100 German Last Names and Their Meanings Explained

German last names carry centuries of history, culture, and meaning. These surnames often originated from occupations, geographic locations, personal characteristics, or ancestral lineages. With roots in the Germanic language, many names are still in common use today and have spread far beyond Germany due to immigration and global influence. This list of 100 German last names explores their origins and meanings—from widely known surnames to lesser-known but richly meaningful ones. Whether you’re tracing family roots or searching for character inspiration, this guide provides a deep look into German surname traditions.

Common German Last Names and Meanings

Müller – “Miller,” one who grinds grain

Schmidt – “Smith,” such as a blacksmith

Schneider – “Tailor”

Fischer – “Fisherman”

Weber – “Weaver”

Meyer – “Steward” or “manager” of a farm

Wagner – “Wagon maker” or “cartwright”

Becker – “Baker”

Hoffmann – “Steward” or “farm manager”

Schulz – “Mayor” or village head

German Last Names from Occupations

Bauer – “Farmer”

Koch – “Cook”

Zimmermann – “Carpenter”

Jäger – “Hunter”

Krüger – “Innkeeper” or “tavern owner”

Kühn – “Bold” or “brave” (often for soldiers)

Sänger – “Singer”

Maurer – “Mason” or “builder”

Metzger – “Butcher”

Töpfer – “Potter”

Last Names Based on Physical or Personal Traits

Klein – “Small”

Groß – “Tall” or “big”

Schwarz – “Black,” possibly referring to hair or clothing

Weiß – “White,” could refer to light complexion or hair

Lang – “Long” or “tall”

Kurz – “Short”

Stark – “Strong”

Freund – “Friend”

Fröhlich – “Happy” or “cheerful”

Roth – “Red,” possibly for red hair

Geographical and Place-Based German Last Names

Berger – “Mountain dweller” or “from the hill”

Bach – “Stream” or “creek”

Bayer – “Person from Bavaria”

Frank – “From Franconia” or “a free man”

Linden – From a place with linden trees

Stein – “Stone”

Feld – “Field”

Wald – “Forest”

Hamburger – “From Hamburg”

Berliner – “From Berlin”

Religious or Spiritual German Last Names

Engel – “Angel”

Christ – Refers to Christian faith

Pfaff – “Priest”

Kirsch – “Cherry,” sometimes linked to church offerings

Kloster – “Monastery”

Heilig – “Holy”

Mönch – “Monk”

Gottschalk – “Servant of God”

Betz – Derived from Elisabeth, often linked to saints

Benedikt – From Benedictus, meaning “blessed”

Noble and Historic German Last Names

Baron – Noble title

Kaiser – “Emperor”

Graf – “Count”

Ritter – “Knight”

Herzog – “Duke”

Fürst – “Prince” or “ruler”

Adler – “Eagle,” symbol of strength and nobility

Schloss – “Castle”

Hofmann – “Court man” or man of the estate

von Braun – “Of the brown,” often denoting nobility

Unique and Rare German Last Names

Vogel – “Bird”

Löwe – “Lion”

Ziegler – “Brick maker”

Geiger – “Violinist”

Uhlmann – “Owl man” or wise person

Reich – “Rich” or “empire”

Stern – “Star”

Rosenfeld – “Rose field”

Falk – “Falcon”

Krause – “Curly-haired”

German Last Names Derived from First Names

Peters – “Son of Peter”

Hansen – “Son of Hans”

Schmitt – Variant of Schmidt (Smith)

Jakobs – “Son of Jakob”

Heinrich – “Home ruler”

Albrecht – “Noble and bright”

Fritz – Diminutive of Friedrich, meaning “peaceful ruler”

Ludwig – “Famous warrior”

Conrad – “Bold counselor”

Ulrich – “Power of the wolf”

German Jewish Surnames and Their Meanings

Goldstein – “Gold stone”

Rosenberg – “Mountain of roses”

Weinstein – “Wine stone”

Greenbaum – “Green tree”

Blumenfeld – “Field of flowers”

Horowitz – From the town of Hořovice

Leibowitz – “Son of Leib”

Silverman – “Man of silver”

Katzen – “Cats,” sometimes symbolic

Baruch – “Blessed”

Modern and Culturally Known German Last Names

Merkel – As in Angela Merkel, former chancellor

Einstein – “One stone”; world-famous physicist

Wagner – Renowned composer Richard Wagner

Bach – Johann Sebastian Bach, legendary composer

Beckenbauer – Legendary footballer; means “baker’s field”

Schumacher – Famous F1 driver; “shoemaker”

Benz – From Karl Benz, automobile pioneer

Diesel – As in Rudolf Diesel, inventor of the diesel engine

Kant – Philosopher Immanuel Kant

Nietzsche – Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche; surname of Slavic origin

German surnames are powerful, meaningful, and deeply rooted in tradition. From occupational names like Müller and Schmidt, to noble names like von Bismarck, each surname reflects the values and lifestyles of its time. Whether you’re tracing family roots, crafting a character, or diving into European culture, these 100 German last names and their meanings offer a rich perspective on identity, history, and language.