German last names with origins and meanings
Discover popular German last names (Nachnamen) with origins, meanings, and regional distribution.
1 credit per run
Try an idea:
German last name ideas
- Müller
- Schmidt
- Schneider
- Fischer
- Weber
- Klein
- Groß
- Lang
- Kurz
- Schwarz
- Berg
- Berger
- Bach
- Busch
- Stein
- Böhm
- Frank
- Schwab
- Bayer
- Hess
- Peters
- Hansen
- Jansen
- Martens
- Friedrich
5 of 383 of 38 · Show all
German last name ideas
Tap a name to copy it.
From an occupation38
- miller
- smith
- tailor
- fisherman
- weaver
- steward
- cartwright
- baker
- village headman
- steward
- shepherd
- cook
- farmer
- judge
- carpenter
- tailor
- innkeeper
- shoemaker
- shoemaker
- charcoal burner
- hunter
- merchant
- butcher
- cooper
- potter
- mason
- gardener
- forester
- clerk
- knight
- king
- emperor
- duke
- count
- bishop
- piper
- fiddler
- locksmith
From a nickname or trait23
- small
- big
- tall
- short
- black
- white
- brown
- red
- curly-haired
- young
- old
- newcomer
- strong
- brave
- fox
- wolf
- rooster
- bird
- eagle
- falcon
- hare
- bear
- deer
Not quite right? Describe what you're naming and Nomi finds names that fit.
From a place or landscape15
- mountain
- mountain dweller
- stream
- thicket
- stone
- bridge
- orchard
- linden tree
- oak
- beech + forest
- rose + hill
- field
- valley
- well
- church
From a region or town8
- Böhmen
- Franken
- Schwaben
- Bayern
- Hessen
- Sachsen
- Polen
- Ungarn
From a given name20
- Peter
- Hans
- Jan
- Martin
- Friedrich
- Werner
- Hartmann
- Walter
- Günther
- Heinrich
- Dietrich
- Ludwig
- Otto
- Arnold
- Albrecht
- Lorenz
- Paul
- Jakob
- Michael
- Hermann
About German last names
Many German surnames come from trades: Müller is a miller, Schmidt a smith, Schneider a tailor. Those three are also the most common.
Frequently asked questions
Müller is the most common, followed by Schmidt and Schneider. All three come from trades: miller, smith and tailor.
Most began as a trade, a place, a father's name or a nickname. The list on this page shows the meaning of each one.
They are German letters. Outside Germany, ü is often written ue and ß is written ss, as in Mueller and Gross.
It means of or from. It often marks a noble family, as in von Bismarck.
Names like Berg (mountain), Bach (stream) and Brunner (well) describe where a family lived. Bayer and Schwab name a region.
Yes. Every name here is free to use. Describe your character in the search to get 50+ German name ideas.