Common german last names

Meanings and Origins of Common Last Names. German last names originate from places and professions in Germany and far beyond, as a list of of the most common German surnames shows.

German names are strong and have a long history behind them. Find your German last name and learn about the meaning and origins of different German surnames. In January Germany became a unified country. Until then, it was made up of smaller nation-states whose borders frequently changed. Even after , Germany's land area and political influence shifted several times. Because of this, German last names can be found throughout bordering countries, including Poland, Austria, France, and Spain.

Common german last names

With roots in the Germanic middle ages, German surnames have been around since the s. They are often very easy to identify if you either know a little German or know which clues to look for. Names with the vowel cluster ei Klein are also mostly German. German surnames developed from four major sources:. A variation on locality names, farm names in Germany are names which came from the family farm. The thing which makes them different from traditional surnames, however, is that when a person moved onto a farm, he would change his name to that of the farm a name which usually came from the farm's original owner. A man might also change his surname to his wife's maiden name if she inherited a farm. This practice obviously results in a dilemma for genealogists, with such possibilities as children in one family being born under different surnames. After immigrating to America, many Germans changed "Americanized" their surname to make it easier for others to pronounce or merely to feel more a part of their new home. Many surnames, especially occupational and descriptive surnames, were changed to the English equivalent of the German. When a German surname did not have an English equivalent, the name change was usually based on phonetics - spelled in English the way it sounded. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising.

A Meier — the third most common German surname — was a high-ranking peasant entrusted with supervising the property of his local baron. A man might also change his surname to his wife's maiden name if she inherited a farm.

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Meanings and Origins of Common Last Names. German last names originate from places and professions in Germany and far beyond, as a list of of the most common German surnames shows. The list was initially created by searching for the most common last names in German telephone books. Where variations of a spelling of a surname occurred, those monikers are listed as separate names. For instance, Schmidt , which is ranked No. This list is different than one showing popular German surnames with their English translations. The meanings of German last names are those as defined initially when these names became surnames. For example, the surname Meyer means dairy farmer today, whereas, during the Middle Ages, Meyer designated people who were stewards of landholders.

Common german last names

Germany has been shaped by its traditions, customs, regional influences, and historical events and is the birthplace of art and ideas. Germans are regarded as meticulous, industrious, innovative, and resilient. German last names connect a nation and culture with history and wonder.

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How to Talk About the Weather in German. Name Letter. The third most popular last name is Meier which derives from a term for a high-ranking farmer and is very common in the low Geman-speaking areas. Trending on LoveToKnow. This list is different than one showing popular German surnames with their English translations. Neumann - This surname means "new man" in English. In Germany, these occupational names still form the largest group of German surnames. Should you ever have the chance to stroll upon German soil, you will likely bump into one or two people who carry these common surnames. Trinkenschuh - Drink-shoe. Until then, it was made up of smaller nation-states whose borders frequently changed. This is linked in the privacy policy. I am at least 16 years old and agree that the Cooperation Alumniportal Deutschland and third parties may use cookies and process information about my use of the Alumniportal Deutschland website and previously visited websites. Cite this Article Format. This cookie saves your cookie settings and prevents the cookie banner from being displayed whenever you visit this website.

Data updated to 12 February

Measure content performance. Schulz - Sheriff medieval. Use limited data to select advertising. This list is different than one showing popular German surnames with their English translations. Zimmermann Surname Meaning and Family History. Accept all cookies. Famous Christmas Poems in German and English. Many surnames, especially occupational and descriptive surnames, were changed to the English equivalent of the German. This was then passed on from generation to generation — right through till today. In and around Adenau itself the name is rare, but it crops up a lot in the Rhineland and around the city of Aachen. For example, the last name "Buschmann" referred to a person who literally lived near bushes. Related links.