Origin
Adelsberger : German: habitational name for someone from Adelsberg a place on the river Main in northern Bavaria.
Aigner : South German (Austria and Bavaria): variant of Eigner.
Allgeier : German: variant of Allgäuer a habitational name for someone from the Allgäu a district of southern Bavaria which was named with Old High German alb ‘mountain pasture’ + gouw ‘area region’. Compare Alguire Alkire Allgire and Allgyer.
Alling : 1: English: either a variant of Allen or a variant of Halling with loss of initial H-.2: German: habitational name from either of two places called Alling one in Bavaria and one in Austria.3: Danish: habitational name from any of several places called Alling. The placename may be a derivative of al ‘alder’.
Amberg : 1: German: habitational name from any of several settlements called Amberg (literally ‘by the mountain’) including a city in Bavaria. It could also be a topographic name of identical etymology.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): possibly from 1; alternatively it may be a habitational name from the city of Hamburg (see Hamburger). Many varieties of Yiddish lack h and -burg is sometimes replaced by -berg in Jewish surnames.
Angerer : South German: topographic name for a dweller by a meadow or village green (see Anger) or a habitational name for someone from any of numerous places so named in Bavaria and Austria.
Angerhofer : German: habitational name for someone from Angerhof in Bavaria.
Anhorn : German: habitational name from a place in the Allgäu Bavaria named Anhorn from Middle High German an ‘at’ + horn ‘horned peak (of a mountain)’.
Ankenbauer : South German (mainly Bavaria): from Middle High German anken ‘butter’ + būr ‘farmer’ (see Bauer) hence an occupational name for a dairy farmer. Alternatively the first element may be a topographic term Anke meaning ‘slight rise in the ground’ or an old term ank ‘watery’ hence ‘farmer with fields in a wet area’.
Ansbach : German:: 1: habitational name from the town of Ansbach near Nuremberg in Bavaria.2: variant of Anspach.
Ardinger : German: habitational name for someone from a place in Bavaria called Erding (earlier Ardingen).
Arndorfer : South German (Arndörfer) and Austrian German: habitational name for someone from a place called Arndorf of which there are three examples in Bavaria and one in Styria Austria. The surname Arndörfer is very rare in Germany.
Arnstein : German: habitational name from either of two places in northern Bavaria named Arnstein (‘eagle's crag’).
Art : 1: South German: perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a farmer from Middle High German art ‘farmland’. See Artman compare Arth. Alternatively mainly in Bavaria and Austria a topographic name for someone who lived at the end of a village Middle High German ort ‘point end’.2: Irish: shortened form of Mac Airt (see McCart) containing the Gaelic personal name Art ‘bear’.
Arth : German:: 1: variant of Art.2: alternatively perhaps a habitational name from a place with this name in Schwyz Canton Switzerland and in Bavaria south of Regensburg.
Asch : 1: North German: from a Middle Low German personal name Asc originally meaning ‘spearman’.2: German: habitational name from any of various places so named in Bavaria Baden-Württemberg and Austria from Middle High German asch esche ‘ash tree’. Compare Ascher and Ash.3: Jewish (Ashkenazic): adoption of the German name (see above) or a variant of Ash.
Ashour : 1: Americanized form of German Aschauer a habitational name for someone from Aschau in Bavaria.2: Muslim: from a personal name based on the Arabic name (ʿāshūr) of the 10th day of the month of Muḥarram being the day of the death of imam Husain in a massacre at Karbala.3: Assyrian/Chaldean: from a variant of ‘Āshūr the name of the capital of the Old Assyrian Empire.
Ast : 1: German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German ast German Ast ‘knot (in wood) branch’ hence a nickname for a tough or awkward individual or a metonymic occupational name for a lumberjack. As a Jewish name it is artificial.2: North German: occupational name from Middle Low German arste ‘physician’ a variant of Arzt.3: German: habitational name from any of the places so named in Bavaria.4: French (southern): from Occitan ast ‘pike’ or ‘lance’ probably an occupational name for a maker of these weapons. The surname is however most common in Alsace and Lorraine where it is no doubt of German origin (see above).
Auer : German (mainly Bavaria): topographic name for someone living by a water meadow German Au or a habitational name for someone from a place called Au or Aue (see Au and Aue). This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine) Czechia and Slovenia.
Auerbach : 1: German: habitational name from any of several places in southern Germany and Austria called Auerbach ‘the stream at the water meadow’. See also 2 Au and Bach.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from the town of Auerbach in the Upper Palatinate Bavaria. Compare Averbach.
Augsburger : German: habitational name for someone from the city of Augsburg in Bavaria named as the city (burg) of the Roman Emperor Augustus in whose reign it was founded.
Autenrieth : South German: topographic name from Middle High German ūhte ‘night pasture’ + riet ‘wet land’ or a habitational name from any of several places called Autenried notably in Bavaria.
Avinger : Americanized form of German Ebinger or perhaps of Evinger 2 or Ewinger the latter being a habitational name for someone from a place called Eubigheim (formerly Ewbicken) or from Waging in Bavaria. Compare Evinger 1.
Baar : 1: German: variant of Bahr or a habitational name from either of two places called Baar one in the Eifel region and the other in Bavaria.2: Dutch (also Van Baar): habitational name for someone from Baar a village near Angerlo and a hamlet near Wehl both in Gelderland province.3: Dutch (also De Baar): nickname from Middle Dutch baar ‘bare naked’ given to a poor person.4: Czech: from a short form of the personal name Bartoloměj (see Bartholomew).
Baiz : 1: South German (mainly southwestern Bavaria): variant of Beitz. Compare Baitz.2: Hispanic: altered form of Spanish Báez (see Baez).
Bamberg : German and Jewish (western Ashkenazic): habitational name from the city of Bamberg in Bavaria (formerly in Upper Franconia).
Bamberger : German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from Bamberg (see Bamberg) in Bavaria. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine).
Banse : 1: German: from Middle Low German banse ‘granary (wood or coal) shed next to a barn’ hence a topographic name for someone who owned or lived by such a building. In some instances a nickname for a fat person from dialect Pansen ‘belly’ or in Bavaria a metonymic occupational name for a barrel maker from Banz Banse ‘barrel’.2: French: from an ancient Germanic personal name a short form of any of various names beginning with the element bant ‘bond tie’.3: French (Picardy): metonymic occupational name from Old French banse ‘large square wicker basket’.
Baumhover : Americanized form of German Baumhöfer: habitational name for someone from Baumhof in Bavaria or a topographic name from a field name meaning ‘orchard enclosed stand of trees’.
Bavaro : Italian: ethnic name from bavaro ‘Bavarian’ i.e. someone from Bavaria now part of Germany but formerly an independent kingdom.
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.
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).
Behling : German:: 1: habitational name from Behling in the Ruhr district (near Hagen) or possibly from Behlingen Württemberg Lower Saxony Bavaria or Belingen (Rhineland-Palatinate).2: variant of Böhling (see Bohling).
Beiermann : German: habitational name for someone from Bavaria (compare Beier see Bayer).
Bengel : German:: 1: habitational name from a place so named for example in Bavaria and the Mosel area.2: from Middle High German bengel ‘club cudgel’ or in a transferred sense ‘hooligan lout’ hence a nickname for a boorish man. Compare Bangle.
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.
Bergener : German: habitational name for someone from any of the many places called Bergen especially in Bavaria.
Bergner : 1: German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from any of various places called Bergen (notably in Bavaria).2: Swedish: variant of Berg with the addition of the suffix -ner.
Bernauer : German: habitational name for someone from any of the places called Bernau for example in Baden Bavaria or Württemberg.
Bernheim : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from the Yiddish personal name Ber (‘bear’) + German Heim ‘home’.2: German and Alsatian: habitational name from Burgbernheim in Bavaria Germany.
Bernstein : 1: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Bernstein ‘amber’ (from Middle Low German bernen ‘to burn’ + stēn ‘stone’; it was thought to be created by burning although it is in fact fossilized pine resin).2: German: habitational name from a place called Bernstein of which there is one example in Bavaria and another in what used to be East Prussia (now Pełczyce in northwestern Poland). Both of these probably get their German names from the notion of a ‘burnt stone’ for example in brick making rather than from the usual modern meaning ‘amber’. The name may also be derived from Bärenstein a common field and placename especially in Bavaria and Austria.3: German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): in some cases perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a craftsman or dealer in amber.
Beyersdorf : German: habitational name from any of several places in Saxony Thuringia Bavaria Brandenburg and Pomerania.
Bickenbach : German: habitational name from any of the three places so named in Rhineland Hesse and Bavaria.
Biebel : German:: 1: topographic name from an old word bibl denoting water of some kind or a habitational name from any of various places called with this word for example Biebelried in Bavaria or Biblis in Hesse.2: from a pet form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with the elements bītan ‘to endure’ or bittan ‘to ask for to wish’. Compare Bible.
Biehl : 1: German: habitational name from any of several places so named in Baden and Bavaria.2: North German: from Middle Low German bil ‘hatchet’ Middle High German biel; hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made or used hatchets.3: South German: variant of Bühl (see Buehl).
Billheimer : German: habitational name for someone from Pillham in Bavaria (formerly recorded as Pilhaim).
Bink : 1: English: topographic name for someone living by a bink a northern dialect term for a flat raised bank of earth ledge or terrace from Middle English benk bink (Old Norse benkr or a Scandinavianized form of Old English benc ‘ledge terrace bank’). The word is a northern form of modern English bench. This surname is now rare in Britain.2: Dutch: nickname for a sturdy man from a Dutch slang word with this meaning.3: West Frisian and Dutch: from the Frisian personal name Binke possibly a pet form of Benne a short form of Bernhard.4: German (mainly Bavaria): unexplained.5: Altered form of Polish Binek itself a variant of Bieniek.
Birkhauser : German (Birkhäuser): habitational name for someone from any of several places (in Westphalia Bavaria and Thuringia) named Birkhausen a compound of Old High German birka ‘birch’ + hūs ‘house’.
Birkhofer : German: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Birkhof for instance in Bavaria.
Bisig : Swiss German: possibly an altered form of German Beisig a habitational name from Peising in Bavaria.
Bobinger : German: habitational name for someone from any of the places called Bobingen in Bavaria and Switzerland.
Bodenstein : 1: German: habitational name from any of various places called Bodenstein in Bavaria and northern Germany.2: Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): artificial name composed of German Boden ‘ground’ + Stein ‘stone’.
Boehm : German (mainly Böhm) and Jewish (Ashkenazic; also Böhm): ethnic or habitational name for a native or inhabitant of Bohemia (now the western part of Czechia) from Böhmen German name of Bohemia (Middle High German Böheim Bēheim). This derives its name from the tribal name Baii + heim ‘homeland’. The Baii were a tribe probably Celtic-speaking who inhabited the region in the 1st century AD and were gradually displaced by Slavic settlers in the period up to the 5th century. The same tribe also gave their name to Bavaria (see Bayer). Bohemia was an independent Slavic kingdom from the 7th century to 1526 when it fell to the Habsburgs. In 1627 it was formally declared a Habsburg Crown Land and by the Treaty of Versailles it became a province of the newly formed Czechoslovakia in 1919. The surname in the form Boehm is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine). Compare Bame Beahm Behm Bihm and Bohm.
Bohnhoff : German: habitational name from either of two places near Siegburg (Rhineland) or in Bavaria from any of several other minor localities in the same area. The second element is Middle Low German hof ‘court farmstead manor farm’ (see Hoff); the first is probably from bōne ‘bean’ a staple item of diet in the Middle Ages; alternatively it may be from a personal name with the common ancient Germanic element Bon cognate with Old English Buna. Compare Bonham 2.
Bommer : 1: German and Swiss German: habitational name for someone from Bommen in Switzerland and Bavaria.2: Altered form of German Baumer.
Bordenkircher : German: possibly from an altered form of Partenkircher a habitational name for someone from Partenkirchen in Bavaria. The surname Bordenkircher is found in Rhineland-Palatinate Germany and in Alsace France but is very rare in both countries.
Braeger : German (Bräger):: 1: habitational name for someone from Bräg in Bavaria.2: in Swabia a nickname for a howler from brāgen ‘to cry angrily’. Compare Brager.
Brandau : German: habitational name from any of several places called Brandau in Hesse Bavaria and former East Prussia. Compare Brandow.
Brandenberg : 1: German and Swiss German: habitational name from any of several minor places called Brandenberg for example in Bavaria and Rhineland.2: German: in some cases probably also a variant of Brandenburg.
Breitbach : German: habitational name from a place in Bavaria named Breitbach from Middle High German breit ‘broad’ + bach ‘stream’. Compare Breitenbach.
Brugger : 1: North German (Brügger) and South German: occupational name for a bridge keeper paver or road builder (see Bruegger compare Brucker).2: South German: habitational name for someone from any of various places called Brugg or Bruck in Bavaria and Austria.
Brumbach : German: habitational name from any of various places called Brombach in Hesse Baden and Bavaria. Compare Brownback Brumback and Brumbaugh.
Buch : 1: German: topographic name for someone who lived by a beech tree or in a beech wood from Middle High German buoche or a habitational name from any of numerous places called with this word notably in Bavaria and Württemberg as well as in Austria and Switzerland.2: Danish: from German (see 1 above) or a nickname from Danish buk ‘he-goat’.3: Czech Slovak and Polish: from the personal name Buch a short form of Budislav (Polish Budzisław) or some other Slavic name composed with the element bud ‘to inspire’ (from Old Slavic buditi). In some cases it may also be of German origin (see 1 above).4: Germanized form of Slovenian Buh: nickname from dialect Buh ‘God’ or from buh ‘strong sudden blow of air’.5: Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name or nickname from German Buch or Yiddish bukh ‘book’.6: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Buche ‘beech tree’ (compare 1 above).7: Indian (Gujarat and Mumbai): Brahmin and Parsi name of unexplained etymology.8: Indian (Punjab): Sikh name based on the name of a Jat clan of unexplained etymology.
Buchinger : German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name for someone from a place in Bavaria named Buching or either of two places in Lorraine named Buchingen. The placenames derive from Old High German buohha ‘beech’.
Burkheimer : German (Bürkheimer): habitational name for someone from either of two places called Burkheim in Baden and Bavaria. Compare Burkhamer and Burkhammer.
Castleberry : Americanized form of German Kesselberg: habitational name from any of the places in Baden Rhineland and Bavaria named Kesselberg. The surname Kesselberg is very rare in Germany. Compare Casselberry.
Chronister : Altered form of South German Kronester a habitational name for someone from Kronast in Bavaria.
Cobaugh : Probably an Americanized form of South German Kuhbach or Kuhbauch or possibly North German Kobarg. The first being a placename in Bavaria and Austria indicates a habitational name; the second may be a mutated form of Kuhbach ‘cow creek’ to ‘cow belly (Bauch)’ a peasant nickname. The third is a variant of a habitational or topographic name Kuhberg meaning ‘cow hill’.
Colbaugh : Americanized form of German Kolbach a habitational name from any of several places so named for example in Palatinate and Bavaria.
Crouthamel : Americanized form of German Krauthamer a variant of Krautheimer a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Krautheim in Baden Bavaria and Thuringia.
Danner : German: topographic name for someone who lived in or by a forest from Middle Low German dan Middle High German tan ‘pine forest’ + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant; or a habitational name for someone from any of various places called Thann named with this word notably in Bavaria also in Mecklenburg and Switzerland. Compare Tanner.
Dehler : German:: 1: habitational name for someone from Döhlau in Bavaria.2: from an old personal name formed with Old High German diot ‘people nation’.
Deininger : German: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Deining(en). This is a common placename in Bavaria.
Denger : German:: 1: habitational name for someone from Tengen or Hohentengen in Baden-Württemberg or from Tiengen or Teningen also in Baden-Württemberg which were earlier called Dengen and Tengen respectively.2: dialect variant of Dienger a habitational name for someone from Oberding or Unterding in Bavaria.
Denning : 1: English: from the Middle English personal name Denning a derivative of Old English Dynna a name of uncertain origin but perhaps derived from dunn ‘brown dun-colored’.2: Irish (northern): variant of Dineen.3: German: habitational name from Denning in Bavaria.
Denninger : German: habitational name for someone from Denning in Bavaria or Danningen near Messkirch in Baden.
Dersch : 3: Germanized form of Sorbian Derž: from a short form of the Old Sorbian personal names Deržisław and Deržimir based on Old Slavic dьržati ‘to hold’.1: South German: nickname for a foolish person from Middle High German tœrsch ‘foolish’.2: German: habitational name from a former place of that name near Thann in northern Bavaria.
Detter : 1: South German: habitational name from a place so named in Bavaria.2: North German: variant of Deter.
Dieng : 1: West African (mainly Senegal also Guinea and Mauritania): Wolof name of unexplained etymology. It is also found among the Serer and Tukulor peoples. Compare Jeng 3.2: South German: habitational name from older placenames like (Ober- and Unter-) Ding in Bavaria and Thiengen in Baden-Württemberg.
Dilger : German:: 1: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Dillingen (in Bavaria near Luxembourg or in the Saarland) or from Tüllingen near Lörrach in Baden.2: metronymic from the female personal name Dilg.
Dinger : German:: 1: occupational name from Middle High German dingære Middle Low German dinger ‘judge arbiter’.2: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Ding (Ober- or Unterding Bavaria) or Dingen.
Dingmann : 1: German: variant of Dinger.2: South German: habitational name for someone from Ober- or Unterding in Bavaria.
Disinger : Americanized form of German Deisinger a habitational name for someone from Deising in Bavaria.
Doelling : 1: German (Dölling): habitational name from Dolling in Bavaria or Döllingen in Saxony.2: German (Dölling): nickname from the dialect word Dölling ‘young pike’ or from Middle High German dol ‘highly or overzealous’.3: Germanized form of Sorbian Delnik and possibly also of some other similar (like-sounding) Sorbian cognate (see Delling).
Doerfler : South German (Dörfler): nickname from a derivative of Middle High German dorf(l)ære ‘inhabitant of a village’ or a habitational name common in Bavaria and Austria from any of the places called Dörfl or Dörfle (‘little village’). Compare Derfler and Dorfler.
Doerflinger : German and Swiss German (Dörflinger): habitational name for someone from any of several places in Bavaria named Dörfling or from Dörflingen in Switzerland. Compare Derflinger and Dorflinger.
Dollinger : German (also Döllinger:) habitational name for someone from a place called Dollingen of which there are several examples in Bavaria or from either of two places in Saxony and Prussia named Döllingen.
Dorner : 1: German (also Dörner): habitational name for someone from any of the places called Dorn or Dornau in Bavaria or either of two places called Dorna in Saxony and Thuringia.2: German (also Dörner): northern variant of Turner an occupational name for a watchman someone who manned a tower. This surname is also found in France (Vosges Alsace and Lorraine). Compare Durner.3: Breton (also Le Dorner): occupational name for a thresher derived from dornañ ‘to beat to thresh’.
Durner : German:: 1: (Dürner): habitational name for someone from Dürn a place in Bavaria or Dürnau in Württemberg.2: (also Dürner): southern variant of Turner an occupational name for a watchman someone who manned a tower. Compare Dorner.
Durrenberger : German and Swiss German (Dürrenberger): habitational name for someone from any of numerous places in Bavaria Thuringia Saxony and Silesia named Dür(r)nberg or Dürrenberg. Compare Derenberger Derryberry and Terryberry.
Dysinger : Americanized form of German Deisinger a habitational name for someone from Deising in Bavaria.
Eben : German: topographic name for someone living on a plain or a habitational name from a place of this name in Bavaria.
Ebinger : German: habitational name for someone from any of various places in Bavaria named Ebing or from Ebingen in Württemberg. Compare Avinger and Evinger 1.
Eden : 1: English: from the Middle English personal name Edun Old English Ēadhūn composed of the elements ēad ‘prosperity wealth’ + hūn ‘bear-cub’.2: English: habitational name from Castle Eden or Eden Burn in County Durham both of which derive from a British river name meaning ‘water’ recorded by the Greek geographer Ptolemy in the 2nd century in the form Ituna.3: East Frisian North German and Dutch (Groningen): genitivized patronymic from the personal name Ede or Edo.4: German: habitational name from any of several places mainly in Bavaria and Austria so named from Middle High German œde ‘wasteland’ + the dative suffix -n.5: Dutch: variant without the preposition van ‘from’ of Van Eden.
Egelhoff : German:: 1: misinterpreted form of the ancient Germanic personal name Egilolf (see Egloff).2: habitational name from any of the places (mainly in Bavaria) called Egelhof(en) or Eglhof(en).
Egerer : German:: 1: habitational name for someone from the city of Eger (Czech name Cheb) in western Bohemia.2: habitational name from a place in Bavaria so named.
Ehrhardt : German: from an ancient Germanic personal name composed of Old High German ēra ‘honor’ + hard ‘brave hardy strong’. The name was popularized by the cult of an 8th-century Christian saint of this name bishop of Regensburg; hence the present high frequency of the surname in Bavaria.
Ehring : German: habitational name from Ehring in Bavaria or Ehringen in Hesse and Bavaria. Compare Aring.
Ehrler : German:: 1: patronymic from Ehrle.2: habitational name for someone from a place called Ehrl in Bavaria.
Eichenauer : German: habitational name for someone from any of several places called Eichenau (Hesse Baden-Württemberg Bavaria Silesia East Prussia).
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
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