Low German Submitted Surnames

These names are used in northern Germany and the eastern Netherlands where Low German is spoken. See also German names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Barner Low German
North German derivative of the old Germanic personal name Barnher or Bernher (see Berner).
Bart German, English, Dutch, French, Polish, Sorbian, Low German, Slovak
Either a German variant of Barth meaning "beard". From the personal name Bart a short form of ancient Germanic names based on the element bert "bright brilliant" as for example Barthold... [more]
Basler Low German
Derived from Middle Low German baseln "to act foolishly".
Bastrup Low German (Germanized, Rare)
There is a village near Kolding, Denmark, which is called Bastrup.
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]
Birke Low German, Swedish (Rare)
Variant of Birk. Perhaps a shortened form of any of various Danish and Norwegian surnames beginning with Birke-, for example Birkeland and Birkelund ("birch grove").
Boden German, Low German
Patronymic from the personal name Bode or a topographic name for someone living in a valley bottom or the low-lying area of a field. From Middle High German boden "ground, bottom".
Borman Dutch, Low German, English
Dutch and North German: variant of Bormann. ... [more]
Bornemann Low German
Topographic name denoting someone who lived by a well or spring, from Middle Low German born "spring, well" and man "person, man".
Brink Low German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish
Means "village green" or "hill, slope, edge of a field or steep place". As a Swedish name, it’s ornamental.
Brockmann Low German
Denoted someone who lived in or by a marsh, from Middle Low German brok "swamp, marsh" (see brōkaz) and man "person, man".
Brueckman Low German
it means "bridge man" or one who cares for a bridge
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).
Bruegger Low German
North German (Brügger): occupational name for a bridge keeper, paver, or road builder, Middle Low German brügger. Compare Brueggemann.
Bur Swiss, Low German, Czech, French
Swiss and North German variant of Bauer. ... [more]
Buxtehude German, Low German
From the name of the town of Buxtehude in Lower Saxony, Germany. A famous bearer of this surname was the German-Danish Baroque composer and organist Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707).
Clinkenbeard Low German
Possibly an Americanized form of North German Klingebiel, a variant of Klingbeil.
Cords Low German
Patronymic form of the given name Cord.
Deel Low German
Variant of Diehl.
Derks Dutch, Low German
Variant form of Dirks.
Distel German, Low German, Dutch
Means "thistle" in German and Dutch, a topographic name for someone who lived by a patch of ground overgrown with thistles, or perhaps a nickname for a "prickly" person.
Dohrmann Low German
North German topographic name for someone who lived by the gates of a town or city (see Thor).
Donth Low German (Rare)
Donth is a very rare surname that comes from Germany. No real information about this surname.
Dück Low German, German
North German nickname for a coward, from Low German duken ‘to duck or dive’. ... [more]
Ellerbrock Low German
North German: topographic name for someone who lived by a low-lying swamp overgrown with alders, from Middle Low German elre 'alder' brock 'swamp'.
Eschels Low German
A name common to the native inhabitants of the island of Föhr off the coast of northern Germany.
Ess Low German, German (Swiss)
North German: topographic name for someone living on or owning land that was waterlogged or partly surrounded by water, from Middle Low German es ‘swamp’, ‘water’. ... [more]
Fahn Low German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a bog, from a Westphalian field name van "marsh", or a habitational name from a place named with this word.
Fedie Low German
Originally spelled as 'Fidi' in Austria, later changed to Fedie when bearers of the name immigrated to the United States. The meaning of the name is "faith."
Fiene German, Low German
A nickname for an elegant person, from Middle Low German fin, meaning ‘fine’. Can also be a locational name from several fields and places named Fiene.
Frink Low German
Altered form of a diminutive of Severin.
Garbrandt Dutch (?), Low German
From the given name Garbrant.
Gielen Dutch, Low German
Patronymic from the given name Giel.
Goedeke Low German
Low German surname composed of the element gode and the diminutive suffix -ke. Gode can mean either "good", "God" or "a Goth".
Göschen German, Low German
Patronymic from the German given name Gottschalk.
Grap Low German
Variant of Grape.
Grape Low German
Metonymic occupational name for a maker of metal or earthenware vessels, from Middle Low German grope "pot".
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.
Grote Low German
Low German form of Groß meaning "big, great".
Haar Dutch, Low German
Probably from the place name Haar, derived from Middle Dutch harr "sandy hill".
Harms Dutch, Low German, Danish
Patronymic from the personal name Harm, a Dutch diminutive of Herman.
Harmse Dutch, Low German, South African
Means "son of Harm", a short form of Herman.
Harmsen Dutch, Low German, Danish
Means "son of Harm" in Dutch and Danish.
Heiche German, Low German
Possibly a short form of a Germanic personal name, such as Heinrich, Hugo, or Hagen.
Hekel Low German
Derives from the Middle Low German word "ha-ke," Dutch "haak," which means "a hook."
Hingst Low German
From Low German Hingst (stallion).
Horst Dutch, Low German
Means "elevated and overgrown land, thicket" or "bird of prey’s nest, eyrie" in Dutch, the name of several locations.
Jaspers Dutch, Low German
Patronymic from the given name Jasper.
Juhl Danish, Norwegian (Rare), Low German
Likely originating as a nickname for people born around Christmas or who had a connection with that time of year, from the Old Norse jól, which was the name of the Nordic pagan midwinter festival, or modern Danish jul meaning "Christmas" (cf... [more]
Kaffka Hungarian, Romanian, Low German, Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian
The Germanised Czech surname of a certain Margit. Means ‘Little Jackdaw’ in Czech. Its internationally better known diminutive is Kafka.
Kauka Low German, Sorbian
Best known as the surname of a certain Rolf. It is perhaps a Sorbian and Northeast Low German variant of Kafka and Kawa, both of which mean ‘Jackdaw’ in Czech and Polish.... [more]
Kersten Low German, Dutch
Derived from the given name Kersten, a Dutch and low German form of Christian.
Klomp Dutch, Low German
Means both "lump, block, compact heap" and "clog, wooden shoe" in Dutch, often an occupational name for someone who made such shoes. It could also be a nickname for a stocky or clumsy person, or a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting a clog.
Knigge Low German
North German: variant of Knick... [more]
Koops Dutch, Low German
Patronymic from the given name Koop, a diminutive form of Jakob. Alternatively, a variant of German and Dutch Koop.
Krane Dutch, Low German
Variant of Dutch Kraan or German Krahn.
Kreiter Low German (Rare)
meanings: "quarreler", "argumentative person", "legal counsel"... [more]
Kroes Dutch, Low German
Means "frizzy, curly (hair)" in Dutch.
Kroes Dutch, Low German
Means "chalice, cup, jug" in Dutch, an occupational name for someone who made drinking vessels, such as a potter. Could also be a habitational name for someone who lived by a sign depicting a cup.
Kroeze Dutch, Low German
Variant spelling of Kroes.
Kross Low German
Occupational name for a maker of mugs and jugs, from Middle Low German krus, kros 'pitcher', 'ceramic drinking vessel'.
Kühl German, Low German
The spelling Kühl results from a folk-etymological association with High German kühl ‘cool’ (Middle High German küel(e), a nickname from Middle High German küel ‘cool’, ‘calm’... [more]
Lattke Sorbian, Low German
Sorbian and Northeast Low German variant of Latk.
Lehmkuhl German, Low German
topographic or occupational name for someone working or living by a clay pit from Middle Low German lēm "clay" and kule "pit" a habitational name from any of several places called with this term for example Lehmkuhlen near Kiel.
Lemm Low German, Dutch
Derived from the given name Lambert.
Lösch Low German, Upper German
North German metonymic occupational name for a maker of fine leather, from Middle Low German losche ‘fine leather’. South German variant of Lesch (see Loesch).
Lubben Low German, Dutch
Patronymic from German Lübbe, Dutch Lubbe, short forms of the personal names Leopold and Lübbert (see Luebbert)... [more]
Ludemann Low German
Ludemann is a German name
Lukens Low German
From Low German, Lückens, a patronymic from the personal name Lüdeke.
Meer Dutch, Low German
Means "lake, pool, marsh", from Old Germanic *mari "lake; sea, ocean". Compare Van der Meer.
Moes Dutch, Low German
Variant form of Maas.
Mooring Low German (Modern)
habitational name from möringen or möhringen of northern germany.
Niemeyer Low German
North German nickname for a newly arrived steward or tenant farmer, from Middle Low German nie ‘new’ + Meyer.
Notbohm German, Low German
Low German cognate of High German Nussbaum.
Oldt Low German
North German: variant of Alt.
Overbeck Low German, Dutch (Americanized)
German cognate of Overbeeke, as well as its Americanized form.
Penning English, Dutch, Low German
From early Middle English penning, Low German penning, and Middle Dutch penninc, all meaning "penny". It was used as a topographic surname from the name of a field, or a nickname referring to tax dues of one penny.
Pennybacker Low German
Pennybacker is an anglicized German surname for someone who worked making roof tiles or as a tiler.
Poorten Low German (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
From any of several places named Poort, derived from Dutch poort "gate".
Posthumus Dutch, Low German
From a personal name which was given to a posthumous child, i.e., one born after the death of his father, derived from Latin postumus "last, last-born" (superlative of posterus "coming after, subsequent") via Late Latin posthumus, which was altered by association with Latin humare "to bury", suggesting death (i.e., thought to consist of post "after" and humus "grave", hence "after death"); the one born after the father's death obviously being the last.
Pulver Low German, French, English
I comes from the Latin verb meaning "to make powder." This name was given to either an alchemist or one who made gunpowder.
Radloff Low German
North German: From the Old Norse Radulf.... [more]
Rahn Low German
From the slavic tribe of the Rani on the island of Rügen.
Rave Low German, Dutch
Variant form of Rabe and Raaf, both meaning "raven".
Reese Low German, Dutch, German
Variant of Riese or Reus, from risi meaning "giant". Alternatively, could be a patronymic form of the Germanic given name Razo, derived from rēdaz "counsel, advise", or a habitational name from places called Rees or Reese in Rhineland and Lower Saxony.
Robben Dutch, Low German
Patronymic from the given name Robbe, a short form of Robert.
Roeber Low German
Habitational name from a place named Roben, for example in Thuringia or Schleswig. From a Germanic personal name based on hrod ‘renown’, ‘victory’. Low German variant of Räuber and Rauber.
Rohe Low German
The surname ROHE is from a short form of a Germanic formed with Middle High German Rouen 'to roar' or old High German ruin 'Care' , 'intent' (See roch).
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.
Rusch Low German
Derived from Middle Low German rusch "quick, rash, hasty; unkempt", this was a nickname for a quick or unkempt, unrefined person.
Rutz Low German
Derived from Middle Low German rūtze or ruce "cobbler".
Scheper Dutch, Low German
Means "shepherd" in Dutch and Low German.
Schlott German, Low German
Occupational name for a locksmith, from Middle Low German slot 'lock'.
Schmadeka Low German
Low German variant of Schmied + the diminutive suffix -ke
Schutte Dutch, Low German, South African
Variant of (Schütte), an occupational name for an archer.
Schwarm Low German, German
habitational name from Schwarme a place south of Bremen... [more]
Schweer Low German
North German: variant of Schweder or Schwehr.
Siebe Low German
from a pet form of the personal name Siebert
Sievert Low German, Dutch, Swedish
Derived from the given name Sievert. A Sievert (Sv) is a unit measuring the effect of ionizing radiation on the human body (called equivalent absorbed radiation dose)... [more]
Soete Low German
Derived from Low German söt /seut "sweet".
Splinter Low German, German
From Low German splinter ‘splinter’; probably a metonymic occupational name for a woodworker.
Sternke Low German (Rare, ?)
From the German word or surname Stern meaning "star" and the Low German diminutive "-ke". The exact origins of this surname are unknown.
Steven Scottish, English, Dutch, Low German
From the personal name Steven, a vernacular form of Latin Stephanus, Greek Stephanos "crown".
Storm English, Low German, Dutch, Scandinavian
Nickname for a man of blustery temperament.
Stricker German, Low German, Dutch
Occupational name for a rope maker or knitter (of hose, for example), from an agent derivative of Middle High German, Middle Low German stricken ‘to tie’.
Suh Low German
North German from Middle Low German su ‘sow’, either a metonymic occupational name for a swineherd or an offensive nickname.
Sydow Low German
Habitational name from any of several places so named in Germany.
Teagarden Low German
The surname Teagarden was first found in Bavaria, where the name Tiegarten was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. The name appeared in Solingen as Thegarden as early as 1374 and was recorded as Tegarden in 1488... [more]
Thie Low German
From the given name Thiede (see Tiede).
Thorn Low German, German, German (Silesian), Polish, Luxembourgish
In North German, Danish, and Luxembourgish, it is a habitational name for someone who lived near a tower, from Middle Low German torn "tower".... [more]
Tiäkenbuorch Low German
Westphalian, it indicates familial origin within the eponymous town.
Timmer Dutch, Low German
Means "timber" in Dutch and Low German, an occupational name for a carpenter.
Trausch German, Slavic, Low German, Luxembourgish
A nickname either derived from Trauschke, a nickname from Old Slavic drugu "companion", or from Middle Low German druus "sullen", "dour".
Troost Dutch, Low German
Means "comfort, consolation" in Dutch, a nickname for someone who was particularly encouraging or helpful, or perhaps a byname for a child born after the death of an older sibling.
Ulenspegel Low German, Literature
This is the name of Dyl Ulenspegel is a trickster figure originating in Middle Low German folklore, possibly meaning "owl mirror".
Vollmar German, Germanic, Low German
This name is a variant form of Volkmar and the Low German form of Waldemar. It is of Germanic and Slavic origin and comes from the following roots: (VOLKMAR) and (VOLODIMĚRŬ).
Volmar German, Germanic, Low German
Variant Of Vollmar.
Vorst Dutch, Low German
topographic name for someone who lived in a vorst "forest" or habitational name for someone from any of numerous places called Vorst or Voorst... [more]
Wapelhorst Low German
"Wapel" (pronounced VA-pel) is a river in Northern Germany. "Horst" means 'eagle's nest' in modern German but also means 'man of the forest' in Old German.
Westermann Low German
From Middle Low German wester meaning "westerly" and man meaning "man", making it a topographic surname for someone who lived west of a settlement or a regional surname for someone who had moved to the west... [more]
Wever Dutch, Low German
Dutch cognate of Weaver 1.
Wiemann Low German
Variant of Weinmann, from Middle Low German, Middle High German winman ‘viticulturalist’, ‘wine merchant’. Variant of Wiedemann... [more]
Witten Low German
North German patronymic from Witte.
Wittenberg Low German
Habitational name for someone from a place called Wittenberg, Wittenberge, or Wittenbergen.
Wittenborn Low German
Habitational name from any of several places so named, for example near Bad Segeberg and near Neubrandenburg.
Wulflam Low German
Name of the mayor of Stralsund Bertram Wulflam and his son Wulfhard Wulflam.
Zuhm Low German
Name of a noble family from the island of Rügen.