150+ German Last Names 2026 (With Meanings)

German last names have a profound heritage that reflects hundreds of years of culture, history, and tradition.

As a result of their origins as either an occupation or a place, personal characteristic, or family name, German last names provide us with valuable information about our families and society.

There are many examples of how common German surnames (such as those that come from jobs and trades) are also unique (like those that come from geographic features and dialects).

If you are researching your heritage, looking for creative names for characters, or just interested in understanding what different names mean, the list of German last names below showcases both the richness of German naming traditions and the special qualities inherent in them.

German Last Names

Müller (German) – Miller, grain grinder

Schmidt (German) – Smith, metal worker

Schneider (German) – Tailor, clothes maker

Fischer (German) – Fisherman

Weber (German) – Weaver

Meyer (German) – Farm steward, land manager

Wagner (German) – Wagon maker

Becker (German) – Baker

Hoffmann (German) – Farm owner or steward

Schäfer (German) – Shepherd

Koch (German) – Cook, chef

Bauer (German) – Farmer, peasant

Richter (German) – Judge

Klein (German) – Small or little

Wolf (German) – Wolf

Schröder (German) – Tailor or cloth cutter

Neumann (German) – New man, newcomer

Schwarz (German) – Black, dark-haired

Zimmermann (German) – Carpenter

Braun (German) – Brown, dark complexion

Krüger (German) – Innkeeper or tavern owner

Hofmann (German) – Farm steward

Hartmann (German) – Strong man

Lange (German) – Tall or long

Schmitt (German) – Smith, metal worker

Werner (German) – Defender or protector

Schmitz (German) – Smith’s son

Krause (German) – Curly-haired

Meier (German) – Farm overseer

Lehmann (German) – Vassal, tenant farmer

Schmid (German) – Smith

Schulz (German) – Village headman

Maier (German) – Land steward

Köhler (German) – Charcoal burner

Herrmann (German) – Army man, warrior

König (German) – King

Walter (German) – Army ruler

Mayer (German) – Administrator

Huber (German) – Landholder

Kaiser (German) – Emperor

Fuchs (German) – Fox

Peters (German) – Son of Peter

Lang (German) – Tall

Scholz (German) – Mayor or official

Möller (German) – Miller

Weiß (German) – White, fair

Jung (German) – Young

Hahn (German) – Rooster

Vogel (German) – Bird

Friedrich (German) – Peaceful ruler

Keller (German) – Cellar master

Günther (German) – Warrior

Berger (German) – Mountain dweller

Roth (German) – Red-haired

Frank (German) – Free man

Lorenz (German) – Laurel crowned

Baumann (German) – Farmer

Albrecht (German) – Noble, bright

Winter (German) – Winter season

Schreiber (German) – Scribe, writer

Franke (German) – From Franconia

Simon (German) – He has heard

Schuster (German) – Shoemaker

Böhm (German) – From Bohemia

Seidel (German) – Small vessel or cup

Heinrich (German) – Home ruler

Brandt (German) – Firebrand, sword

Ott (German) – Wealth or fortune

Voigt (German) – Bailiff, steward

Sauer (German) – Sour or sharp

Graf (German) – Count, nobleman

Eckert (German) – Brave or strong edge

Kuhn (German) – Bold or brave

Pohl (German) – Pole or person from Poland

Dietrich (German) – Ruler of the people

Busch (German) – Bush or shrub

Engel (German) – Angel

Horn (German) – Horn or corner

Bergmann (German) – Mountain man or miner

Schilling (German) – Coin or money

Winkler (German) – Shopkeeper or merchant

Feldmann (German) – Field worker

Schramm (German) – Scratch or scar

Ziegler (German) – Brick maker

Ackermann (German) – Field man, farmer

Schlegel (German) – Hammer or mallet

Schott (German) – Scot or person from Scotland

Urban (German) – City dweller

Heinz (German) – Home ruler

Arndt (German) – Eagle strength

Thiel (German) – People’s ruler

Bender (German) – Barrel maker

Reuter (German) – Rider or messenger

Kopp (German) – Head or cup

Schwab (German) – Person from Swabia

Gerlach (German) – Spear play

Hesse (German) – Person from Hesse

Schindler (German) – Roofer or shingle maker

Rieger (German) – Spear warrior

Falk (German) – Falcon

Albers (German) – Noble, bright

Appel (German) – Apple

Bach (German) – Stream

Bähr (German) – Bear

Bartz (German) – Son of Bartholomew

Behrens (German) – Son of Bernhard

Bittner (German) – Beadle, church official

Bock (German) – Goat

Böttcher (German) – Cooper, barrel maker

Brückner (German) – Bridge keeper

Bühler (German) – Hill dweller

Burkhardt (German) – Strong fortress

Clausen (German) – Son of Claus

Damm (German) – Dam or barrier

Degen (German) – Warrior

Döring (German) – Son of Doro

Dreher (German) – Turner, lathe worker

Ebert (German) – Bright boar

Edelmann (German) – Nobleman

Eisele (German) – Little iron

Faber (German) – Craftsman

Fechner (German) – Fighter

Fiedler (German) – Fiddler, violin player

Fink (German) – Finch bird

Frey (German) – Free

Geiger (German) – Violin player

Gessner (German) – Goat herder

Gärtner (German) – Gardener

Haas (German) – Hare

Hagedorn (German) – Hawthorn bush

Hamann (German) – Home man

Heidemann (German) – Heath dweller

Heine (German) – Home ruler

Heller (German) – Bright or clear

Henke (German) – Ruler of the home

Herzog (German) – Duke

Hildebrandt (German) – Battle sword

Hinrichs (German) – Son of Heinrich

Jäger (German) – Hunter

Jahn (German) – God is gracious

Janssen (German) – Son of Jan

Kahle (German) – Bald

Kämpfer (German) – Fighter

Kastner (German) – Chest maker

Keil (German) – Wedge

Kiefer (German) – Pine tree

Klaus (German) – Victory of the people

Knoll (German) – Hill

Kraft (German) – Strength

Kremer (German) – Shopkeeper

Kranz (German) – Wreath