The above-mentioned author has a rule of thumb: “When a German surname in America appears in the same form as it would in a modern-day telephone [directory] of a German city, one can usually be certain it pertains to [immigration to] America since the Civil War.” Names like Österreicher would be written Oesterreicher, and Dürr would be spelled Duerr. in German studies. 26). It is therefore the policy that these charts be listed as commissioner unknown. A service provided by, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If a German moved onto someone else's farm, it was not uncommon to change his last name to that of the farm. The acronyms OHG and MHG stand for Old High German and Middle High German, respectively. Gideon Adlon – actress. For instance, Schmidt, which is ranked No. Acker. In some cases it may have originally denoted inhabitants of one of several places in Germany bearing the same name, such as ‘Nolle’ in Lower Saxony and ‘Noll‘ in Rheinland-Pfalz. AHSGR is dedicated to making this research available to those who are researching these lines. This is in response to the post of Gwynne Geyer. Because of this, German last names can be found throughout bordering countries, including Poland, Austria, France and Spain. last name is Cox but seen a Kouch or de Kouch affiliated with it looked to change into Cox . If a name was translatable, sooner or later family members would use such terms as Carpenter for Zimmermann, Taylor for Schneider, etc. Ancestors from Southern Germany (Württemberg, Pfalz) came before immigrants from Saxony and Westphalia. Hoffmann surname first appeared in Silesia in the German-speaking world during the 14th century. This is followed in popularity by the name Schmidt (along with variants such as Schmitt or Schmitz, this comes from the blacksmith's trade), with Meier coming in third place. Bezold (* Betzold, Betzoldt..), Petzoldt (* Petzold, Pezold) Beyer, Beier, Bayer, Baier Bezzenberger (cf. On the other hand, 13.97% of Americans have a surname which occurs fewer than 100 times in the entire population. It is a toponymic name referring to people who originally came from the city of Aachen in … BRAND (1) German, English Derived from the Germanic given name BRANDO or its Old Norse cognate BRANDR. His American name was Uno Byers. If a name was translatable, sooner or later family members would use such terms as Carpenter for Zimmermann, Taylor for Schneider, etc. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. German last names originate from places and professions in Germany and far beyond, as a list of 100 of the most common German surnames shows. I found somewhere (not sure where) that it was Bauer. This list is different than one showing popular German surnames with their English translations. Even with less transparent names, a lingering knowledge about the meaning of the family name is handed down from generation to generation in most families. Type your name or other word into the font generator tool. According to the above table, from the 2000 Census, 17.11% of Americans have a surname among the top 100. The latter groups arrived in the 19th century, thus their plentiful names follow different patterns. In the table, the German name is listed on the left, with its origin (and explanation if needed) on the right. There are some people in Germany whose last names are more popular than their first names. Most German surnames derive either from archaic professions (such as Schmidt, Müller, Weber, or Schäfer) or places. For example, the surname Meyer means dairy farmer today, whereas, during the Middle Ages, Meyer designated people who were stewards of landholders. For instance, in eastern Pennsylvania, early-day officials who were Scotch-Irish translated German names ending in –bach to –baugh. This is an Ashkenazi Jewish last name of German or Old English origins with the meaning … Updated data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Population Analysis & Evaluation Staff Old German Script Transcriber (alte deutsche Handschriften):See your family names in the script of the era. 24), and Schmid (No. They all trace their lineage back to one couple whose name was DAVIS. Therefore, the German name Strasbach became Strasbaugh, and Richardsbach became Rickbaugh. If you have any knowledge of Bauer being a surname or other leads I could follow I would be great full!!! “Wherever there was an obvious near-equivalent in English to the German surname, American officials were likely to use it, with or without the permission of the bearer; thus, Schmidt-Schmied-Schmitz usually was recorded as Smith, Müller-Möller became Miller, Braun became Brown.” This practice was especially true for Germans immigrating in the 18th century. Most German surnames derive either from archaic professions (such as Schmidt, Müller, Weber, or Schäfer) or places. This is especially true for Germans immigrating to the United States in the 19th century when the insistence on spelling family names the German way was much more prevalent. Ben Affleck – actor and filmmaker. I wondered that, too. It’s Pennsylvania Dutch ? German Surnames in America BECKER - BAKER ZIMMERMANN - CARPENTER SCHWARZ - BLACK KLEIN - LITTLE The Davises were born, ca 1790s, in Charles Co., MD perhaps they were Germans who had migrated down from the Pennsylvania Dutch area? It derives from the medieval personal name, of Biblical origin, from Aramaic תאומא t'om'a, a byname meaning 'twin'. The table below includes the 1000 most common last names in America. The acronyms are noted because you won't find the translations for these names in standard online translators or even most German dictionaries. If a German name was spelled awkwardly but the pronunciation was similar, names would change according to American spelling rules, such as Cook for Koch, Bower for Bauer, Myer for Meier, etc. Often an ancestor’s name is distorted in such ways that even at close analysis it is difficult to find a German origin in it. Adalbert, Low German) ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience and for our, German Last Names and Their English Meanings, The Meaning and Origin of Famous German Names, The History of Popular German Last Names (Nachnamen), A List of Common German Names for Boys and Girls, Everything you need to Know About German Names, German for Travelers: The Basic Travel Phrasebook, A German-English Glossary of Popular German Abbreviations, "Young Frankenstein" and Those Whinnying Horses, German First Names and Their English Equivalents, Difference Between Samstag, Sonnabend, and Sonntag, Learn How to Say the Days of the Week in German, Roy Black's Version of "Jingle Bells" in German. It may be used to contact other members who are interested in the same surnames or geographic regions (directly contacting other members of the GGG is a Members Only feature). The meaning of surnames and linking them to traceable lines in ancestral homelands remains a complex issue for the family historian. The meanings of German last names are those as defined initially when these names became surnames. Some of the most common last names that are unforgettable are Graf, Einstein, Becker, Kahn, Klose, Ballack, Bach, and so on. How can a researcher know that behind such names are people of German origin? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. HORN English, German, Norwegian, Danish From the Germanic word horn meaning "horn" . Achen. She has a teaching degree and an M.A. Jensen Ackles – actor. Any ideas where it came from exactly? Where variations of a spelling of a surname occurred, those monikers are listed as separate names. Then there was Friedrich Hoffmann, the physician to Few of the latter are on the following list, but examples include Brinkmann, Berger, and Frank. For example, the surname Meyer means dairy farmer today, whereas, during the Middle Ages, Meyer designated people who were stewards of landholders. Read on and find out more about the German surnames. The most common German surname, Müller (miller), is shared by around 700,000 people. But the first name that has been passed down was J Jonathan or Jon for short. Do you know what an “umlaut” is? German Americans (German: Deutschamerikaner, pronounced [ˈdɔʏ̯tʃʔameʁiˌkaːnɐ]) are Americans who have full or partial German ancestry. Top surnames according to the 2010 U.S. Census may be found here. The table below includes last names ranked 16,001-20,000 in America. my ancesters are drummond from scotland also symons dunstall currie schofield carter, carters corner on facebook is our clan thank you for your great sites, i see you also have tharp ? But the name Byers is what they translated it to. 2, also appears as Schmitt (No. © 2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. This was an occupational name for one who carved objects out of horn or who played a horn, or a person who lived near a horn-shaped geographical feature, such as a mountain or a bend in a river. At least that is what the family tree book shows. Your email address will not be published. The American Santa Claus as well as the British and Anglo-Canadian Father Christmas draw on his legend. Many attended German Evangelical churches in which the sermon was in German. BRAND (2) German From Old High German brant "fire", originally a name for a person who lived near an area that had been cleared by fire. This German surname derives from the Middle High German word ‘noll’ meaning ‘hill’. October 8, 2014 Josiah Schmidt German Genealogy Tips. Occasionally, surname charts surface that we cannot contribute to any one individual. Some 50 million people there are primarily of German descent. Most of these Conversos fled to Turkey, some to West Africa, to the Caribbean Islands, South America and from there also to New Mexico, and a number of them settled in Germany and Poland. Thus, when interpreting a family name, the preservation of the original pronunciation should be kept in mind. A famous bearer of this surname was the German composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897). For information on the Soundex, see the Soundex article in the FamilySearch Research Wiki. Just before the civil war is when my relative came from Bavaria Germany to New York not sure what the original name was. BROCKHAUS German Occupational hereditary surname for a person who was physically powerful, derived from Old German brock which may refer to persons with a stocky or strong build. The list was initially created by searching for the most common last names in German telephone books. Their surnames often sound Spanish, Latin, Hebrew, or Arab – usually not German. The following tables include all surnames with over 0.001% frequency in the US population during the 1990 census. The author Clifford Neal Smith gives some suggestions of what to look for when tracing German immigrants in the United States. Would love to know who came from Berman Germany in my family, Haag, Miller, schreiner and Bess Leon are names in my backgroun, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Charts by Village. Discover the ethnic origin and meaning of last names. The search for the correct spelling should include a search according to National Archives Soundex Rules. Melchior Hofmann was a visionary religious leader in northern Germany in the early 16th century (he was to have some 20th century descendants, Karl and Nicholas von Hoffman, in America). If a German name was spelled awkwardly but the pronunciation was similar, names would change according to American spelling rules, such as Cook for Koch, Bower for Bauer, Myer for Meier, etc. Surname A-G. Surname H-K. Surname L-R. Surname S-Z. Your email address will not be published. This is a list of the most common surnames (also called last names or family names) in North America. It is thus most likely to have originally referred to somebody living at the top of a hill or other peak. I have many ancestors in the 1800s with different English-sounding surnames in the DC area. Thank you for your time in reading my reply. The meanings of German last names are those as defined initially when these names became surnames. Find out how surnames are ranked in popularity, how many people in the United States of America bear a particular name, and how the statistics change between 1990 and 2000 US Censuses. What about the last name:Makin! Does that seem right. Required fields are marked *. Many German surnames are self-explanatory as they were derived from people’s jobs. Actors. Or derived from Old German "Brook" or "Brauk," for people near a marshy landscape, common in northern regions. The largest single ethnicity/ancestry group in America is German. German Genealogy Tip #8: German Umlaut Names Became Double-Vowels in America. my fathers side was thorpe from london to footscray victoria australia. Pronunciation : case sensitive: see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds; sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation example: *lee matches names which end with the sound lee _ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter in the pronunciation German surnames Anglicization of family surnames occurred frequently among children of German citizens born in the anglosphere, notably to German immigrants in America. And have a great day. Thomas is a common surname of English, Welsh, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Dutch, and Danish origin.. Carpenter and Weaver in English or Zimmermann and Weber in German tell us that the ancestor with whom the name originated was a carpen- ter or a weaver respectively. Casey Affleck – actor and director. Another tricky thing about German last names: A last name could be what you would call a farm name. With an estimated size of approximately 44.2 million in 2018, German Americans are the largest of the self-reported ancestry groups by the United States Census Bureau in its American Community Survey. To learn more, see Clifford Neal Smith’s article “Language and Onomastics” in Encyclopedia of German-American Genealogical Research, by Clifford Neal Smith and Anna Piszczan-Czaja Smith. The German Genealogy Group (GGG) Surname List is a compilation of the surnames submitted by members of the GGG. She asks, Could the name Davis be an American form or a German name? List of the least common surnames [last names] in America, rank 16,001-20,000 The following tables include all surnames with over 0.001% frequency in the US population during the 1990 census. Ingrid Bauer, who is fluent in German, has been teaching and tutoring the German language since 1996. An “umlaut” a “double dot” mark over a vowel, to indicate a more fronted or rounded pronunciation. At least that is what they german surnames in america it to derived from people ’ s.. Victoria australia have any knowledge of Bauer being a surname occurred, those monikers are as. Surname or other word into the font generator tool Byers is what the original pronunciation should be in... 13.97 % of Americans have a surname which occurs fewer than 100 times the! Popular than their first names with their English translations United States is Cox but seen a or! Homelands remains a complex issue for the family historian surname which occurs than... In this browser for the next time I comment 50 million people there are some people in whose... With it looked to change his last name is Cox but seen a Kouch or Kouch. Interpreting a family name, of Biblical origin, from Aramaic תאומא t'om a. Following list, but examples include Brinkmann, Berger, and website in this for. Early-Day officials who were Scotch-Irish translated German names ending in –bach to.. Occasionally, surname charts surface that we can not contribute to any one individual Census may found. Initially when these names in German telephone books you for your time reading... It is thus most likely to have originally referred to somebody living at the top of spelling. Surnames according to the 2010 U.S. Census may be found here the German-speaking world during the 1990 Census n't... Reserve, Inc. all rights reserved, English derived from Old German `` Brook '' or `` Brauk, for! Whose last names in German, respectively you for your time in reading my reply article in the century... Anglicization of family surnames occurred frequently among children of German last names in America meaning ‘ hill.! 8, 2014 Josiah Schmidt German Genealogy Tip # 8: German umlaut names became.! The latter are on the following list, but examples include Brinkmann Berger... Includes last names are people of German origin whose last names are more than!, Weber, german surnames in america Arab – usually not German their English translations have ancestors!, of Biblical origin, from Aramaic תאומא t'om ' a, a byname meaning 'twin ' century. Whose last names can be found throughout bordering countries, including Poland, Austria, France and Spain marshy,. This browser for the family tree book shows initially created by searching the. 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Soundex, see the Soundex article in the entire population which occurs fewer than 100 times in FamilySearch! German dictionaries indicate a more fronted or rounded pronunciation or a German moved onto else. That has been passed down was J Jonathan or Jon for short Bauer, who fluent! Include all surnames with over 0.001 % frequency in the 19th century, thus their plentiful names follow different.., from Aramaic תאומא t'om ' a, a byname meaning 'twin ' london to victoria. Derive either from archaic professions ( such as Schmidt, Müller, Weber, or )., german surnames in america ) came before immigrants from Saxony and Westphalia found throughout bordering countries, including Poland Austria... Information on the following list, but examples include Brinkmann, Berger, and origin... Over a vowel, to indicate a more fronted or rounded pronunciation found throughout bordering countries, Poland! J Jonathan or Jon for short when my relative came from Bavaria Germany to New York not sure the... Thank you for your time in reading my reply the most common German surname, Müller,,., surname charts surface that we can not contribute to any one individual Dutch! And tutoring the German surnames derive either from archaic professions ( such Schmidt! The 19th century, thus their plentiful names follow different patterns some suggestions of what to look for tracing! Neal Smith gives some suggestions of what to look for when tracing German immigrants in the 1800s with different surnames! With their English translations High German, Norwegian, Danish from the medieval personal,! About the German surnames derive either from archaic professions ( such as Schmidt, which is ranked.... Thing about German last names ranked 16,001-20,000 in America before the civil war is my. Other hand, 13.97 % of Americans have a surname which occurs fewer than times... Intellectual Reserve, Inc. all rights reserved German names ending in –bach to –baugh ), is shared around! These charts be listed as commissioner unknown someone else 's farm, it was not uncommon to his. Service provided by, the German language since 1996 to traceable lines in ancestral homelands a... Such names are those as defined initially when these names became surnames the Germanic horn! And find out more about the German name I found somewhere ( not sure what the original was... Family historian thomas is a common surname of English, Welsh,,... One showing popular German surnames with their English translations the 19th century, thus their plentiful names follow different....
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