured birthmark.
Plumer German, English, Dutch
North German (Plümer) and English: variant of Plum, the suffix -er denoting habitation or occupation. Altered form of South German Pflümer, an occupational name for a grower or seller of plums, from an agent derivative of Middle High German pflume ‘plum’... [more]
Pöge German
German cognate of Page.
Poland English, German, French (Anglicized), Irish (Anglicized)
English and German name is derived from the Middle High German Polan, which means "Poland". The surname originally signified a person with Polish connections.This French surname originated from an occupational name of a poultry breeder, or from a fearful person; it is derived from the Old French poule, which means "chicken".In other cases, particularly in Ireland, the English Poland is a variant of Polin,which is in turn an Anglicised form of the original Gaelic spelling of Mac Póilín, which translated from Irish means "son of little Paul"... [more]
Port English, German, French
Either from Middle English porte "gateway, entrance" (Old French porte, from Latin porta), hence a topographic name for someone who lived near the gates of a fortified town or city, or for the gatekeeper... [more]
Portman German (Americanized), Dutch
Americanized form of German Portmann, as well as a Dutch variant of Poortman (and in some cases an Americanized form)... [more]
Portmann German
Occupational name for a gatekeeper, derived from Middle Low German port(e) meaning "gate" and man, or a topographic name for someone who lived near the gates of a fortified town.
Prieskorn German
Possibly either a derisive nickname for a grain merchant from pries a variant of Middle High German brüsch or Middle Low German bross "brittle crumbly" and korn "grain" or alternatively for a grain seller from prisekorn "(I) determine the price of grain".
Putz German
German for "plaster". Likely used to denote someone who manufactured plaster
Rader German
Variation of Rademacher, meaning "maker of wheels" in German ("rat" meaning wheel), later shortened to Rader and other variations such as Redder, Raeder, Redler, etc.
Radler German
Occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a wheelmaker or wheelwright. The name stems from the German noun rat, meaning wheel. The origin is more clear in the variant Rademacher
Raisor English (American), German (Americanized)
Possibly a variant of Rasor, or an Americanized form of German Röser or Reiser.
Raiter German
Occupational name for a taxman or accountant, from an agent derivative of Middle High German reiten ‘to reckon’, ‘to calculate’.
Range German, French
German: nickname for a ragamuffin, from Middle High German range ‘naughty boy’, ‘urchin’.... [more]
Ranger English, German, French
English: occupational name for a gamekeeper or warden, from Middle English ranger, an agent derivative of range(n) ‘to arrange or dispose’.... [more]
Rather German, Jewish
1. Occupational name for a counsellor or nickname for a wise person, from Middle High German rater ‘adviser’. ... [more]
Rathgeber German
From Middle High German ratgebe or Middle Low German ratgever "giver of advice, counselor", an occupational name for an adviser or wise man.
Rauch German
Perhaps an occupational nickname for a blacksmith or charcoal burner, from Middle High German rouch, German Rauch ‘smoke’, or, in the case of the German name, a status name or nickname relating to a hearth tax (i.e. a tax that was calculated according to the number of fireplaces in each individual home).
Rechner German
Occupational name from Middle High German rechenære "reckoner keeper of accounts".
Recknagel German
from Middle High German recken "to raise or lift" (here in the imperative) and nagel "nail" hence a metonymic occupational name for a blacksmith or perhaps an obscene nickname (with a transferred sense for nagel i.e. ‘penis’).
Redner German
German: possibly a variant of Redmer, or an occupational name for a spokesman, Middle High German rednære.
Regel German
from Middle High German regel "(monastic) rule" (from Latin regula), perhaps a metonymic occupational name for someone who worked in a monastery.
Rehder German
Occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a wheelmaker or wheelwright.
Reisser Upper German
An occupational name for a woodcutter, Middle High German risser.
Reller German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a miller, derived from the Swiss German dialect term relle meaning "grist mill".
Relyea German, French (Anglicized)
Altered spelling of southern German and French Rellier, or probably a regional variant of Swiss German Reller, especially in the western provinces of Austria... [more]
Reuss German
Occupational name for a cobbler, from Middle High German riuze.
Reusser Swiss, German, Upper German
In Switzerland, an occupational name for a fisherman or maker of fish traps, from an agent derivative of Middle High German riuse "fish trap, weir basket". A nickname from an agent noun based on Middle High German riusen "to moan or complain"... [more]
Ridder German, Dutch
Dutch form and German variant of Ritter.
Riesen German
It is a name for a wood carver.
Rind German
Probably a metonymic occupational name for a cattle dealer or butcher, from Middle High German rint meaning "cow".
Rindfleisch German
Means "beef" in German (lit. cow flesh). Compare Kalbfleisch.
Rindt German
Variant of Rind.
Ritterman German
From Middle High German riter meaning "rider, knight" and man literally meaning "man".
Roemer German
Refers to a pilgrim or merchant visiting Rome.
Roll Upper German, German, English
German: from Middle High German rolle, rulle ‘roll’, ‘list’, possibly applied as a metonymic occupational name for a scribe.... [more]
Roos Estonian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, German (Swiss), Low German
Means "rose" in Estonian and Dutch. Swedish and Danish variant of Ros, also meaning "rose". This could be a locational name for someone living near roses, an occupational name for someone who grew roses, or a nickname for someone with reddish skin.
Rössel German
Means "knight" in German.
Rost German
A metonymic occupational name for a limeburner or blacksmith, from Middle High German, Middle Low German rōst meaning ‘grate, grill’ or Middle High German rōst(e) meaning ‘fire, embers, pyre, grate’ (typically one for burning lime).
Rotter German
Variant spelling of Rother, an occupational name for the foreman or leader of a group or association of men, or a work gang, from an agent derivative of Middle High German rotte ‘team’, ‘gang’... [more]
Rottscheit German
Modernization of Rotscheidt, also a city in Germany (Rottscheidt) bearing another modern alternate spelling. When broken down it ultimately means "red" and "piece of wood", implying that the families of today descends from woodwrokers.
Rover English, German (Anglicized)
This surname is derived from Middle English roof (from Old English hrof) combined with the agent suffix (i)er, which denotes someone who does/works with something. Thus, the surname was originally used for a constructor or repairer of roofs.... [more]
Rubin French, German, Slovene, Croatian, Czech, Slovak
Metonymic occupational name for a jeweler, from Middle High German rubn Old French rubi Slovenian and Croatian rubin Czech and Slovak rubín "ruby"... [more]
Ruderer German
Occupational name meaning "Rower" in German.
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]
Rüster German
Means "elm (tree)" in German. Could alternatively derive from rüsten to "to equip, to arm", an occupational name for someone who provided weapons to an army.
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]
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".
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’).
Sandmeier German, German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
From Middle High German sand combined with Meier 1, referring to a tenant farmer whose farm was on sandy soil.
Sarnow Polabian (Germanized), German
From the village of Sarnow in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Surname of the mayor of Stralsund Karsten Sarnow.
Sartorius German (Latinized)
Translation into Latin of the German surname Schneider, from Latin sartor, "tailor".
Sattler German
An occupational name meaning "saddle maker".
Sauerbier German
From German sauer meaning "sour" and bier meaning "beer". It originally referred to a brewer of sour beer.
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.
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, 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]
Schacht German, Flemish
From Middle Low German and Middle Dutch schacht "shaft; pole, tunnel", a metonymic occupational name for someone who made shafts for tools or weapons, or who worked in a mineshaft.
Schade German, Dutch
From schade "damage, injury", a derivative of schaden "to do damage, harm, hurt", generally a nickname for a thug or clumsy person, or, more particularly, a robber knight, who raided others’ lands.
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.
Schaffter German
An occupational name for a shaft maker or maker of tools and weapons, from Middle Low German schaft "shaft, spear, lance."
Schalk German, Dutch
From Old High German scalc "servant, retainer, jester", which eventually evolved to mean "joker, rogue, knave". Could be an occupational name for an attendant or jester, a nickname for someone mischievous, or derived from a given name containing scalc as an element, such as Godschalk.
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]
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.
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]
Schenkel German, Dutch, Jewish
Means "leg, shank", an occupational name for a butcher or a nickname for someone with long or otherwise notable legs.
Schermann German, Jewish
German cognate of Sherman 1 derived from the elements skeran "to cut, to shear" and Middle High German man "man".
Schiechel German
From German "schuh", meaning "shoe".
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".
Schildknecht German
From the occupation of a page or squire for a knight derived from schilht "shield" and kneht "servant".
Schiltz German
German: variant of Schilz and, in North America.... [more]
Schirmacher German
occupational name for someone who makes harnesses and bridles for horses from Middle High German geschirre "harness" and macher "maker".
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".
Schloss German
Shortened form of Schlosser.
Schlott German, Low German
Occupational name for a locksmith, from Middle Low German slot 'lock'.
Schmaltz German (Rare), German (Austrian, Rare)
Schmaltz is a German and Austrian surname. It was used as an occupational surname for chandlers.
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.
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".
Schneid German, Jewish
Variant form of Schneider. Means "cut"
Schnetz German
Variant of Schnitz, meaning "woodcutter".
Schnieder German
North German and American variant of Schneider
Schnitz German
From Upper German schnitz, meaning "woodcutter".
Schnitzer German
From Upper German schnitz, referring to someone who cuts wood, ultimately from Middle High German snitzære "woodcutter, carver, crossbow maker".
Schnitzlein German
From Upper German schnitz, "woodcutter".
Schnitzler German
From upper German schnitz "woodcutter".
Schnitzspahn German
From Upper German schnitz, "woodcutter" (see Schnitzer)
Schoendienst German
Occupational name meaning "beautiful service", from Middle High German schoen "beautiful" and dienst "service, duty". A famous bearer was the American baseball player Albert "Red" Schoendienst (1923-2018).
Scholman Jewish, German (Americanized)
Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Chaim, Hyman, Ari, Avi, Batya, Chana, Ephraim, Gershon, Isidor, Mandel.... [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.
Schopff German
German (Schöff): in most cases an occupational name from Middle High German scheffe ‘lay assessor at a court, juror’ (modern German Schöffe)
Schops German
Means "scoop maker"
Schottler German
Occupational name for a wood turner, Middle Low German scoteler (an agent derivative of scotel ‘wooden bowl’).
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".
Schuch German
Likely derived from SCHUMACHER (Shoe Maker)
Schue German, Jewish
Variant of Schuh.
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.
Schuman German, Jewish
Anglicised form of Schumann.
Schumann German, Jewish
An occupational name for a shoemaker, cobbler. From Middle High German scuoh "shoe" and man "man".
Schütte German
From schutter "marksman, shooter", an occupational name for an archer. Compare Schutz.
Schutz German
Occupational surname for an archer or a watchman, from Middle High German schützen "to guard, protect". Also a habitational name from Schutz, a place near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Schwein German
Metonymic occupational name for a swineherd from Middle High German swīn "hog".
Schweinsteiger German
Occupational name for a pig farmer, an overseer of pigs or a nickname for someone who rode a pig, derived from Middle High German swīn meaning "hog, swine" and stīger meaning "foreman, mine inspector"... [more]
Schwerdtfeger German
occupational name for an armorer or specifically for a servant whose job was to polish swords Middle High German Middle Low German swertfeger (from swert "sword" and an agent derivative of fegen "to polish or clean").
Schwertfuehrer German (Austrian)
Sword leader; military general or other leadership position
Schwertner German
Either a habitational name for someone from Schwerta in Silesia or an occupational name for a sword maker.
Schwimer German, Jewish
Occupational name meaning "swimmer" in German. As a Jewish name, it may be ornamental.
Schwing German
Occupational name for someone whose job was to swingle flax, i.e. to beat the flax with a swingle in order to remove the woody parts of the plant prior to spinning, from Middle German swingen meaning "to swing" or swing meaning "swingle".
Seel German
Occupational name for a person who makes or sells ropes.
Seide German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German side, German Seide ‘silk’ (from Late Latin seta, originally denoting animal hair), hence a metonymic occupational name for a manufacturer or seller of silk.
Seider German
Originating in the region of Saxony. Name of a silk merchant, from the German word for silk: seide
Seif German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a soap maker, from Middle High German seife, German Seife 'soap'.
Seiler German
German and Jewish occupational surname for a rope maker.
Seim Upper German
German: metonymic occupational name for a beekeeper, from Middle High German seim ‘honey’.
Sellmeyer German
Occupational name for the steward of a hall or manor house from Middle High German sal "hall residence" and meier "steward" (see Meyer 1).
Selmer German
Teutonic name meaning "hall master" for a steward or keeper of a large home or settlement.
Senn German
Derived from the Middle High German word senne meaning "dairy farmer".
Sensenbrenner German
Combination of German Sense, meaning "scythe", and Brenner meaning "burner".... [more]
Setzer German, Jewish
Derived from either Middle High German "setzen", used to refer to market inspectors and tax officials, or Yiddish "setser", a typesetter.
Seuss German, Jewish
Means "sweet", "pleasant", or "agreeable".
Shaffer German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Schäfer.
Shaffner German, German (Swiss)
Americanized version of German occupational name for a steward or bailiff, variant of Schaffner and Schaffer.... [more]
Shafter German (Americanized)
The Americanized form of Schaffter as well as a German and Ashkenazic variant.
Shipper German, Jewish, English
German and Jewish Cognate and English variant of Schipper. occupational name from Middle English shippere "shipman sailor seaman" (Old English scipere) perhaps also with the sense "skipper" (Middle Low German schipper).
Shoemaker English, German (Americanized), Dutch (Americanized)
English cognate of Schuhmacher. It could also be an Americanized form of Schuhmacher, Schoemaker, or other names denoting a shoemaker.
Shrout German
This surname is related to the German surname Schroder which means cut as in a wood cutter etc.
Shue German (Anglicized), Jewish (Anglicized)
Americanized form of Schuh or Schue. A famous bearer of this name is the American actress Elisabeth Shue (1963-).
Sieber German
The roots of the German surname Sieber can be traced to the Old Germanic word "Siebmacher," meaning "sieve maker." The surname is occupational in origin, and was most likely originally borne by someone who held this position
Sigel Upper German
Upper German variant of Siegel 1.
Silber German, Jewish
From Middle High German silber, German Silber "silver"; a metonymic occupational name for a silversmith, or often, in the case of the Jewish surname, an ornamental name.
Silbermann German, Jewish
Variant of Silber. from Middle High German silber German silber "silver" and Middle High German Yiddish man "man" an occupation for a man who worked with silver.
Silbernagel German
Occupational for a silversmith from middle high German silber "silver" and nagel "nail".
Singer German
variant of Sänger, in the sense of ‘poet’
Smoke English, German, German (Austrian)
Possibly a variant of English Smock or an altered form of German Schmuck.
Snyder Dutch, English, German, Yiddish, Jewish
Means "tailor" in Dutch, an occupational name for a person who stitched coats and clothing.... [more]
Soldat Russian, Ukrainian, French, German
Means "soldier" in various languages.
Soldner German
German surname meaning mercenary. German spelling has umlaut over the O, but American spelling is Soldner or Soeldner.
Sommerhalder German (Swiss)
From High German sommer meaning "summer" and halder meaning "holder".
Spader German
Occupational name for a spade maker or for someone who used a spade in his work, derived from Middle High or Middle Low German spade. A notable bearer is American actor James Spader (1960-).
Spangler German
Spangler is an occupational surname for "metal worker" having derived from the German word spange, meaning a clasp or buckle of the sort such a craftsman might have designed.
Speer German, Dutch, English
German and Dutch cognate of Spear, as well as an English variant of the same surname.
Speicher German
occupational name for someone in charge of a granary. From middle high German spicher meaning "grain store".
Speiser German
German cognate of Spencer.
Spengler German
Occupational surname literally meaning “metal worker” or “tin knocker”.
Spiegel German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German spiegel, German Spiegel "mirror" (via Old High German from Latin speculum, a derivative of specere "to look").
Spiegelman German (Germanized, Rare, Archaic), Yiddish (Germanized, Rare, Archaic)
The name Spiegelman is a name with both German and Jewish origins. In German the word "Spiegel" translates to "mirror". Also "Mann" translates to "man". So one could interpret the name to mean "mirror man" or less often "man of the mirror"... [more]
Spiegler German, Jewish
Occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German spiegel, German Spiegel "mirror" and the agent suffix -er.
Spieler German, Jewish
Occupational Name For A Tumbler Or Jester German Spieler ‘Player’ Middle High German Spilære An Agent Derivative Of Spiln ‘To Play To Jest To Sport’.
Spindler English, German, Jewish
Occupational name for a spindle maker, from an agent derivative of Middle English spindle, Middle High German spindel, German Spindel, Yiddish shpindl "spindle, distaff".
Splinter Low German, German
From Low German splinter ‘splinter’; probably a metonymic occupational name for a woodworker.
Stadtmueller German
From Middle High German stet meaning "place", "town" + müller meaning "miller", hence an occupational name for a miller who ground the grain for a town.
Stahl German, Danish
Metonymic occupational name for a smith or armorer, from Middle High German stahel "steel, armor".
Stähle German
Variant of Stahl.
Stahler German
Occupational name for a foundry worker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German stal 'steel'.
Stahling German (Rare)
Denoted a person who worked with steel. Derived from the name "Stähling", which was derived from "Stalin."
Stallkamp German, Low German
Llikely originates from Old German or Middle Low German. It's a descriptive or occupational surname, possibly meaning "stall area" or "place where stalls are located,". The element "Stall" likely refers to a stall in a market or a building where animals are kept, and "kamp" refers to a field or open area, sometimes specifically a battleground.
Stallman German
Variant of Staller. German: topographic name for someone who lived in a muddy place, from the dialect word stal. English: habitational name from Stalmine in Lancashire, named probably with Old English stæll 'creek', 'pool' + Old Norse mynni 'mouth'.
Staub German (Swiss), German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational nickname for a miller, from Middle High German stoup, German Staub ‘dust’. The Jewish surname may also be ornamental.
Stauber German, Jewish
An occupational name from Staub, with the addition of the German agent suffix -er.
Steger German
Means "head miner" or "overman" from the German verb steigen meaning "to climb" or in this case "to lead a climb".
Stehr German
From Middle High German ster ‘ram’, hence probably a nickname for a lusty person, or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a shepherd.
Steier German
Variant of Steiger.
Steiert German
Variant of Steiger and Steier.
Steiger German
Occupational name from Middle High German stiger 'foreman', 'mine inspector'