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. Peeters is also a patronymic surname meaning son of Peter. These typical German names are full of history and tradition, so keep reading to learn more about each one. Prof. Dr. Udolph is a name researcher, father of 4, and a tenured professor at Leipzig University, and he is the most sought-after expert today when it comes to the interpretation of names. youve probably been spending a lot of time with their surnames. For example, the current members of the British royal family style their surnames Windsor, in reference to the House of Windsor whose family seat (or at least one of) is Windsor Castle. Bourreau French Variant of Bureau. Toussaint is a family name composed of the words "tous " (all) and saints. 2. Monet - Monet is a variant of the name Simon and means "to be heard", 4. Derived from the French word "blanc," which means "white.". Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/german-surnames-meanings-and-origins-1420789. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of a noble German surname is that of the pioneering aerospace engineer, Wernher von Braun or to give him his full title: Wernher Magnus Maximilian Freiherr von Braun. Other examples include names such as: Bamberger Bielfeld Erfurt Fischbeck Oldenburg Halcro. For the most part, the name was chosen by people who knew the person and who used the name to describe him. Surname Sect - Grave NON-ARABIC 7-5,8-71,9-25,12-47a ILLEGIBLE 4-49,7-75,8-33,9-47, 12-23,12-65,14-83 ABABURKO 7-41 ADAMCZYK 5-15 ALARIE 5-34 . The common names Schmidt and Schmitz lead in the central German-speaking and eastern Low German-speaking areas. This last name would apply to a person from the Picardy, a region of France. Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's Les Misrables. There were even childrens songs celebrating his dict I mean, leadership. ALSACE-LORRAINE HISTORICAL OVERVIEW Alsace-Lorraine has a lengthy history of being alternately under German and French rule. Unsurprisingly, this surname means "small.". Was it superstition or just religion? This is because names are often based on words that come from Middle High German or Middle Low German, which are no longer spoken in Germany. The email address is kept private and will not be shown. Hodi is mainly a Bosnian surname and derives from the Persian title Khawaja. Which title do you prefer? As in the Czech Republic, the most common family name in Poland means new man and 203,506 people share it. or on the right hand? Laurent - A common first name and surname in France, Laurent once referred to people from Laurentium, a Roman city. If someone refused to change their name, they were not entitled to benefits from Socialist Macedonia. Heddle. To understand the meaning of a name derived from obsolete words, you need to have a background in the history of the German language especially Low German, which for a time was the dominant language of the entire Baltic Sea region in northern Germany. The Meanings and Origins of Spanish Surnames, Neumann Surname Meaning and Family History, Schroeder Surname Meaning and Family History, The History of Popular German Last Names (Nachnamen), SCHMIDT Surname Meaning and Family History, SCHMITZ Surname Meaning and Family History, 50 Most Common Danish Last Names and Their Meanings, MLLER Surname Meaning and Family History, Certificate in Genealogical Research, Boston University. Languages evolve over time, and words often become archaic and are no longer used. Be aware that there were thousands of German witches executed during the Medieval and Early Modern Era whose names were never recorded. Hartmann and Reinart are strong German last names, with Hermann, Klingermann, and Wolf also known as feisty options. Kraus Meaning: Curly-haired. Hungarian surnames, just like in other countries, often refer to a profession such as Smith, Tailor or Miller. But in Hungary it is also common to have countries as a surname:for example Nmet (German), Horvth (Croat) or Tth (Slovak). This French last name would likely refer to someone who either made or wore a particular hat or cape. Many sources derive the surname primarily from Grub, a place name common in southern Germany and Austria. If you wish your surname had more of a noble connotation, it may be possible to legally change your name to include that aristocratic Von or Zu prefix. For example, the last name "Chevrolet" translates to "goat farmer". A son and a father might have different surnames. Lapointe. Hessen, Hessen-Nassau, Franconia, the Palatinate, Braunschweig, and Baden were other preferred areas of settlement. Anouilh Derived from the word anull that is the Catalan language dominantly used in southern France, Anouilh means 'slow worm'. As you might expect from the Von in his surname, Wernher von Braun has aristocratic roots a fact that is compounded by the term Freiherr in his full name, (Freiherr is the German word for Baron, or literally Free Lord). Garnier - From a Germanic personal name, Warinhari, composed of the German words for the elements of war. 1913- An atlas of Louisiana surnames of French and Spanish origin / Robert C. West. French surnames generally fall into one of these categories: 1. Use the list below to find your last name and learn about its meaning and origins. Brzi is the most shared family name in Latvia. (This includes names derived at an older stage of the language.). This French surname is an occupational surname for barber derived from old French name barbier. Madeleine's background in languages and linguistics has led to baby names becoming one of her favorite topics to write about. 1. An occupational name for someone who collected tolls from travelers. In the Land of Honey,3,3% of the population share the same surname Borg(13,200 people). Common places used as surnames include Dibra, Laci, Shkodra, Prishtina, Delvina, Koroveshi and Permeti, as well as the famous Frasheri surname of the Frasheri family. A Anspach Asperger Auf der Maur B Bauer Bernstein Blauschild Blumenfeld Blumenthal Bollinger D Dietemann Dreyfus E Eisenberg Eisenhauer Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mrtain 'descendant of Martin' (compare 1 above). Was it better or worse than the hyggeyou felt in Denmark? Blanchet - Derived from the word "blanc," which is French for "white." Additionally common some names indicate regional origins: Gega/Gegaj (for one of Gheg origin ), Tosku/Toskaj (signifying Tosk origin) and Chami (for Cham origin ). Dubois - A name given to people who live in the woods. Check out the names of the German and Swiss witch bloodlines below. During the Viking era, family names as we currently understand them weren't in use. Around the 12th century, people began to differentiate between individuals who shared the same name using the Latin word dictus (called), or later, with the German genant (called), giheizen/heisset (is called), den man sprichet (of whom you speak), den man nennt (the one who you call), and so on. Related: 100 Italian Last Names and Surnames with Meanings, Relates to someone with dark hair, as it means "raven.". 1954), a Lithuanian professional basketball coach and player and Valdas Kazlauskas (b. The surnameZajac comesfrom Polish zajac which meanshare or the Czech dialect zajac, a nickname for a swift runner or a shy person. An individual might carry this name if their family lived in an area near an oak tree. 4. French surnames of German origin. The German Genealogy Group (GGG) Surname List is a compilation of the surnames submitted by members of the GGG. Marie Tussaud was a French artist known for her wax sculptures and now-infamous museum. So, without further ado, say "bonjour" to this mix of common and unique French oh-la-last names that are sure to inspire! Perhaps youve been wondering what those surnames mean and where they come from. There are however significant variations between regions: its a very common surname in central Slovenia (in the regions around Ljubljana and Celje), as well as in parts of southern Slovenia and eastern Slovenia (Lower Carniola, Prekmurje). Here is the list of the top French boy names in France from 2020: 1. Fundamental All languages German Terms by semantic function Names Surnames From French, German surnames of French origin. 5 of the Most Unusual German Surnames (with English Translations) Bierhals - beer-throat Durchdenwald - through-the-forest Handschuh - glove Nachtnebel - night fog Trinkenschuh - drink-shoe Most Popular German Last Names on Family Education: Abbas, Altergott, Adler Find your last name and learn about its meaning and origins. The German word 'Mller' refers to the noble profession of the miller. "What Does Your German Last Name Mean?" Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Category:German_surnames_from_French&oldid=50207290, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Durchdenwald (German origin) meaning "through-the-forest". The true reasons for Martins ubiquityas a surname are not totally clear, but it is believed that it was a surname often given to children in orphanages. Silva is also a widespread surname in regions of the former Portuguese Empire in Asia, such as India and Sri Lanka. This ones got us stumped: because Icelanders do not have surnames at all, but rather patronymics reflecting the first name of the immediate father (or mother) of a child, rather than the historic lineage. . Keep all this in mind when you delve into German historical records, and you just might learn something new about your ancestors. The German surname is also found in France (mainly Lorraine and Alsace). That's likely thanks to the current president of FranceEmmanuel Macron. Thank you for your time in this matter. Many French last names have a Germanic origin due to the frequent land changes between the French and Germanic people through the centuries. Powell, Kimberly. Bernard - Strong or brave like a bear. All content found on this website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Talk about fitthis name means "to walk fast.". The root "Mar" means "Gleam" in French. There are names that correspond with types of location, specific employment, character traits, patronymics (related to the first name of a father or ancestor), and so on. By the time periods covered by MyHeritages. This research takes time and patience. In the Baltic countries, people tend to laugh at the Estonians, whereas in Balkan countries, they do jokes about the Bosnians. List Of Popular German Last Names Or Surnames 1. Ren Descartes was a French philosopher who invented analytic geometry. Popular Jewish Last Names 1. In some instances, a surname can include both the Von and Zu prefix, indicating that a person or family has descended from that area and are still the current occupants or residents of the estate. The name was first anglicized to MacMurphy and then to Murphy in the early 19th century. Top 100 African Boy Names and Their Meanings, 100 Beautiful and Traditional Italian Baby Girl Names, 100 Cool Hispanic Boy Names (and Meanings), 100 Gorgeous Hispanic Girl Names (and Meanings). Martin Derived from Mars, the Roman God of War, Martin originates from the tribe of Mairtine. Gauthier With a meaning of "forest," this name typically applied to lumbermen. Barreau: This French surname is a derivative of barrer, which means 'to bar', 'to close or block off'. An occupational name for a farm bailiff, it's familiar in pop culture thanks to the Harry Potter character Hermoine Granger. One glamorous example of this practice is Mitzi Gaynor, the American actress popular in the 1950s who appeared in classic Hollywood films such as South Pacific and Theres No Business Like Show Business. A French surname derived from the first name of Matthewor Matias, meaning "gift of God." Doyle. Still, even if you cant determine the precise meaning of your German family names, its never been easier to research your German roots thanks to the availability of online records some of which, like the North Rhine-Westphalia collection, are exclusive to MyHeritage. 0,43% of the population in Finland is called Korhonen, which makes approximatively 23500 people. Most Ukrainian surnames (and surnames in Slavic languages in general) are formed by adding possessive and other suffixes to given names, place names, professions and other words. As you can imagine, this is anything but easy. Powell, Kimberly. Its less common in northern and western Slovenia and in the Gorika region on the border with Italy, it is quite rare. Beginning consonant clusters such as Kn (Knopf), Pf (Pfizer), Str (Stroh), Neu (Neumann), or Sch (Schneider) indicate possible German origins, as do endings such as -mann (Baumann), -stein (Frankenstein), -berg (Goldberg), -burg (Steinburg), -bruck (Zurbrck), -heim (Ostheim), -rich (Heinrich), -lich (Heimlich), -thal (Rosenthal), and -dorf (Dusseldorf). Melnyk means, as in Germany, the profession of miller, which also exists asMelnik in Russia. In a similar way, the prefix Zu in a German surname can also be an indication of nobility. "What Does Your German Last Name Mean?" You're likely able to recognize French actress Marion Cotillard in films such as Inception, Midnight in Paris, and La Vie En Rose. The French language is spoken across continents, and French people are known for their strong sense of individualism. This enormous popularity is often attributed to Saint Martin of Tours, who is among the most popular French Saint there is even a Pain de Saint-Martin to show you how well-liked the guy is in France. This surname corresponded to people who were from various valley landscapes in France. Names with Christian origins were quite popular: Names like these might have been shortened to Alex, Christoph, Nickel, or Franz. Stichting Nederlands Joods Familiearchief. Perhaps you could use Von with your current surname, or as a prefix for the place you were born, or indeed anywhere you like (subject to the legal requirements in your country.). So, in terms of German surnames, the appearance of Von in a name can often indicate that the bearer is of noble origin. Someone with this last name would have likely come from a family who lived near a church. Netherlands ranks Schmidt as 343 rd with 4,509 people. They initially allowed people to differentiate between two people living in the same town or village with the same first name. Some variations derived from regional traditions and dialects. 3. French actress Audrey Tautou is especially well-known for her starring role in Amlie. Common occupational surnames in France include such names as: Lefebre (craftsman) Gagne (farmer) Marchand (merchant) Berger (shepherd) Bisset (weaver) Mullins (miller) Page (servant) The Descriptive Surname There were times when a family surname or occupational surname did not do a person justice. Aside from Germany this surname occurs in 163 countries. When Napoleon was eventually defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, France underwent many different regime changes. Knowing more about your familys origins may help you understand more about their names, and vice versa. About the author So when we look carefully at the most common surnames in Europe, we are looking into the very heart of European identity, so close you can touch it. Today only, get free access to Germany, Hesse Marriage Index, 1849-1931 and Germany, Hesse Birth Index, 1874-1911! Sourthern names commonly end with o, and northern ones in i. The name derives from the Latvian word brzs which means birch tree, with the i originally being a diminutive suffix used to form patronymics before finally becoming a simple surname ending. Flett. Moulin - An occupational name for a miller or mill worker. Hello i would like to know more about these two names: Haden,Kollar While the von Braun name and noble connection was inherited from his fathers side of the family, Wernher von Brauns mother had an equally impressive lineage, reportedly dating back to medieval European royalty, including kings of France, Denmark, Scotland and England. Petrovi is a Slavic surname, common in many countries with Slavic populations. Just as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hoxha, pronounced Hodja,is derived from the title Persian title of Khawaja. Boucher - An occupational name meaning butcher or executioner. In German, the word von is used to reflect where a person is from similar to of in English, de in French and di in Italian. In Germany Klein is primarily found in: North Rhine-Westphalia, where 28 percent live, Rhineland-Palatinate, where 13 percent live and Baden-Wrttemberg, where 12 percent live. However, name research is one area of linguistics that attracts a great deal of interest. These French last names are magnificent and meaningful surnames that the people of this great nation can be proud of. This family would likely be strong and determined, as their last name means "enduring. 6. It looked like this: Cunradus dictus Faber, Heinricus dictus Kreier, bruder Egebreht dem man sprichet der Wolhuser (brother Egebreht who is called the Wolhuser), Hans Rot genannt Rotlieb, Heinrich bi dem Bach. Its not always easy for a German speaker to understand the meaning of a family name. Baumann (German origin) means "farmer". Similarly, "Marchand" is a common French surname that means "merchant.". If youre looking for inspiration, studies have revealed that people with German surnames that suggest royal or noble rank, such as Kaiser (emperor), Frst (prince) or Knig (king) are more likely to work in more esteemed professions than surnames that alluded to more common jobs. By the 18th century almost all Ukrainians had family names. Derived from the common French first name Pierre. This derives from the time of the House of Habsburg, when these regions belonged to Hungary. While it means "of the court," some might be familiar with the name thanks to HarryPotter character Fleur Delacour. These surnames were not always family names, in the sense that they were not necessarily passed down in the family. Today "French" and "Franois" are also popular French last names in their own rights. 1. Aigner (Austrian Origin), last name referring to the tribal conflicts in ancient times. When a German surname did not have an English equivalent, the name change was usually based on phonetics - spelled in English the way it sounded. 7. Robert Who can forget the resilient Tortoise, the hardworking Ant or the naive Crow who shaped so many childhoods? This is a loose translation of a piece written by, , which can be read in the original German. Martin - Derived from Mars, the Roman God of War and fertility, Martin. The Germans who married into the French family had the surnames Rule ( Rhl ), Smice ( Schmeiss ), Shively ( Schnebele ), and Sheets ( Sheetz ) and many more. "German" ancestors may have come from Germany, but they also may have come from Austria, Switzerland, Alsace (part of France), much of what is now Poland, Luxembourg, southern Denmark, the present Czech Republic, or even a little bit of Russia. 2. In Germany alone there are more than 320 000 Mller in the phonebook (1.5%) and this is without counting the Mller chain of supermarkets. Bosnian are famous for their sense of humour and it applies to their family names as well! -- 1 v. . The name was often given to someone who came to a new city, or a convert to Christianity. Among them are: These names originated from descriptions of the persons appearance, character, habits, and so on. McDowell. This was their name for the land they took from France, consisting of almost all of Alsace and one quarter of adjacent Lorraine. French singer Vanessa Paradis shares children Lily-Rose Depp and Jack Depp with actor Johnny Depp. In this post, we will explore the origins of German family names, how they developed, and how to research the surnames in your own family. or is it yet another weird tradition?) Similarly, various artists may be interested in French surnames for the purpose of naming characters in upcoming novels or screenplays, using them in song lyrics, as inspiration for the titles of paintings, sculptures, or other artwork, and more. Mller is the most commonly-heard surname in Germany, with Schmidt, Schneider, Fischer, and Weber also making the top five. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/german-surnames-meanings-and-origins-1420789. The surname occasionally appears as Zajonc due to the Polish pronunciation of as on, however, the vowel is usually rendered as a outside Poland, producing Zajac. A number of the names on this list are also words that describe traits, either physical or personality traits, which is in keeping with the style of the time. What is the history of the name LANGENHAHN? The Czech surname Skodopole means "Jump into the field!" and Nejezchleba means "Don't eat bread!" For example, Names like these might have been shortened to, Brckner (someone who lives near a bridge), Buschmann (someone who lives near bushes), Weidemann (willow man or pasture man), Krger (innkeeper or merchant of glass and pottery), Richter (legal official, from the word for to make right), When first approaching a German surname, its important to remember that each name originally had a meaning. Man has re-created Europe in his own image.. The name originally derives fromsmior smi anunpronounceablebit of Old English, meaning a metalworker,and the wordsmitan(the Old English form ofsmite) which also meantstrike. This last name is one of the most prevalent in France, and as of 2015, ranked third in most common last names there, with almost 96,000 people bearing the name. (brother Egebreht who is called the Wolhuser). This patronymic is one of the most common French surnames. 8. For example: This category includes many, many German names. Australia ranks Schmidt as 328 th with 10,912 people. This is the most common form of German family name and can often be identified by its ending, such as -er (as in Geiger, one who played the violin), -hauer (hewer or cutter, such as Baumhauer, a tree cutter), -macher (one who makes, as in Fenstermacher one who makes windows), and -man/-mann (as in .