Browse Surnames

Schwenke is a German surname of occupational or descriptive origin. The name is derived from the Middle High German verb swenken, meaning "to swing" or "to sway," which likely referred to someone who operated a swinging...

Schwinghammer is a German occupational surname, literally meaning "to swing a hammer" or "swing hammer" in German. It originated as a descriptive name for a blacksmith, reflecting the physical action of wielding a hammer...

Seeger is an English surname, distinct in origin from the German surname derived from Sieghard. The English surname Seeger is a variant of Seagar, which originates from the Middle English given name Segar, composed of th...

Seidel is a German surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Siegfried. The name Siegfried itself originates from the Old German elements sigu "victory" and fridu "peace", so Seidel ultimately conveys the idea...

Senft 2 is a German surname originating as a nickname for a helpful, kind person, derived from the Old High German word semfti meaning "soft, accommodating". The name reflects a positive character trait, likely bestowed...

Etymology and Meaning Senft is a German occupational surname derived from the word Senf, meaning "mustard." The name originally referred to a mustard seller or producer, forming part of a larger group of trade surnames c...

Shriver is a German occupational surname, closely related to the English surname Scriven. The name originates from the same Indo-European root as the English words "scribe" and "scrivener" and the German verb schreiben (...

Siebert is a German surname derived from the given name Siegbert. The elements of that name come from the Old German sigu 'victory' and beraht 'bright', so the surname Siebert essentially means 'bright victory' or 'famou...

Siegel is a German surname derived from a diminutive of Old German given names beginning with the element sigu, meaning "victory." This affix was common in early medieval Germanic naming traditions, often appearing in co...

Siegel 1 is a German surname of occupational origin. It derives from the Middle High German word sigel, which itself comes from Latin sigillum meaning "seal" or "signet ring." The name was applied to a craftsman who manu...

Siegert is a German surname derived from the given name Sieghard.EtymologyThe name Sieghard is composed of the Old German elements sigu “victory” and hart “hard, firm, brave, hardy”. Thus, the surname Siegert originally...

EtymologySiekert is a German surname derived from the given name Sieghard, which originates from Old High German elements sigu meaning "victory" and hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy." The surname thus means "victor...

Siemon is a German surname that originated as a variant of the name Simon. As a patronymic surname, it likely developed from the given name Simon 1, which has deep biblical roots. The root name Simon is derived from the...

Simmon is a German surname, derived from the given name Simon. The name Simon ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Shimʿon, meaning "hearing" or "listening," a reference to the biblical figure Simeon, the second son of...

Simon is a common surname of Dutch, English, French, German, and Hungarian origin, derived from the given name Simon. The given name itself has two possible etymologies: from the Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimʿon), meaning “hear...

Simoneit is a German surname derived from the given name Simon. The surname belongs to a family of patronymic names based on the widespread biblical name Simon, which has deep roots in Judeo-Christian tradition.Etymology...

Simonis is a patronymic surname of Dutch and German origin, meaning "son of Simon". It is derived from the given name Simon, which has deep biblical roots.EtymologyThe name Simon ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Shi...

Etymology and OriginSimons is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Simon. In English, Dutch, and German traditions, the suffix "-s" indicates "son of", making Simons mean "son of Simon". The name Simon itself...

Sitz 1 is a German surname derived from a given name that incorporates the Old High German element sigu, meaning "victory". This root is common in many Germanic names, reflecting qualities of strength and triumph. The su...

Sitz is a German surname meaning "house owner", derived from Old High German siz "seat, domicile". The name originally referred to someone who owned a house or estate, likely a person of some standing in the community. I...

Slusser is a German surname, a variant of the occupational name Schlosser, which means a locksmith. The root word comes from Old High German sloz (lock). The occupational name for a locksmith was common among German-spea...

Snider is a surname with a rich occupational origin, primarily associated with English-, Dutch-, and German-speaking regions. It is a variant of Snyder, deriving from a root meaning "tailor."The name Snider ultimately tr...

Sniders is a surname with Dutch, English, and German usage, though it remains relatively rare. It is a variant of Snyder, which itself typically originates as an occupational name for a tailor. The name Snyder is derived...

Snyder is an occupational surname of Dutch, English, and German origins, meaning "tailor." The name derives from the Middle English verb snithen ("to cut"), but in most cases it represents an Anglicized form of the Dutch...

Snyders is a surname with Dutch, English, and German usage, most commonly recognized as a variant of Snyder. The name ultimately derives from the occupational term for tailor, linking it to the root element Schneider in...

Sommer 1 is a surname of English and German origin, derived from the word for the season of summer. From Old High German sumar or Old English sumor, it originally served as a nickname for a cheerful person, evoking the w...

Sommer 2 is a German occupational or topographic surname. It derives from Middle High German sumber or sommer, meaning "basket", "wickerwork", or "drum". The name likely originally designated a basket maker or a wickerwo...

Sonnen is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word sunne, meaning "sun." It originally functioned as a nickname, likely bestowed upon a person with a cheerful or sunny disposition, or as a topographic na...

Sorg is a German surname with a transparently melancholic origin. It represents a variant spelling of Sorge, a German word meaning “worry, care, anxiety” that derives from Old High German sorga. As a variant, Sorg is mos...

Sorge is a German surname derived from the German word for "worry", "care", or "anxiety". It originates from Old High German sorga (or sworga), meaning "sorrow" or "worry". The name is an example of a vernacular surname...

Southers is a German surname with documented origins that trace back to an Americanized form of the occupational name Sauter. The root name Sauter derives ultimately from a trade, meaning "cobbler" in the sense of a shoe...

Spannagel is a German occupational surname with origins in the medieval metalworking trade. It derives from Middle High German span nagel, meaning “connecting nail” or “bolt,” and was used to refer to a nailsmith or a ma...

Specht is a German and Dutch surname meaning "woodpecker" (from Old High German speht). The name was probably originally a nickname for a person with a long nose, a talkative person, or someone associated with the bird's...

Spellmeyer is a German surname with occupational origins. The name is a compound of two elements: spiel, from the German verb spielen meaning "to play, to jest," and Meyer, a common German occupational term equivalent to...

Spitz is a German surname meaning "sharp" in German. It originally referred to a person who lived near a pointed hill or a sharp geographical feature, from Middle High German spitz (pointed). The surname is also famously...

Etymology and HistorySpitznagel is a German surname with an occupational origin, deriving from the words spitz meaning “sharp” or “pointed,” and Nagel meaning “nail.” The name literally translates to “sharp nail” and was...

Spitznogle is an Americanized form of the German surname Spitznagel. The root name Spitznagel originates from the German words spitz meaning "sharp" and Nagel meaning "nail," functioning as an occupational surname for a...

Sponaugle is a surname of German origin, representing an Americanized form of Spannagel. This linguistic transformation occurred during the waves of German immigration to the United States, where names were often altered...

Stark is an English and German surname, derived from a nickname meaning "strong, rigid", from Old English stearc or Old High German stark (modern German stark "strong"). As a Scottish and English surname, it traces back...

Etymology and MeaningStauss is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word stuz, meaning "buttocks." This origin likely began as a nickname for a person with a particular physical characteristic—perhaps one...

Steiner is a German surname, most commonly a variant of Stein. The name Stein itself is derived from Middle High German stein, meaning "stone", and originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent...

Steinmann is a German occupational or toponymic surname, literally meaning "stone man". The name originated as a descriptor for someone who lived near a prominent stone or rock, or as an occupational name for a worker in...

Stenger is a German occupational surname derived from the Middle High German stange, meaning “pole” or “rod.” The name originally referred to a craftsperson who made posts or poles, possibly for construction or fencing....

Stern 2 is a German surname that serves as a cognate of the English surname Starr (a variant of Star). The name derives from the Old English word steorra, meaning "star," which in Germany took the form Stern. As a metony...

Steube is a German variant of Steuben. The root surname Steuben derives from Middle Low German stubbe meaning "stub," referring to a dweller by a stump of a large tree. In this context, the surname originally described s...

Steuben is a German surname, originating as a name for a person who lived near a large tree stump, from Middle Low German stubbe meaning "stub." At least in Maine and New York state, the surname is associated with Friedr...

Stieber is a German surname with occupational origins, derived from the Middle High German verb stiuben, meaning "to run away". Likely originally bestowed as a nickname, it may have referred to a timid person, an eloper,...

Stoppelbein is a German surname with a meaning that reflects its descriptive origins: “stump leg.” The name is derived from the Middle Low German words stoppel, meaning “stump,” and bein, meaning “leg.” This suggests tha...

Straub is a German surname that originates from the Old High German word strub, meaning "rough" or "unkempt." In Middle High German, it specifically referred to someone with bushy or bristly hair—a characteristic-based n...

Strobel is a German surname, a diminutive form of Straub. The root name Straub derives from the Old High German strub, meaning "rough" or "unkempt." Thus, Strobel likely originated as a nickname for someone with rough or...

Strohkirch is a German topographic or habitational surname, literally translating to "straw church" in German. The name is a compound of the words Stroh ("straw") and Kirche ("church"), suggesting a place where a church...

Stroman is a German occupational surname. The name means “straw man,” referring to a seller of straw—a person who dealt in straw for bedding, thatching, or other uses. This etymology is reflected in the German compound *...

Stuber is a occupational surname of German origin, referring to the owner or keeper of an inn. The name derives from the Old High German word stuba meaning "room," which evolved to denote a public house or inn. This plac...

Stück is a German surname that originated as a nickname or occupational name from Old High German stucki, meaning "piece, part". The name likely referred to a maker or seller of pieces of cloth, a tailor, or someone who...

Etymology and OriginsStueck is a German surname, a variant of Stück. Both derive from the Middle High German stücke and Old High German stucki, meaning "piece" or "part." The name originated as an occupational or descrip...

Stumpf is a German surname, derived from the Middle High German word stumpf meaning “stump.” It originated as a nickname for a short, stout person or as a topographic name for someone who lived near a prominent tree stum...

Sturm is a surname of German origin, meaning nickname originally referred to a person with a volatile or stormy temperament. The word Sturm itself translates to "storm" in modern German, and the surname likely emerged as...

Suess is a German surname, a variant spelling of Süß (also written Süss). The name is derived from Old High German suozi, meaning "sweet". It originated as a nickname for someone known for a sweet disposition or perhaps...

EtymologySulzbach is a German toponymic surname, referring to a person who originated from one of the places called Sulzbach. The place name itself means "salty stream," from Old High German sulza "salty water" and bah "...

Süß is a German surname that translates to "sweet" in English, originating from the Old High German word suozi, meaning "sweet." The name is often transliterated into English as Suess or occasionally rendered as Süss. It...