IN European countries, as in the rest of the world, the identity of a person for many centuries was identified by his name. An example is the very son of God Jesus, who at birth was named Emmanuel, and then called Yeshua. The need to distinguish different people with one name required explanatory additions. So the Savior began to be called Jesus of Nazareth.
When did the Germans get surnames?
German surnames arose according to the same principle as in other countries. Their formation in the peasant environment of various lands continued until the 19th century, that is, it coincided in time with the completion of state building. The formation of a united Germany required a clearer and more unambiguous definition of who is who.
However, already in the XII century on the territory of the present Federal Republic Germany existed to know, and at the same time for the first time appeared German surnames. As in other European countries, patronymics are not used here for personal identification. But at birth, the baby is usually given two names. You can refer to any person by adding a word meaning gender. Women's German surnames are no different from men's, they just use the prefix "frau" in front of them.
Types of German surnames
By linguistic origin, German surnames can be divided into groups. The first and most common is formed from names, mostly male. This is explained by the fact that the mass appropriation of surnames took place in a fairly short (in the historical sense) period, and there was simply no time for the manifestation of any sophisticated fantasy.
Surnames derived from given names
The simplest of them are those that did not philosophize for a long time, but simply formed them on behalf of their first owner. Some peasant was called Walter, so his descendants received such a surname. We also have Ivanovs, Sidorovs and Petrovs, and their origin is similar German Johannes, Peters or Hermann. From the point of view of historical background, such popular German surnames say little, except that some ancient ancestor was called Peters.
Profession as a morphological basis of a surname
Somewhat less common are German surnames, which speak of the professional affiliation of their first owner, one might say, the ancestor. But the diversity of this group is much wider. The most famous surname in her is Muller, which means “miller” in translation. The English equivalent is Miller, and in Russia or Ukraine it is Melnik, Melnikov or Melnichenko.
The famous composer Richard Wagner could assume that one of his ancestors was engaged in freight transport on his own cart, the ancestor of the storyteller Hoffmann owned his own household yard, and the great-grandfather of the pianist Richter was a judge. The Schneiders and Schroeders used to be tailors, and the Singers loved to sing. There are other interesting German male surnames. The list is continued by Fischer (fisherman), Becker (baker), Bauer (peasant), Weber (weaver), Zimmermann (carpenter), Schmidt (blacksmith) and many others.
There was once during the war Gauleiter Koch, the same one who was blown up by underground partisans. In translation, his surname means "cook". Yes, he made porridge ...
Surnames as a description of appearance and character
Some male and possibly female German surnames come from the appearance or character of their first owner. For example, the word "lange" in translation means "long", and it can be assumed that its original founder was different tall, for which he received such a nickname. Klein (small) is his complete opposite. Krause means "curly", such an attractive feature of the hair of some Frau, who lived a couple of centuries ago, can be inherited. Fuchs' ancestors were most likely as cunning as foxes. The ancestors of Weiss, Brown or Schwartz, respectively, were blond, brown-haired or brunette. The Hartmans were noted for their excellent health and strength.
Slavic origin of German surnames
The German lands in the east always bordered on and this created the conditions for the mutual penetration of cultures. Well-known German surnames with the endings "-its", "-ov", "-of", "-ek", "-ke" or "-ski" have a pronounced Russian or Polish origin.
Lutzow, Diesterhof, Dennits, Modrow, Janke, Radetzky and many others have long become familiar, and their total share is one-fifth of total number German surnames. In Germany, they are perceived as their own.
The same applies to the ending "-er", derived from the word "yar", which means a person in the Old Slavic language. Painter, teslyar, fisherman, baker - explicit examples such cases.
During the Germanization period, many of these surnames were simply translated into German, choosing the appropriate roots or replacing the ending with “-er”, and now nothing reminds of the Slavic origin of their owners (Smolyar - Smoler, Sokolov - Sokol - Falk).
Backgrounds-barons
There are very beautiful German surnames, consisting of two parts: the main one and the prefix, usually “von” or “der”. They contain information not only about the unique features of appearance, but also about the famous historical events in which the owners of these nicknames took part, sometimes actively. Therefore, descendants are proud of such names and often remember their ancestors when they want to emphasize their own generosity. Walther von der Vogelweid - it sounds! Or here is von Richthoffen, the pilot and the "Red Baron".
However, not only former glory causes such complications in writing. The origin of German surnames can be much more prosaic and speak of the area in which the person was born. What, for example, does Dietrich von Bern mean? Everything is clear: his ancestors come from the capital of Switzerland.
German surnames of Russian people
The Germans have lived in Russia since pre-Petrine times, populating entire regions, called "slobodas", according to the ethnic principle. However, then all Europeans were called that, but under the great emperor-reformer, the influx of immigrants from the German lands was encouraged in every possible way. The process gained momentum during the reign of Catherine the Great.
German colonists settled in the Volga region (Saratov and Tsaritsinsk provinces), as well as in Novorossia. Big number Lutherans later converted to Orthodoxy and assimilated, but they retained their German surnames. For the most part, they are the same as those worn by the settlers who came to the Russian Empire during the 16th-18th centuries, with the exception of those cases when the clerks-clerks who prepared the documents made typos and mistakes.
Surnames considered Jewish
Rubinstein, Hoffmann, Eisenstein, Weisberg, Rosenthal and many other names of citizens Russian Empire, the USSR and the post-Soviet countries are mistakenly considered by many to be Jewish. This is wrong. However, there is some truth in this statement.
The fact is that Russia, starting from late XVII century, became the country where every enterprising and hard-working person could find his place in life. There was enough work for everyone, new cities were being built at an accelerated pace, especially in Novorossia, recaptured from Ottoman Empire. It was then that Nikolaev, Ovidiopol, Kherson and, of course, the pearl of the south of Russia - Odessa appeared on the map.
For foreigners coming to the country, as well as for their own citizens who wished to develop new lands, extremely favorable economic conditions were created, and political stability, supported by military power regional leader, ensured that this position would be maintained for a long time.
Currently, Lustdorf (Merry Village) has become one of the Odessa suburbs, and then it was a German colony, the main occupation of whose inhabitants was Agriculture, mainly viticulture. They also knew how to brew beer here.
Jews, famous for their business savvy, trading savvy and craft skills, also did not remain indifferent to the call. Russian empress Catherine. In addition, musicians, artists and other artists of this nationality came from Germany. The surnames of most of them were German, and they spoke Yiddish, which in its essence is one of the dialects of the German language.
At that time, there was a "Pale of Settlement", which, however, outlined a fairly large and not worse part of the empire. In addition to the Black Sea region, the Jews chose many areas of the current Kyiv region, Bessarabia and other fertile lands, building small towns. It is also important that living beyond the Pale of Settlement was mandatory only for those Jews who remained faithful to Judaism. Having adopted Orthodoxy, everyone could settle in any part of the vast country.
Thus, natives of Germany of two nationalities at once became carriers of German surnames.
Unusual German surnames
In addition to these groups of German surnames, originating from professions, hair color, appearance features, there is another, rare, but wonderful. And she speaks of the glorious qualities of character, good disposition and fun, which the ancestors of the person bearing this name were famous for. An example is Alisa Freindlich, who adequately confirms the reputation of her ancestors. "Kind", "friendly" - this is how this German surname is translated.
Or Neumann. "New Man" - isn't that beautiful? How great it is to please everyone around you every day, and even yourself, with freshness and novelty!
Or economic Wirtz. Or Luther with pure thoughts and open heart. Or Jung - young, regardless of the number of years lived.
Such interesting German surnames, the list of which is endless!
Due to their sonority and beauty, German family nicknames are very popular among the peoples of many countries. Each of the proper names is unique and has a specific origin. Everyone who wants to join the culture of the peoples of Germany will be able to pick up a nickname to their liking that is beautiful in sound or with sacred meaning.
German names and surnames
The history of the appearance of German names and surnames begins in ancient times. Personal names were called upon to carry not only a beautiful combination, but also magical meaning which endowed the owner with certain qualities of character. The family nicknames of the Germans had a slightly different character of formation. They began to emerge from nickname meanings that reflected:
- already existing bright qualities of a person (Braun - brown, Schwarz - black, Klein - small);
- the area where he lived (von Berne, von der Vogelweide);
- the owner's profession or occupation (Becker - baker, Koch - cook, Bauer - peasant);
- many were formed from personal names (Peters, Walter).
Gradually, peculiar nicknames began to be recorded in official documents and acquired the meaning of the first German surnames, entrenched in all the descendants of the people who wore them. Business papers began to distribute them widely. In many modern families In Germany, it is customary to address servants simply by name, without using the addresses that are familiar to this European country and have a respectful meaning:
- Herr - for men;
- Frau - for women.
The prefix "von" in German surnames
Many Germanic surnames have the prefix "background" at the beginning. It was very honorable to have one, since it was assigned exclusively to people of noble blood - aristocrats. In ancient times, only feudal lords could have such a postscript - people who own servants and land plots. Today, the prefix "von" in German surnames can be found in people of any kind of activity, since everyone noble privileges have been cancelled.
German surnames for girls
Having sonorous names girls can take second foreign origin. For respectful address to women in Germany, the word "Frau", meaning "madam", is used. Beautiful German surnames for women with their meaning for girls:
- Kaufman is a merchant;
- Becker - baker;
- Rieger - from Riga;
- Klee - clover;
- Hertz - courage;
- Reuss - on behalf of;
- Schultz - headman;
- Mayer - farmer, burgomaster;
- Till is a strong ruler;
- Junghans - on behalf of the family.
German surnames for men
Noble and majestic meaning should be given to male German surnames. Representatives of the stronger sex can choose them by translation, in accordance with their profession or appearance. To emphasize significance, the word "Herr" should be used when addressing. List of popular beautiful male German proper names with their meanings:
- Fisher is a fisherman;
- Schmidt is a blacksmith;
- Becker is a baker;
- Koch - cook;
- Richter - judge;
- Brown - brown;
- Lange - big;
- Klein - small;
- Schroeder - tailor;
- Kehler - coal miner;
- Kening is the king;
- Krause - curly;
- Lehmann is a landowner.
Popular German surnames
Common German surnames are often used as pseudonyms. They are beautiful, noble, sonorous. Many people have these family names. famous people. List of popular beautiful Germanic proper names with meanings:
- Müller is a miller;
- Mayer - manager of the lands;
- Weber - weaver;
- Wagner - carriage maker;
- Schultz - headman;
- Hoffmann - courtier;
- Schaefer is a shepherd;
- Bauer is a peasant;
- Wolf - wolf;
- Neumann - new person;
- Zimmerman is a carpenter;
- Kruger - potter;
- Schwartz - black;
- Hartmann - from a male personal name.
There are other beautiful nicknames:
- Walter;
- Berg;
- Borman;
- Bremer;
- Brunner;
- Ganz;
- Gruber;
- Geller;
- Seiler;
- Simmel;
- Singer;
- Keller;
- Kramer;
- Liebknecht;
- Leitner;
- Merkel;
- Meyer;
- Moritz;
- Neller;
- Osterman;
- Pearl;
- Preuss;
- Riedel;
- Rogge;
- Rothman;
- Frieze;
- Fuchs;
- Hoffman;
- Zuckerman;
- Schwartz;
- Schiller;
- Schmidt;
- Schneider;
- Schroeder;
- Matte;
- Ebel.
Hello dear.
And never paid attention to compound surnames? On all sorts of background and tsu? Personally, these things have always caught my eye. And I understood that this is far from always connected with a noble origin or de titles. Because it happens in different ways :-) Let's look at some examples.
Ursula von der Leyen
Let's start with the German ones. The most famous prefix to the surname is, in fact, von (von). Most often it is really an aristocratic surname. It can be translated as "from" The prefix "von" indicates the place of origin of the surname, although there were cases when the surname was not associated with the place of residence. Well, Otto von Bismarck, for example. As an option, it is not "background", but "fom". These are abbreviations of variants with the articles "von der", "von dem". The essence is the same 
Vladimir Fyodorovich von der Launitz
Another option aristocratic families there was a prefix zu (options "tsum", "tsur", etc.). It can be translated as "in". And most often it was used in a mixed version of "von und zu", for example, Hartmann von und zu Liechtenstein. 
The combination of the prefixes “von” and “tsu” in the form “von und tsu” indicates that person of noble birth, whose ancestors have been living in this territory since the Middle Ages, that is, this territory is in the possession of the family by the time the surname is “fixed”. In addition, the prefix "tsu" was worn primarily by the so-called "sovereign princes", who, in connection with the mediatization of 1803-1806, did not lose princely title, but lost their "territorial" supremacy (for example, zu Isenburg, zu Stolberg). Thus, they differed from those princes who ruled after 1815 and wore the prefix "von".
And here are the options
in, im, in der, an der, am, auf, auf der, aus, aus dem, aus den were not at all a sign of a noble family. Unless they were integral part possessive title. Although they also had the meaning "of". So-and-so from such a place.
Here is a famous German hockey goalkeeper, for example, has the surname Danny aus den Birken
Close meanings to German in Scandinavia and Finland. This or born noble families, or altered after receiving the title of nobility. For example, Carl von Linnaeus (von Linné). Before the title was just Carl Linnaeus :-) 
Although sometimes other prefixes were used. For example, af, or even the French de or de la (rarely though).
But the Swedish hockey player Jacob de la Rose plays in the NHL 
A similar path was followed in Lithuania. The assignment of some awards equates the receipt of a knighthood, that is, the nobility, and thus can change the surname. The well-known media personality Anastasia von Kalmanovich changed her surname after her late (alas) most interesting husband Shabtai Kolmanovich received the Order of Grand Duke Gediminas. 
To be continued...
Have a nice time of the day.
IN today's issue program, we will talk about what the prefix "von" means in front of German surnames, is there title of nobility in Germany today and what privileges it gives to its owner.
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“Are there any titles of nobility left in Germany, for example, Baron von Straube., And what does the prefix “von” mean? I asked Elisabeth Wiebe to answer this question.
Nobility in Germany
First, about the meaning of the word "background." In the grammatical sense, this is a common preposition indicating a starting point in space or a starting geographical point. Der Zug von Berlin - (train from Berlin). Der König von Schweden (King of Sweden), der Präsident von Russland (President of Russia). In combination with the surname, von means a title of nobility.
It seems to me that the title of nobility in our time does not play any role. Legally, it is part of the name, as is the Ph.D. But if you compare, then Dr. Meyer means high professional qualification. When applying for a job, a doctor will be given preference over a non-doctor. What does the prefix "background" mean? If the background of such and such has not achieved anything in life, then the title of nobility will not improve his position in society. An example is our Cologne street musician Klaus der Geiger - Klaus the violinist. He's of noble blood. He has a wandering lifestyle. Almost homeless.
Yes you are right. Of people noble origin in Germany can be found among any professions. Nobles no longer have privileges. They were abolished more than eighty years ago, after the First World War. Then in the Constitution of the country it was written that all people are equal from birth. Prior to this, for many centuries the nobles were a privileged class. In the 16th century, under Kaiser Karl the Fifth, in addition to the tribal aristocracy, the nobility appeared, granted by the charter of the king or kaiser. Among the old hereditary families, such nobility was considered fake, second-rate. And since 1919 in Germany, the title of nobility cannot be granted.
But can you buy this noble prefix? Sometimes in the press something like this flashes.
- Buy not in the sense that you pay someone and get a diploma. A man who wants to become a nobleman must find someone who will adopt him, that is, he will live under the noble, but someone else's name of his adoptive parent. Adopting an adult is a complex procedure, and nobility is fake, even if it's legally correct.
I think this is rare.
- Yes, it happens much more often that representatives of ancient aristocratic families do not advertise their high origin. For example, a prominent politician from Free Democratic Party Liberals Herman Otto Solms is in fact Prince zu Solms-Hohensolms-Liech. Historian Dominik Lieven's real name is Dominik Knyaz von Lieven, but "prince" and "von", say his graduate students, Professor Lieven calls "outdated nonsense (unzeitgemäßer Unfug)". Another representative of this genus, a biologist, insists that he be named Alexander Prince von Lieven.
Well. Once such a name, such a surname. I think it sounds nice. And since I inherited from my ancestors noble family, then wear it with honor, so that it would not be shameful to pass it on to children and grandchildren. Do the descendants of the last German Kaiser still live in Germany?
- Yes. This big family. Even a few families that don't get along very well. Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia recently made headlines for selling 17,000 items from the Kaiser's legacy: porcelain, silver, at auction. He needs the money to pay inheritance tax to the finance department. After the death of his grandfather, Georg (he is 26 years old) became the head of the House of Hohenzollern and the main heir. But he must pay a share of the inheritance and six relatives - uncles and aunts. By the way, the potential Kaiser is studying at the university and fellow students call him simply George, and not "Highness".
To sum up: the noble prefix in Germany is part of the surname, it does not give privileges, the title of nobility - unlike England - is not assigned to anyone else. Nevertheless, the descendants of nobles are often rightfully proud of their ancestors and their surname. Thanks for the info, Elisabeth Wiebe.
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