Origin
Agent : Altered form of English Edgell via the intermediate form Edgin.
Abajian : Armenian: patronymic from an occupational name for a maker or seller of coarse woolen cloth or garments from Turkish abacı an agent derivative of aba ‘coarse woolen cloth’.
Achter : 1: North German and Dutch: from achter ‘behind; at the back’ a topographic name for someone living at the back of a main settlement. Compare Achterberg and Achterhof of which Achter may be a shortened form.2: German (also Ächter) and Jewish (Ashkenazic): possibly an agent noun derived from achten ‘to reckon or estimate’ (Middle High German ahten ‘to reckon check; to appraise’) or ächten ‘to outlaw proscribe’ hence an occupational name for an appraiser or record keeper or a prosecutor; alternatively an altered form of Auchter ‘watcher’ (i.e. someone who watched over a flock or herd).3: German: nickname for a member in a council or association of eight men (acht ‘eight’).4: German: habitational name for someone from a place called Acht in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Achziger : German: nickname from achtzig ‘eighty’ + the agent suffix -er in various possible applications as for example a member of a council of eighty men or a man obliged to pay regularly eighty units of currency in taxes.
Aegerter : Swiss German and South German (rarely Ägerter): topographic name from an agent derivative of Middle High German egerte ‘fallow land’. This surname is also found in France.
Altschuler : Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Altschul with the addition of the agent suffix -er.
Amsler : 1: Swiss German: habitational name for someone from Amslen in Switzerland.2: German: occupational name for a fowler (bird catcher) from an agent derivative of Amsel 2.
Arcaro : Italian:: 1: occupational name for a maker or seller of bows arcaro.2: from arcaro from Latin arcarius ‘treasurer’ an agent noun from arca ‘chest coffer’; hence a status name for the treasurer of a city guild or other institution.
Archer : 1: English and French: from Middle English archere Anglo-Norman French archer Old French archier ‘bowman’ hence an occupational name for an archer. This Norman French word partially replaced the native English word bowman in the 14th century. In North America this surname may have absorbed some cases of European cognates such as French Archier. Compare Larcher.2: German: from an agent derivative of Old High German archa ‘mill-race’ (from Latin arca ‘chest box’). This surname is rare in Germany.3: Germanized form of Slovenian Arhar: German-influenced patronymic from the personal name Arh (see Arch 3) an old vernacular equivalent of Henry. Alternatively perhaps a topographic name derived from Old High German archa ‘mill-race’ (see 2 above) hence a cognate of Slovenian Rakar (see Raker 4).
Armbruster : German (also Armbrüster): occupational name for a soldier armed with a crossbow or for a maker of crossbows from an agent derivative of armbrust ‘crossbow’ (see Armbrust).
Arreguin : Basque: Castilianized form (Arreguín) of Arregi a topographic name from (h)arri ‘stone’ + the locative suffix -egi or the agent suffix -gin.
Artzer : German: derivative of Artz 2 with the agent suffix -er.
Baber : 1: English (Gloucester Somerset and Wiltshire): from a Middle English borrowed form of an Anglo-Norman agent noun baubeour ‘stammerer’ from baubeier ‘to stammer’ applied as a nickname to someone with a stammer.2: German: habitational name for someone from either of two places called Baben in Silesia and Brandenburg.
Bacher : 1: German and Swiss German: topographic name from Middle High German bach ‘stream’ + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant who lived by a stream or a habitational name for someone from any of various places called with this word for example Bach or Bachern.2: Jewish (western Ashkenazic): variant of Bacharach.3: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): from an agent derivative of Bach 2 one of surnames assigned at random by Austrian clerks.4: Danish: probably of German origin (see 1 above).5: Norwegian: rare variant of Bakker.6: English: variant of Batcher.
Badar : 1: Muslim (mainly Pakistan and India): from the personal name Bādar of Persian origin meaning ‘moist fresh green’ and denoting 29th day of the month or moon.2: Slovak (Badár): nickname from an agent noun derivative of bádať ‘to brood to muse’.
Bader : 1: German Swiss German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) (also Bäder): occupational name for an attendant in or owner of a public bath house from an agent derivative of Middle High German bat ‘bath’ (Old High German bad) modern German Bad. In former times such attendants undertook a variety of functions including blood-letting tooth-pulling shaving and hair-cutting. The surname of German origin is also found in Hungary where it is mostly spelled Báder and in France (Alsace).2: French (southern): variant of Badié (see Badie).3: Arabic: variant of Badr. Bearers of this surname are both Muslims and Christians.
Bailer : 1: South German: probably an occupational name for a gauger or sealer of barrels from an agent derivative of Middle High German beil ‘barrel inspection’. See also Beiler.2: Americanized form of German Böhler (see Boehler).3: English: variant of Baylor.
Bailiff : English: occupational name for an officer of a court of justice from Middle English bailli baillif ‘manager administrator’ (Old French bailli(s) baillif). The term could denote the king's officer in a county hundred town castle or forest or an elected town officer a magistrate an officer of a court serving warrants and enforcing judgments. In Middle English a bailiff often denoted the agent of a lord in managing a manor collecting rents etc. but in the early modern period the term gradually because specialized as denoting an officer of justice under a sheriff who executes writs and processes distraints and arrests. Compare the variant Bayliff Bayliss and also Bailey.
Bailon : 1: Spanish (Bailón): probably a nickname from bailón ‘dancer’ an agent derivative of bailar ‘to dance’.2: Aragonese (Bailón): probably from a diminutive of Aragonese baile ‘judge’.3: Spanish (Bailón): perhaps also an altered form of Aragonese Bailo a habitational name from Bailo a town in Huesca Aragon.
Baller : 1: English: occupational name from an agent derivative of Middle English bal ball(e) ‘ball sphere’ perhaps denoting a ball maker.2: English: variant of Ball 2 for someone who lived at a knoll from a derivative of Middle English bal ball(e) ‘knoll rounded hill’ the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.3: German: from a variant of the ancient Germanic personal name Balther (from bald ‘bold strong’).
Ballerini : Italian (mainly Lombardy and Tuscany): occupational name or nickname for a dancer Italian ballerino an agent derivative of ballare ‘to dance’.
Ballester : 1: Catalan: occupational name for a maker of crossbows or a soldier armed with a crossbow from Catalan ballester ‘crossbowman’ or ‘crossbow maker’ an agent derivative of ballesta ‘crossbow’ (from Latin ballista ‘(military) catapult’).2: English (of Norman origin): variant of Arblaster an occupational name cognate with 1 above from Anglo-Norman French alblaster arblaster Old French arbalestier arbelestier ‘soldier armed with a crossbow; arbalest’. Compare Balster.
Ballesteros : Spanish: habitational name from any of various places in Spain for example Ballesteros de Calatrava in the province of Ciudad Real Los Ballesteros (Huelva) Ballesteros (Cuenca) and others no longer identifiable which were probably so named because of their association with ballesteros ‘crossbowmen’ plural of ballestero an agent derivative of ballesta ‘crossbow’ (see Ballester).
Balmer : 1: English and Scottish: occupational name for a seller of perfumes and balms from a Middle English balmer baumer ‘seller of balsam or ointment’ an agent derivative of Middle English balme baume ‘balm balsam; any aromatic or soothing ointment’ (Old French basme balme baume; Latin balsamum ‘aromatic resin’).2: South German and Swiss German: habitational name for someone from any of the places in Switzerland and Baden called Balm which almost certainly get their names from a Celtic word meaning ‘cave’.3: German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Baldemar composed of the elements bald ‘bold’ + mar ‘famous’.
Bandler : German: occupational name for a maker of band (for vessels) or ribbon or lace from an agent derivative of Middle High German bandel a diminutive of bant ‘band’ (see Band).
Banker : 1: English: from Middle English banker banc(o)ur bankquer bankert ‘covering of tapestry or other fabric for a bench couch or chair; ornamental hanging’ possibly a nickname or occupational name for someone who made or sold such things.2: English: occupational name possibly from Middle English benker seemingly ‘maker of benches’ but recorded only in names.3: English: perhaps a variant of Bunker.5: Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name from Polish bankier ‘banker’.4: German (also Bänker): occupational name from an agent derivative of Middle Low German banc ‘bench counter’ (see Bank).
Banyas : 1: Ukrainian and Rusyn: occupational name for a miner from Hungarian bányász (see 2 below) or a nickname from dialect banyas ‘sorcerer witch doctor’.2: Americanized form of Hungarian Bányász: occupational name for a miner from bányász an agent derivative of bánya ‘mine’.
Barder : English: occupational name from Middle English barder bardour ‘maker of horse armor’ an agent noun derivative of Old French barde ‘horse armor’ or ‘pack-saddle’.
Barker : 1: English: occupational name for a tanner of leather from Middle English barkere ‘tanner’ tree bark having been used as the tanning agent.2: English: occupational name for a shepherd from Middle English berker bercher (Old French berchier bercher berkier berker Late Latin berbicarius from berbex ‘ram’ genitive berbicis). With the change of -ar- to -er- in Middle English this became indistinguishable from the preceding name (see 1 above).3: Americanized form of German Berger or Barger.
Barrer : English: topographic name for someone who lived by a town or castle gate from an agent derivative of Middle English barre ‘barrier gateway’. Compare Barr.
Barrier : 1: French: occupational name for a gatekeeper from Old French barier an agent derivative of bar(r)e ‘bar rod’ in the sense of ‘barrier’ (compare Barre 1).2: Altered form of French Barriere.3: Altered form of German Berger.
Bartner : German: occupational name for a (battle) axe maker from an agent derivative of Middle Low German barde Middle High German barte ‘axe’. — Note: The population figure published by the US Census Bureau for this surname in the year 2000 is 118.
Basketter : for a basket maker from Middle English basket + the agent suffix -er. Compare William Basketwricte 1229 in Patent Rolls (Lincs) and Thomas Basketmaker 1551 in IGI (Cambridge Cambs). The great majority of early bearers are from the willow-growing fen country.
Basler : German:: 1: habitational name for someone from the city of Basel in Switzerland.2: from an agent derivative of Middle Low German baseln ‘to behave in a confused manner’ hence a nickname for a scatterbrained person.
Basmajian : Armenian: patronymic from an occupational name for a maker or seller of printed textiles from Turkish basmacı an agent derivative of basma ‘printed textile’.
Basner : 1: German: nickname from an agent derivative of Middle Low German basen ‘to talk or behave in a nonsensical manner’.2: Altered form of German Bösner: habitational name for someone from Bösen a place northeast of Hanover.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a bass viol player from Yiddish bas or German Baß ‘bass viol’ + suffix -ner (compare Bas 3).
Batliner : South German: status name of a holder of the fief of a public bathhouse from Middle High German bat ‘bath’ + agent derivative (from Middle High German līhen) liener ‘holder of a fief’. This surname is most common in Liechtenstein.
Batzer : German: Swabian nickname for a braggart from an agent derivative of bätzen ‘to boast or show off’.
Bauder : South German (Swabia): nickname for a pugnacious person or for a hitter from an agent derivative of Middle High German būden ‘to beat to pound to hit’.
Bauer : German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): status name for a peasant or nickname meaning ‘neighbor fellow citizen’ from Middle High German (ge)būr Middle Low German būr denoting an occupant of a būr a small dwelling or building. This word later fell together with Middle High German būwære an agent noun from Old High German būwan ‘to cultivate’ later also (at first in Low German dialects) ‘to build’. The precise meaning of the Jewish surname which is of later formation is unclear. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine) the Netherlands Denmark Hungary Poland Czechia Slovakia Croatia and Slovenia often as a translation into German of corresponding Slavic status names or surnames.
Baumer : German:: 1: (also Bäumer): from an agent derivative of Baum 1.2: (Westphalia; Bäumer): occupational name for a border or customs official from Middle Low German bōm ‘barrier’ + -er suffix of agent nouns.
Baumgartner : German and Swiss German (also Baumgärtner):: 1: occupational name for someone who owned or worked in an orchard from an agent derivative of Baumgarten.2: habitational name for someone from any of various minor places called Baumgarten. The surname Baumgartner (in the sense 1) is also found in France (mainly Alsace) Hungary Croatia Slovenia Czechia and Slovakia.
Baumler : South German (mainly Bäumler): from an agent derivative of Baum 1 as a topographic name for someone who lived by a large or otherwise remarkable tree or an occupational name for a tree warden a specialist employed by a community to look after the trees in particular fruit trees from Middle High German böumel ‘(small) tree’ + agent derivative -er.
Bauser : South German: nickname for a heavy drinker and eater or spendthrift from an agent derivative of Middle High German būzen ‘to feast’.
Baustert : German: probably a nickname for an asthmatic person; agent noun from Middle Low German pūsten ‘blow breathe heavily’ + excrescent -t.
Bayer : 1: German Scandinavian and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from Bavaria (German Bayern). This region of southern Germany derives its name from that of the Celtic tribe of the Boii who once inhabited this area. They were displaced in the 6th century AD by an ancient Germanic people the Boioarii or Baiuarii whose name is derived from that of their Celtic predecessors. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine) Hungary Czechia Slovakia and Poland. Compare Beyer and Payer.2: English (Lincolnshire): occupational name for a maker of baize cloth from an agent derivative of Old French baies Middle English bayes (from the adjective bai ‘reddish-brown bay’) probably so called because of its original color. This material was said to have been introduced into Britain by immigrants from France and the Netherlands in the 16th century but the word certainly appears much earlier in English. The surname may also be topographic denoting a ‘dweller by the bend’ from an agent derivative of Old English bēag ‘bend’.3: Dutch: variant of Baijer a cognate of 1 above.
Bazemore : Altered form of German Bessemer an occupational name for a broom maker from an agent derivative of Middle High German besem ‘broom’.
Beaner : 1: English: occupational name for a grower or seller of beans from an agent derivative of Old English bēan ‘beans’ (see Bean). This surname has apparently died out in Britain.2: Probably also an Americanized form of German Biener or some other similar (like-sounding) surname.
Bearer : 1: English: possibly an occupational name from Middle English berere ‘carrier or porter’ but no evidence has been found that it became hereditary. Alternatively an altered form of another name such as Berrier a very rare occupational name for a thresher of grain (an agent derivative of Middle English berien ‘to beat thresh’) or Berrow a variant of Barrow or an English equivalent (via Anglo-Norman French) of Berard.2: Americanized form of German Böhrer (see Bohrer).
Becher : 1: German: occupational name for a maker of wooden vessels a shortened form of Becherer the loss of the final syllable having occurred in the 15th century.2: German: occupational name for someone who distilled or worked with pitch for example in making vessels watertight from an agent derivative of Middle High German bech pech ‘pitch’.3: Scandinavian: either of German origin (see 1 and 2 above) or a variant of Becker.5: Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name from Yiddish bekher ‘cup’.4: English: variant of Beecher a topographic name for a ‘dweller by the beech tree’ itself a variant of Beech with the agent suffix -er.
Becherer : German: occupational name for a turner of wooden vessels Middle High German becherer an agent derivative of becher ‘cup mug’.
Bednar : 1: Czech (Bednář); Slovak and Rusyn (from Slovakia) (Bednár); Slovenian: occupational name for a ‘cooper’ from an agent noun based on Czech bedna ‘wooden case or chest’ Slovenian dialect bedenj ‘tub’. Compare Bodnar.2: Americanized form of Polish Bednarz ‘cooper’.
Beecher : 1: English (Kent): from Middle English becher denoting one who lived by a beech-tree from an agent derivative of Middle English beche ‘beech-tree’ (see Beach) the -er suffix having a locative sense. This English name is also common in Ireland particularly in Cork.2: Americanized form of German Bücher (cognate with 1 above) (see Bucher).
Beger : South German:: 1: from an agent derivative of Middle High German bāgen ‘to quarrel to pride oneself’ hence a nickname for a quarrelsome or boastful person.2: in some cases it may be a derivative of Beyer through the intermediate form Beiger a habitational name for someone from Bavaria (see Bayer). This is also a rare surname in France (Lorraine).
Beisner : German:: 1: occupational name for a falconer or hunter from an agent derivative of Middle High German beizen ‘to hunt with falcons’ early modern German beissen. Compare Beiser.2: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name related to Old High German bittan ‘to ask for’ or bītan ‘to endure or withstand’.
Beisser : South German: nickname for a fierce person from an agent derivative of Middle High German bīzen ‘to bite'.
Beller : 1: English: occupational name for a bell founder or bell ringer from Middle English beller an agent derivative of Old English belle ‘bell’. Compare Bell 2.2: German: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Bell in North Rhine-Westphalia or Bellen near Bremen.3: German: nickname for a quarreller from Middle High German bellen ‘to bicker quarrel’.4: German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Baldher (see Belter).5: Hungarian (Bellér): variant of Böllér (see Boller).
Belzer : 1: German: occupational name for a furrier from an agent derivative of Middle High German bel(lī)z ‘fur pelt’ (see Beltz).2: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from Belz in Ukraine.
Belzner : South German: occupational name for a furrier from an agent derivative of Middle High German bel(lī)z ‘fur pelt’ (see Beltz).
Bender : 1: German: occupational name for a cooper a short form of Fassbender. Compare Bainter and Painter.2: English (London): metonymic occupational name for an archer or bow maker from Middle English bender an agent derivative of benden ‘to bend’ (Old English bendan). Compare Benbow.3: Hungarian: from bender ‘curl’ hence a nickname for someone with curly hair.4: Croatian: nickname or metonymic occupational name from bender a term denoting a musical instrument similar to a tambourine.5: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): habitational name from the town of Bendery (now in Moldova).6: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Bander 2.
Bendler : German: occupational name for a maker or seller of ribbons and cords from an agent derivative of Middle High German bendel ‘ribbon cord’ (see Bendel).
Benker : German:: 1: occupational name for a carpenter from Middle High German banc ‘bench’ + -er agent suffix.2: habitational name for someone from a place called Benk of which there are several examples in Bavaria or from either of two places in Switzerland named Benken in Basel and Zurich cantons.
Benner : 1: German: occupational name for a basket and bassinet maker from an agent derivative of Middle High German benne ‘work basket bassinet cradle’.2: In some cases probably an altered form of German Bender.3: English (East Midlands): possibly a variant of Bender.
Bercier : French:: 1: occupational name from bercier a regional form of berger ‘shepherd’.2: occupational name for an archer or a hunter from an agent derivative of Old French berser ‘to shoot (with a bow and arrow)’. In the US this surname is common among Native Americans namely the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in ND.
Berner : 1: English (of Norman origin): from the Middle English personal name Berner of Norman origin (Old French Bernier from ancient Germanic Berner from ber(n) ‘bear’ + hari ‘army’).2: English: possibly an occupational name from Middle English berner a derivative of Old English beornan ‘to burn’ denoting a limeburner or charcoal burner (compare German Kalkbrenner). Compare Ashburner; see also Brenner and Burner. It may also have denoted someone who baked bricks or distilled spirits or who carried out any other manufacturing process involving burning.3: English: occupational name from Middle English berner ‘keeper of the hounds’ (Old French bern(i)er brenier a derivative of bren bran ‘bran’ on which the dogs were fed). Compare Brenner.4: German: habitational name in Silesia denoting someone from a place called Berna (of which there are two examples); in southern Germany and Switzerland denoting someone from the Swiss city of Berne.5: German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Bernher meaning ‘lord of the army’.6: North German: occupational name for a lime or charcoal burner (cognate with 2 above) from an agent derivative of Middle High German brennen ‘to burn’.
Berstler : German: probably a variant of Brest with agent derivative -ler indicating activity.
Besemer : German and Dutch: occupational name for a broom maker or a sweeper Middle High German besemer from an agent derivative of (also Middle Low German) besem ‘broom’ or from the Dutch verb bezemen ‘to sweep (with a broom)’.
Besser : German:: 1: occupational name for a collector of fines from Middle High German bezzerære an agent derivative of bezzern ‘to collect fines’.2: habitational name from any of various places in Germany named Besser Bessing or Bessingen.
Beuther : German: occupational name for a beekeeper from an agent derivative of Middle High German biute ‘beehive’.
Beutler : German: occupational name for a bag maker from an agent derivative of Middle High German biutel ‘bag purse’ (see Beutel). Compare Beidler.
Bichler : 1: South German: topographic name for someone who lived on a hill from Bavarian dialect Bichel ‘hill’ a variant of Bühel (see Buehler).2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a seller or binder of books from Yiddish bukh ‘book’ + the agent suffix -ler.
Bicker : 1: Dutch and German: occupational name for a stonemason or someone who used or made pickaxes or chisel from bicke ‘pickaxe chisel’ + the agent suffix -er. Compare Bick.2: English: occupational name for a beekeeper from Middle English biker beker (Old English bīcere bicere bēocere ‘one who keeps beehives a beekeeper’). Bees were important in medieval England because their honey provided the only means of sweetening food (sugar being a more recent importation); honey was also used in preserving.3: English: habitational name from Bicker in Lincolnshire or Byker in Tyne and Wear both named with the Old English preposition bī ‘by beside’ + Old Norse kjarr ‘wet ground brushwood’.
Bicksler : Americanized form of German Büchsler: occupational name for a maker of wooden boxes from Middle High German bühse ‘box’ (from Latin buxa ‘box tree’) + the agent suffix -ler.
Bieler : 3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of the many places in eastern Europe whose name incorporates the Slavic element bel ‘white’.1: German: occupational name for someone who used or made hatchets; a variant of Biehl with the addition of the agent suffix -er.2: German: habitational name for someone from Bielen in Thuringia from any of several places called Bielau in Silesia or Biele on the Oder river.4: Altered form of German Biehler.
Biener : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic) and German: occupational name for a beekeeper a variant of Bien with the addition of the -er agent suffix.2: German: possibly a habitational name for someone from a place such as Bienau in eastern Germany.3: Swiss German (mainly in Valais): topographic name for the owner of a secured fenced field or who lives within the bounds of the village from Bünde (cognate with binden ‘to bind’) + agent derivative -er.
Bigger : 2: Scottish: variant of Biggar.1: English: occupational name for a buyer from Middle English bigger(e) an agent derivative of biggen ‘to buy’.
Bilder : Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): occupational name for a teacher from an agent derivative of Yiddish bildn ‘to educate to cultivate’.
Binder : 1: South German Swiss German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a cooper or barrel maker German (Fass)binder an agent derivative of binden ‘to bind’. Less often the same word was used to denote a bookbinder (compare English name below). This surname is also found in Denmark France (Alsace and Lorraine) Czechia Slovakia Poland and Slovenia. Compare Boettcher Buettner Pinter 1 and Schaeffler.2: German: variant of Bunde 2.3: English: occupational name from Middle English binder ‘binder’ (Old English bindere) probably for a bookbinder. Compare Bookbinder.
Birner : German:: 1: habitational name for someone from Pirna in Saxony or Birnau in Württemberg.2: occupational name for a coiner or assayer of precious metals from an agent derivative of Middle High German birnen ‘to smelt’.
Bitter : 1: Dutch and German: from Dutch or German bitter ‘harsh bitter’ hence a nickname for a sour embittered or severe person.2: German: from an agent derivative of Middle High German bitten ‘to bid’ hence a nickname or occupational name for a bidder broker the municipal alms collector or a suitor. Compare Bitner.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name from 2.
Bittler : German: from an agent derivative of Middle High German bitelen ‘to ask or solicit’ hence a nickname or occupational name for a suitor a bidder or intermediary; later it became confused with Bettler ‘beggar’ (an agent derivative of betelen ‘to beg’) and the two words were used synonymously. Compare Bitler.
Blecker : 1: Dutch and North German: variant of Bleecker.2: South German: from an agent derivative of Middle High German blecken ‘to show off to show one's teeth’ hence a nickname for a boastful person.3: in some cases an altered form of Blecher.
Bleiler : South German: variant of Bleil + the agent suffix -er.
Blender : 1: German: habitational name from a place so named near Verden an der Weser.2: South German: from an agent derivative of Middle High German blenden ‘to darken’ hence an occupational name for a dyer of silk or for a painter plasterer or someone who erected shingle siding.
Bleuer : Swiss German: from an agent derivative of Middle High German bliuwen ‘to pound’ hence an occupational name for the owner of a pounding mill.
Bloemer : 1: North German (Blömer): ornamental or occupational name from an agent derivative of Bloem or Blom ‘flower’.2: Dutch: from the personal name Blommert or Bloemaart from ancient Germanic Blōmhard from blōm ‘flower’ in a metaphorical sense indicating youth and beauty + hard ‘strong’.
Bodnar : 1: Ukrainian and Rusyn: occupational name for a cooper from an agent noun based on bodnya ‘tub’. In Slovakia the Rusyn name is spelled Bodnár (compare 2 below).2: Hungarian and Slovak (Bodnár): occupational name from Hungarian bodnár ‘cooper’ a Slavic loanword (see 1 above) of ultimately Old German origin. Compare Bednar.3: Polish: borrowing from German Bodner 2 meaning ‘cottager’ or from Ukrainian and Rusyn (see 1 above) meaning ‘cooper’ (compare Bednarz).
Bodner : 1: German: topographic name for someone who dwelt in a valley bottom from an agent derivative of Middle High German boden ‘floor bottom’.2: North German: nickname for someone who lived in a small dwelling from a derivative of Middle Low German bode bude ‘booth small house cottage’.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name as in 1 above or an occupational name from East Yiddish bodner ‘cooper’ (from Belorussian or older Ukrainian bodnár; see Bodnar).4: Germanized form of Slovenian or Croatian Podnar itself of ultimate German origin a cognate of 1 above.
Boedeker : North German (mainly Bödeker): occupational name for a cooper from Middle Low German bodeker bödeker an agent derivative of bodek budik ‘vat barrel’. The surname Bödeker is also found in the Netherlands. Compare Bodeker and also Boddicker Boedecker Boedicker and Boeker 2.
Boeder : German (Böder): occupational name from an agent derivative of Middle Low German bodern ‘to wash’. Compare Boder.
Boehmer : 1: German (mainly Böhmer) and Jewish (western Ashkenazic; also Böhmer): ethnic name for a native or inhabitant of Bohemia (see Boehm).2: North German (mainly Böhmer): topographic name or occupational name from Middle Low German bōmer an agent derivative of bōm ‘tree’ denoting someone who lived by a barrier (in German Schlagbaum or just Baum literally ‘tree’) or have to open or close one (perhaps a toll collector).
Boehner : German (Böhner):: 1: occupational name for a floorer an agent derivative of Middle Low German bönen ‘to cover with planks to lay a floor’.2: topographic name for someone who lived in a loft a variant of Boehne + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.
Boettcher : German (mainly Böttcher): occupational name for a cooper from Middle High German botecher bötticher bütticher an agent derivative of botech(e) bottich bütte ‘vat barrel’. See also Binder Buettner and Schaeffler compare Bottcher.
Bolger : 1: English (of Norman origin): occupational name for a leather worker from Old French boulgier an agent derivative of Old French boulge ‘leather bag wallet’ (Middle English bulge).2: Irish (South Leinster): Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Bolguidhir ‘descendant of Bolgodhar’ a personal name composed of the elements bolg ‘belly’ + odhar ‘yellow sallow’.
Bollier : French (mainly northern):: 1: from the ancient Germanic personal name Bolohari composed of the elements bolo ‘friend brother’ and hari ‘army’.2: variant of Boulier an agent derivative of boule ‘(bowling) ball’.
Boner : 1: Scottish English Welsh and Irish (Donegal): variant of Bonner or Bonar.2: German: occupational name for a grower of beans from Middle High German bōne ‘bean’ + the agent suffix -er. Compare Bohner.3: Swedish (Bonér): ornamental name from bo ‘farm dwelling’ + the suffix -nér.
Booker : 2: English: occupational name from Middle English bokere bouker ‘learned man scholar; scribe’ (Old English bōcere an agent derivative of bōc ‘book’).1: English: variant of Bowker.3: Americanized form of German Bucher.
Boother : of uncertain origin; perhaps an agent derivative of Middle English bothe ‘cow house herdsman's hut’ used to denote a cowman or herdsman (compare Booth and Boothman).
Borer : 1: English: occupational name for one whose job was to bore holes in something from Middle English borer borier(e) an agent derivative of boren ‘to bore’ (Old English borian).2: Swiss German: variant of Bohrer.
Borntrager : German (Bornträger): from Middle High German burne (Middle Low German born) ‘spring well’ + an agent derivative of tragen ‘to carry’ hence an occupational name originally for a water carrier and then for a transporter of liquids (wine beer etc.). Compare Bontrager and Borntreger.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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