German Names
10 Common German Surnames Here are 10 of the most popular German surnames found around the world: Becker: on the surface, it may seem obvious that the Becker’s were bakers by trade. However, there is strong evidence to support that Becker may also have identified a family as carpenter or toolmakers. Whatever the case may be, the Becker’s served an essential function in any German city. Hoffmann: the peasant farmers of rural Germany would be the first to bear this occupational name, as they toiled on the hoff (farm). The name would later become a surname used for the farm owners, managers, and foremen, rather than the day-to-day workers in the fields. Klein: a descriptive surname that means “small.” This would have been used to describe the original namesake’s physical stature. The popularity of the surname Klein paints an interesting and rather humorous picture of a small individual who, despite their size, made a large m...