Browse Surnames

Lang is a surname with multiple origins and meanings across European and East Asian cultures. In German, Danish, and Norwegian, it is a cognate of the English surname Long, derived from a descriptive nickname for a tall...

Lange is a surname of German, Danish, and Norwegian origin. It is a cognate of the English surname Long, all deriving from a Germanic root meaning “tall” or “long.” The name originally functioned as a descriptive nicknam...

Langenberg is a German and Dutch surname with topographic and locational origins. meaning "long mountain" in both German and Dutch, the name originates from various place names composed of the elements lang ("long") and...

Etymology and MeaningLanger is a surname of German origin, serving as a cognate of the English surname Long and thus bearing the meaning “tall” or “long.” It derives from a byname or nickname for a person of notable heig...

Lawrenz is a German surname derived from the given name Lorenz, a German form of the Latin name Laurence. The root name Lawrence ultimately comes from the Roman cognomen Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum," an ancient I...

EtymologyLehmann is a German surname derived from Middle High German lehenman, meaning "vassal" or "liege man". The term originally referred to a person who held land (a fief) from a lord in exchange for service, a commo...

Lehr is a German surname of topographic origin. It derives from the Old High German word loh, meaning "meadow" or "clearing". This places it within the common European tradition of surnames based on features of the lands...

Leitner is a German and Austrian surname meaning “one who lived on a hillside,” derived from Middle High German lite “slope.” The name originates as a topographic surname for someone dwelling along a slope or hillside, a...

Leitz is a German surname derived from the archaic given name Leutz, a variant of Lutz. Lutz itself is a German diminutive of Ludwig, which originates from the Germanic name Hludwig, meaning "famous in battle," composed...

Leitzke is a German surname with two possible origins. It may be a locational surname derived from Leitzkau, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, indicating that the original bearer came from that place. Alternatively, it c...

Leverenz is an Americanized form of the German surname Lewerenz, a variant of Lorenz — the German equivalent of Lawrence, ultimately derived from the Roman cognomen Laurentius meaning "from Laurentum" (the ancient Italia...

Lewerentz is a German surname, a variant of Lewerenz. Lewerenz itself derives from a northern German form of the given name Lorenz, which is the German equivalent of Laurence 1, ultimately from the Roman cognomen Laurent...

Lewerenz is a German surname, originating from a northern German form of the given name Lorenz.EtymologyThe surname Lewerenz derives from the personal name Lorenz, which is the German form of Laurentius, ultimately from...

Lindner is a German surname that originated as a variant of Linden, a topographic name derived from Old High German linta meaning "linden tree" (also known as lime tree). The surname likely denoted someone who lived near...

Loewe is a Germanic surname, a variant spelling of Löwe, a topographic or occupational name derived from the Middle High German word löu”we or lewe, meaning “lion.” The lion, a symbol of strength and courage, was a commo...

Lohrenz is a German patronymic surname derived from the given name Lorenz, the German form of Laurence 1. The name ultimately traces back to the Roman cognomen Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum," a city in ancient Ital...

Etymology and OriginLorentz is a German surname derived from the given name Lorenz, which itself is the German form of the Latin name Laurentius. The root name ultimately traces back to the ancient Roman city of Laurentu...

Loritz is a German surname derived from the given name Lorenz, the German form of the Roman cognomen Laurentius, meaning “from Laurentum.” Laurentum was an ancient Italian city whose name likely derives from Latin laurus...

Löwe is a German surname meaning "lion" (from the common noun Löwe). It derives from Middle High German lewe, löuwe, lauwe and Old High German lewo, lēo, ultimately from Proto‑West Germanic *lewo, *lēwo (“lion”). The spe...

Maier 1 is a surname of German origin, a variant of Meyer 1. The root name Meyer comes from Middle High German meier, meaning "bailiff" or "administrator", derived from Latin maior ("greater"). In former times, a Meier w...

Mandel is a German and Yiddish surname meaning "almond". It originates from the Middle High German and Middle Dutch word mandel, which referred to the almond nut. The name could be occupational, given to someone who grew...

Mangold, also spelled Mangoldt or Mangolt, is a German surname derived from the given name Managold. This Old German personal name itself is composed of the elements manag meaning "many" and walt meaning "power, authorit...

Mann is a surname with multiple origins, most commonly associated with English and German-speaking populations. As an English nickname, it derives from Middle English mann meaning “man,” and was often used to distinguish...

Manz is a German surname originating as a diminutive of the given name Managold. The root Managold is an Old German name composed of the elements manag meaning "many" and walt meaning "power, authority". Thus, the name M...

Markwardt is a German surname, a variant of the more common Marquardt.EtymologyThe root name Marquardt originates from Old High German elements: marka meaning "border, boundary" and wart meaning "protector." Thus, it was...

Marquardt is a German surname that originated as an occupational name for a border guard. It derives from the Old High German elements marka "border, boundary" and wart "protector". The name thus referred to someone who...

Martz is a German surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Martin. The root name Martin comes from the Roman name Martinus, which is ultimately derived from Martis, the genitive case of the Roman god Mars. As...

EtymologyMarx is a German patronymic surname derived from the given name Markus, which is the German, Scandinavian, Finnish, and Estonian form of Marcus (ultimately from Mark). The name Markus itself traces back to the R...

Maurer is a German surname derived from the occupation of a wall builder or bricklayer, with roots in Middle High German mūrer. The name is equivalent to Murillo (Spanish) and Muraro (Italian), both occupational from Lat...

Maus is a surname with origins in the Maus Surname. It derives from a nickname meaning "mouse", from Old High German mus. The name is found primarily in German-speaking regions, where it likely started as a humorous or d...

Mayer is a German surname and a variant of Meyer 1, which itself derives from Middle High German meier, meaning "bailiff, administrator," ultimately from Latin maior ("greater"). In medieval times, a Meier was an oversee...

Meier 1 is a variant spelling of the German surname Meyer 1. The surname originates from Middle High German meier, meaning "bailiff" or "administrator," which itself derives from Latin maior meaning "greater." Over time,...

Mein is a German surname with multiple etymological origins. It is most commonly derived from the given name Meino, a short form of Germanic names containing the element megin meaning "power, strength" (from Proto-German...

Meindl is a German surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Meino. The name Meino itself is an Old German form of Meine, which originated as a Frisian short form of names beginning with the Old German element...

Meinhardt is a German surname derived from the given name Meinhard. The name ultimately traces back to the Old High German elements megin meaning "power, strength" and hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy". Thus, the n...

Meisner is a German surname, a variant of Meissner. The name originally denoted a person from the German town of Meissen, in the state of Saxony. The town's name itself is probably of Slavic origin. The surname is typica...

Meissner is a German toponymic surname, originally derived from the town of Meissen (spelled Meiß en in German). The town’s name, situated in the state of Saxony, is thought to be of Slavic origin—likely from the Old Sor...

Melsbach is a German locational surname derived from the homonymous municipality in the district of Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate. The place name Melsbach likely means "mill stream," from Middle High German müle (mill) a...

Mendel 2 is a German surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Meino. The name thus traces its ultimate roots to the Old Germanic element megin (Proto-Germanic *mageną), meaning "power, strength." Originally, M...

Merkel is a German surname derived from a diminutive of the given name Markus, itself German, Scandinavian, Finnish, and Estonian forms of Latin Marcus. The root name Mark, originating from Latin Marcus, has deep histori...

Messer is a German occupational surname derived from Middle High German messer meaning "knife." It originally referred to someone who made or sold knives, a common trade in medieval Europe. The name is analogous to Engli...

Messerli is a Swiss diminutive form of the surname Messer. The root Messer originates from Middle High German messer meaning "knife," and was an occupational name for a person who made or sold knives. The addition of the...

Messmann is a German surname that originated as a variant of Messer. The root name Messer derives from Middle High German messer meaning "knife," and was an occupational name for a cutler or knife maker. The suffix -mann...

Messner is a German occupational surname primarily borne by individuals of Austro-Bavarian origin. It derives from the Old High German term mesinari, meaning 'sacristan' or 'sexton' — an ecclesiastical official responsib...

Metz 2 is a German surname derived from Mätz, a diminutive of the given name Matthias. The name thus originated as a patronymic or nickname, referring to someone associated with a person named Matthias. The root Matthias...

Etymology & OriginMetz 1 is a German occupational surname derived from Middle High German metze, meaning "knife." It originally referred to a maker of knives, a profession that was vital in medieval Europe for producing...

Metzger (also Mezger) is a German and Yiddish (German-Jewish) occupational surname meaning "butcher". It derives from the Middle High German metzjer (modern German Metzger), the standard term for a butcher in southern Ge...

Meyer 1 is a German surname with a distinguished occupational origin. Deriving from Middle High German meier, meaning "bailiff, administrator," it ultimately stems from Latin maior, meaning "greater." The term originally...

Meyers is a patronymic surname of Meyer 1, Mayer 3 or Myer, reflecting its German roots and English adaptation. The name is found predominantly in English and German contexts, and its meaning ties to occupations rooted i...

Michaelis is a German patronymic surname, meaning "son of Michael." It derives from the given name Michael, which originates from the Hebrew phrase מִי־כָאֵל (Mi-ka-ʾel) — "Who is like God?" — a rhetorical question asser...

Mohren is a German surname derived from the given name Maurus. Maurus is a Latin name meaning "North African, Moorish," of Greek origin, and was borne by several early Christian saints, most notably a follower of Saint B...

Morgenstern is a German surname meaning "morning star," derived from Middle High German morgenstern (Old High German morganstern). The name has multiple origins: it can be a habitational name for someone living in a hous...

Moser is a German surname that originated as a topographic name for someone who lived near a peat bog, derived from Middle High German mos meaning 'bog, marsh, swamp' (compare modern German Moos 'moss' and also bog). The...

Mounce is an Americanized form of the German surname Manz. The original German name Manz is derived from a diminutive of the given name Managold, which itself comes from Old German elements manag “many” and walt “power,...

Mozart is a German surname derived from Middle High German mos meaning "bog, marsh" combined with the pejorative suffix -hart, thus originally denoting someone who lived near a marsh or had characteristics associated wit...

Etymology and OriginMueller is a German surname that functions as a variant of the more common Müller. Both names are occupational in nature, derived from the Middle High German term mülnære or müller, meaning "miller."...

Muhlfeld is a German surname, typically referring to a person who lived near or worked at a mill field. The name is an anglicized variant of Mühlfeld, which directly translates to "mill field" (from Mühle "mill" and Feld...

Müller is the German equivalent of Miller, a prevalent occupational surname derived from Middle High German mülnære or müller, meaning "miller." This surname took root across German-speaking regions, evolving from someon...

EtymologyMuller is a variant of the German occupational surname Müller, which is the German equivalent of Miller. The name derives from Middle High German mülnære or müller, meaning "miller," referring to a person who ow...

Nagel is a German and Dutch surname originating as an occupational name for a carpenter or a nailsmith. The word comes from German and Dutch Nagel, meaning "nail" (the metal fastener). This surname belongs to a category...