German Surnames ï¿½ Their Meaning & Origin 4.ï¿½ Miscellaneous, such as nicknames, personal characteristics, abnormalities etc. Part Two - Military Roots In the previous segment, we saw that the olden German name was a single name, composed of two syllables with each syllable representing a root and each root having a specific meaning. Root classifications are mainly Military, Terrain, Professional and Personal Characteristics (miscellaneous). In this part, a look will be taken at names having at least one Military Root. The early Germans lived in a tribal and agricultural culture, but they also loved war. Cornelius Tacitus, a renowned Roman historian (55-120 AD) wrote in 98 AD that "the Germans were a rough, warlike barbarian people".

(Tacitus recorded his observations on German life and customs in one of his histories titled, " Germania " which is frequently quoted in numerous reference books.)ï¿½ The German men hunted, fished and made war, and although the women tended the fields and cared for family needs, the German men had an extremely high respect for their womenfolk.ï¿½ This respect was mutual and the women often accompanied their men to the battle site and performed as "cheerleaders" from the sidelines. Early German women also had military names; not that they participated in the actual fighting, but so they could pass along military virtues to their sons. Tribal battles were generally fought for three reasons: feuds, booty and for the acquisition and settlement of new lands. North and central Germany had no natural barriers to protect the east and west boundaries, such as that provided by the Alps in the south. Thus, armies could easily flow from east to west and west to east and, flow they did! From the west came the Celts, Romans, Gauls, and Franks.

From the east came the Huns, Vandals, Goths (Visigoths and Ostrogoths), Langobards, and Burgundians, to name a few of the more familiar invaders. With all the military action through the centuries, it is easily concluded that the earliest German names would be predominantly military ones, and studies such as Dr. Jones recorded in his book, "German American Names", proved this to be the case.

Military names consisted of roots designating anything military such as weapons, military virtues, predatory birds and animals, victory, rule, fortresses, treasure, etc.ï¿½ ï¿½Battleï¿½ furnished the root,ï¿½ ï¿½Gundï¿½; battleground, ï¿½walï¿½; battle axe, "bart"; spear, "ger"; sword, "eckeï¿½, ï¿½bilï¿½, ï¿½brandï¿½, or ï¿½schwerd"; and helmet, "helm"; eagle, "arn"; raven, "ram"; bear, "berï¿½; boar, "ebur"; lion, "leuewï¿½, ï¿½leon"; stag, "hirsch"; victory, "sieg"; fortress, "burg"; rule, "waldï¿½, rich; treasure, "od"; courage, "mut"; determination, "wille"; strong, "hart"; power, "macht"; etc.

Very little is known of German warriors earlier than 120 BC except for that related in epics, eddas and sagas; however, some information was preserved by Roman historians along with observations and comments by Julius Caesar, prior to Tacitus's writing of his "Germania" history. It is known that Julius Caesar (102 - 44 BC) recruited German cavalrymen from the German tribes, as they were expert horsemen. Such horsemen were named, "Reiters" or "Reuters" (in the Middle Ages, knights were named "Ritters", a name reserved for the gentry). The German fighters were mostly armed with a shield, ("lindï¿½, ï¿½randï¿½, ï¿½schildï¿½), a spear ("ger"), axe ("bart") and sometimes a sword ("ecke"). During the Bronze Age, German smiths were excellent artisans and crafted magnificent, beautiful swords and battle axes. Since bronze had to be imported, few such swords or battle axes were carried as a result of their costliness; thus, spearmen outnumbered swordsmen.

This is also seen from the list of "Towpath" names below where "spear" names outnumber the "sword" names 6-4. The expertise of the German smiths did not carry over from the Bronze Age, (1800-800 BC) into the early years of the Iron Age, (1000BC-1860AD), so their iron swords were not very strong or dependable, breaking rather easily. It was not until the centuries following Tacitus (100 AD) that swords became commonplace in the hands of German warriors. When reviewing the following names, please keep in mind that the interpretation of such names is "generic"; one must know the circumstances under which the name was "coined" to know its meaning accurately. A good example is the name "Luedeke", which has four meanings: Loud Sword, Illustrious Sword, Loud Army or Illustrious Army.ï¿½ Was the sword of the original Luedeke wielded with such vigor that it "sang" when whirled or was its clamor loud upon contacting shield or armor?

Was the sword wielded in an illustrious manner or was its beauty illustrious to behold?ï¿½ Was his army loud in battle, or in victory, or illustriously led?ï¿½ Such answers are necessary for an accurate interpretation; in lieu of such source specifics, namesakes are free, of course, to choose whatever interpretation they find most appealing. Part Three ï¿½ Terrain Roots Earlier, we saw that the earliest German names were predominantly military as although the Germans lived in a tribal and agricultural culture, they loved war; it was their main occupation. As the population expanded, the need for sufficient and dependable food supplies as well as war equipment gave rise to those engaged specifically in farming and "smithing", thus introducing names involving terrain and professional roots. Here, a look will be taken at names derived from "terrain" features and those from "professions" will be discussed later.

When it was learned that the name "Mesloh" meant "swamp dweller" (actually "swampy low forest", but more fun is had with "swamp dweller"!), I became interested in the geography of North Germany.ï¿½ My ancestors came from the area of Barnstorf & Diepholz in the duchy of Hannover. A little village is there yet today called "Mesloh", about 15 miles east of Barnstorf, home to 34 residents with several having the name "Mesloh".ï¿½ Cornelius Tacitus, the same Roman historian who wrote that the Germans were a ï¿½rough, warlike barbarian people", also wrote in 98 AD that the Northern European Plain, a portion of which we know now as North Germany, was "a land of vast swamps". Other reference sources report that North Germany was at one time, "a vast swampland".

Although Germany has been dry for the past several hundred years, the early North German "terrain" names would predominantly connote some aspect of "water" - swamps, marshes, reeds, ponds, dikes, dams, thickets, hursts, streams, brooks, rivers, bogs, fens, moors, etc. Charlemagne started building the first canals in Germany in the year 800 AD to facilitate transportation between the Rhine and the Danube rivers in the south, between the Rhine and the Main rivers in central Germany, and between the Rhine and the Maas rivers in the north. As the population continued to increase, the need for additional farmland grew and canals were built to drain the swampy lands, a technique in which the Germans became quite expert. In fact, when the word spread throughout Europe in the early 1800s that land in the " Great Black Swamp " (New Bremen is on the southern edge), was available, Germans flocked to this area, as they had the expertise to drain the swamps converting them to rich farmlands (as we all know!).

Their work on the Miami and Erie Canal and other drainage projects is also well known in this area. Central Germany is much like Pennsylvania and names originating there would reflect the rolling hills, gentle slopes, shallow valleys, meadows, groves, extensive farmlands, etc. Names originating in south Germany would reflect the high mountains, peaks, crags, cliffs, rocks, deep valleys, heavy forests, etc.ï¿½ Second only to war, the Germans loved freedom. Their military tactics were "attack oriented", with little or no thought given to defensive positions. Their living, although tribal, was also freedom minded - they shunned villages, fortified sites and walled cities.ï¿½ And so those not militarily named took, or were given, names of the nearest prominent terrain feature nearest their living site.ï¿½ For example, a man living near a pile of rocks would be called "Steiner", a mountain dweller would be a "Bergman", a dweller near a reedy site would be a "Riethman", a dweller along a stream, a "Becker" and so on.

But what about a name that apparently has no logical connection such as "Hemmert" which means "swamp dweller"? James Brunsï¿½ maternal ancestors by the name of "Hemmert" originated in Bavaria, essentially a land of no swamps, so how did a person get a "swamp dweller" name? Although there are no swamps in Bavaria today, the Hemmerts could have lived on a farm that hundreds of years previously was swampy land, and that knowledge passed along through the generations would be enough to name the first resident on that land, "swamp dweller"! Another interesting name is "Bordewisch" meaning Battle Axe & Meadow.ï¿½ Undoubtedly a Bordewisch ancestor excelled or distinguished himself wielding a battle axe(s) in a particular meadow and was given his name by his fellow warriors; crossed battle axes in the family's crest and seal would attest to such honor. Earlier, the usage of tautological names was explained, which at the time of writing, numbered only three in this area.

Since then (and with thanks given to James Bordewisch of Dayton, Ohio for his insight into the root, "wisch"), a fourth tautological name has been added - "Feldwisch" meaning ï¿½Field-Meadowï¿½ which indicates the meadow was exceptionally large.ï¿½ So, to the very swampy (Mesloh), the very marshy (Huckriede), the very steep or otherwise prominent cliff (Klipfels), the large meadow (Feldwisch) is added. The suffix "er" originally meant an owner of a farm at the terrain feature named, but today, the "erï¿½ means a dweller at that terrain feature. Sometimes a "t" is added to the "er" but an "ert" suffix has no different meaning than the simple "er". Likewise, the root "man" can also mean a dweller, but there is no significance in the root's meaning, whether it is spelled "man" or "mann".

At other times some consonants are doubled, but the doubling does not result in any change in the name's meaning, so an olden spelling of "Mesloh" was "Messloh or even Messlow" but all three interpret the same, as per Dr. Jones. When reviewing the following names, please keep in mind that the interpretation of such is "generic"; one must know the site or circumstances under which the name was coined to know its exact meaning.

ï¿½Towpathï¿½ names with Terrain Roots Ashbaugh: Brook Among The Ash Treesï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Beal: Hillï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Beck: Brook or Streamï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bell: White Poplar; Part Of Ship Belton: White Poplar & Firï¿½ï¿

½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Boecker: Dweller By A Stream; baker Boesel: Village Nameï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï

¿½ï¿½ Bordewisch: Battle Axe Meadowï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bornhorst: Spring Thicketï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Braddock: Broad Drydockï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Brandt: Forest Clearing; Swordï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Brantly: Dweller In Forest Clearing Brookhart: Brake Forestï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Brucken: Dweller At The Bridgeï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bruns: Dweller Near A Springï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

 Dicke: Dweller Near A Thicketï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Dickman: Dweller By A Pond; Fat Man Donnerberg: Thunder Mountainï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Elsass: Alsatianï¿½ Gilberg: Scion Mountain.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Griesdorn: Gravel Thicketï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Grover: Dweller In A Hollowï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿

½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Hagens: Enclosure; Hedge.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Hagerstrand: Dweller In An Enclosure & ?

Headapohl: Swampy Pond Part Four ï¿½ Profession Roots Previously, it was seen that an expanding population increased the need not only for military equipment but for dependable food supplies as well, thus giving rise to those persons exclusively engaged in farming and "smithing".ï¿½ Here, a look will be taken at names deriving from profession roots.ï¿½ The author is greatly appreciative of additional insights into names, roots and customs provided by James Bordewisch of Dayton and Dr. John Dickman of Columbus. The two oldest professions of men are hunting and fishing which produced the names of Jaeger (Yeager) and Fischer. Next, came the names of Schmidt (Smith) and Mï¿½ller (miller) with Meyer (farmer) close behind. The local "smith" was very highly respected as the German warriors believed that "Der Schmidt" had mythical powers to impart magical qualities into the weapons and armor they forged, giving that warrior an edge in battle, a "little something extra", highly desired, of course. German folk literature, such as "The Nibelungenlied", is full of magical swords, impenetrable armor, cloaks of invisibility, mythical dwarfs and elves.

There are thirteen different ways of spelling "Schmidt" in German, which indicates the esteem the name ï¿½Schmidtï¿½ once held. Regarding the name Miller, a frequently asked question has been, "Why do Millers spell their names Mï¿½ller, Mueller, Mï¿½llar, Moeller?" The answer is twofold: ï¿½1) The Germans had various types and sizes of grain mills.ï¿½ Some were hand held, while others were quite large. Mï¿½llar derives from the Latin "molinarius" meaning "miller"; Mï¿½ller comes from the root "muhl" or "muehl" meaning "mill".ï¿½ 2) The German spelling of Mï¿½llar and Mï¿½ller was with an umlaut (ï¿½ & ï¿½) on the vowels.ï¿½ The umlaut superimposes an ï¿½eï¿½ on the vowel sound for pronunciation, and is not generally used in America.ï¿½ Mï¿½llar became Moeller and Mï¿½ller became Mueller.

(Of course, by simply dropping the umlaut, Mollar and Muller remained the same in America.ï¿½ If "Der Muller" ground white flour, he became a "Weissmiller" and if he ground brown flour, he became a "Braunmiller". This system of naming also held true in the case of leather tanning. A tanner of leather was a "Gerber"; if he tanned white leather, he was a "Weissgerber" and a tanner of red leather was a "Rotgerber".ï¿½ The root "miller" frequently appears as the second root with the first root indicating where the miller lived, or the location of the mill. Examples are Bahnmueller, meaning ï¿½miller on the pathï¿½, Bachmueller (brook miller) Mosmueller (marsh miller) Rismueller (swamp miller), etc.

There are numerous roots designating ï¿½farmerï¿½, some of which are: Meyer, Myer, Myers, Meier, Mayer, Mann, Hofer, Hoffner, Bauer, Baur, and Baumann.ï¿½ A German once told me that the Meyers and Millers of Germany are like the Smiths and Joneses of America. The root "meyer" often appears as the second root, with the first root designating the location of the farm.ï¿½ (Klingenmeyer or "farmer in the gorge", Reitmeyer, or "farmer in the clearing".) The root "meyer" can also mean "manager" and this can be seen in the name of Kellermeyer which means "manager or keeper of the cellar", Hoffman, or "manager of a cloister farm" while a Hoffmeyer is an "estate manager". There are several interesting peculiarities regarding farmer and other professional names. Whenever a man changed houses or professions, he took the name of the new farm, new house, or new profession to which he was moving while leaving behind his old name. A similar situation existed when the olden Germans changed houses.

The German moving took the name of the new house and left his old name behind.ï¿½ï¿½ A famous example of this procedure occurred in Maintz in 1444 AD.ï¿½ A young man by the name of "Gensfleisch" (goose flesh) set up a printing press in the house of "Guttenberg" (good mountain). We know him today as "Guttenberg, the father of modern printing". There is yet another interesting item regarding the perpetuation of the "house" or "farm" name. Farms were passed along to sons which naturally bore the house's surname but if a farmer had no sons and only daughters, whenever the daughter(s) married, her new husband then took the surname of the house (farm) thus keeping the farm's name intact. This custom is called "Stabrut" (Low German) or, "Erbtochter" (High German), and on occasion, is still practiced today, most generally in North Germany.

Zehringer: belonging to food sellers Part Five ï¿½ Miscellaneous Roots This is the fifth and final part of the series, "German Surnames - Their Meaning & Origin".ï¿½ Here a look will be taken at the "miscellaneous" classification of roots which includes "physical characteristics", nicknames and religious origins.ï¿½ Before proceeding with this article, one of the joys of this hobbyist onomastician (a studier of names) has been the finding of tautological names (Germans used a tautological name to emphasize a particular feature or trait of the bearer - it was an extra special name). To date, four such tautological names have been found: Huckriede (marsh), Klipfels (cliff), Feldwisch (field or meadow), Mesloh (swamp) - all terrain oriented names.ï¿½ And now for the first time in this area, a tautological military name has been encountered - the name of "Barber" which means "Bear-Bear". The original warrior given the name of "Barber" must have been a ferocious warrior having all the characteristics of an angry bear in battle!

Previously we have seen that Germans were given military names for their prowess in battle, names for terrain features near which they lived, or names for professions in which they were engaged.ï¿½ Germans were also given names which derived from physical characteristics, such as the color of one's hair or beard (Schwartskopf or black head, Rotbart or red beard), a Kraus was curly haired, a Kahl was bald, a Homan was a tall or prominent man, Kurtz, a short man.ï¿½ A restless person might be named Hommel (bumble bee). Sometimes, nicknames became surnames over a period of time: a person called "der Fuchs" (the fox) or "die Gans" (the goose) or "das Eichhoernchen" (the squirrel, in time simply became Fuchs, Gans or Eichhoernchen. Other names were shortened such as Kelchner (Chalice Maker) to Kelch (Chalice) or Nagler (Nail Smith) to Nagel (Nail).

Although a son of Kelchner might have at one time been called Kelch or Chalice for short or even Chalice as a nickname, Kelch in becoming the surname would still mean "Chalice Maker", actually a professional name rather than a miscellaneous name as listed in this article. A person was sometimes named for the product he sold, so a "seller of lace" would be a Lietz (Lace); on the other hand, Lietz could have derived from a nickname referring to a person of higher economic status who wore "lace" on his clothing. Regarding religion, Germany was pagan prior to the 700s (AD). Although the Germans had three main gods: Woden, Tiu and Thor, they also had many lesser gods, all of whom they believed made their homes in trees or groves of trees, predominantly but not exclusively the oaks. Thus the Germans regarded certain trees and groves as being sacred. One of the first things the Christian missionaries did to impress the Germans that their gods were impotent, was to cut down their sacred oak trees and groves.

(As an item of interest and whether it be a carryover of respect from earlier tree worship or simply wise stewardship, Germany today has one of the foremost, if not the foremost, program in the world for woodland management and preservation. No German is permitted to cut down a tree, whether it be on private or public land, without first obtaining governmental permission and if granted, at least one replacement tree must be planted for each one cut.) There is an interesting name in this area which might indicate a sacred tree, "Wietholter" which interprets, "Willow Tree Loyal, or Willow Tree Beholden". Germany was Christianized in the 700s. In 716 AD, an Englishman of noble Saxon birth by the name of "Wynfrith" became enthused with the evangelistic spirit. With the help of Irish monks, he attempted to evangelize the Saxons of north Germany, but met with little success. Moving southward, Wynfrith and his Irish monks met with great success Christianizing South Germany. In recognition of his efforts, Wynfrith was canonized to Saint Boniface.

In 753, Boniface once again returned to North Germany in another attempt to Christianize the Saxons but was killed by a band of savages. Charlemagne then conquered the Saxons, Christianizing them via the sword in the period of 770-800 AD. In one battle alone, 4500 Saxons gave up their heads rather than convert to Christianity; the Saxons were a very determined and stubborn people. Names evolved through the centuries. As the population increased, the need to distinguish between persons having the same name living in the same general area arose.ï¿½ Say four Johanns were living close together. The one living among the oaks would be called Johann Eichner; the one living by the bridge would be Johann Bruecker; the one living near the church would be Johann Kirchner; the one at the ford would be Johann Furth and so began the use of a first and last name.

Christian names entered the scene in the mid 700s to 800 AD, the start of the Christian era, but progressed very slowly until the mid 1500s at which time the Roman Catholic Church required parents to give each newborn child the name of a saint as its first name. After having given the child a holy name, the parent could then add a secular middle name and so this was the start of having three names - a first, middle and last. The Protestants also followed this same procedure, except a different listing of saints was used. The passing of the surname from "father to son to son", while starting in the Christian era, most probably gathered its strength during this same general period of 1500-1600 AD.ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Zodikoff Please keep in mind that the interpretations of names given in these "Towpath" articles are "generic" interpretations - to know the exact meaning of one's name, it is necessary to know the exact geographical location of the site where the name was "coined" or the particular circumstances under which it was given. Dr. Jones used the earliest or most ancient meaning of name roots in his book.

It should be noted that the meaning of some roots changed during the passage of time; therefore, root meanings found in today's dictionaries might have no relation to the original meaning; The original meaning of "Schoenwald" meant "Beautiful Rulerï¿½, but today it means ï¿½ Beautiful Forest ". Also please keep in mind that the names of German immigrants were often spelled phonetically or Anglicized. It was not that the Germans could not write or spell; in fact, the Germans were more literate than the English sea captains, which transported them here. The Germans wrote in script which the sea captains could not read; hence the need for phonetics and Anglicizing of names. In conclusion, I would like to say I have thoroughly enjoyed writing these article on German names. I greatly appreciate those of you who have called or written or even dropped by to chat and certainly appreciate the insights you have passed along, not only on your own name, but others as well. Since these articles began with "Swamp" (by that I mean upon learning my name meant "Swamp Dweller", I set out to find out "why"), perhaps it is only fitting that they conclude with "Swamp".

Did you know that the meaning of " Bremen Muller Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms Muller Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms An excerpt from archives copyright ï¿½ 2000 - 2017 Multiple Origins for the Surname Muller Origins Available: Dutch , German, Jewish Multiple Origins for the Surname Muller Buy JPG Image » The Muller surname is thought to have originated in Bavaria , Germany . As hereditary surnames began to be adopted in that area beginning in the 12th century, people were often identified by the kind of work they did. Muller is an occupational name for a miller, derived from the Old Germanic "Mulinari." Muller Early Origins Buy PDF History » The surname Muller was first found in Southern Germany , where they were established in the Middle Ages. The name is the German form of the Latin name "Molinarius," "Mulinari" in Old German. The modern form of the name, Mueller, is documented early on in the chronicles of Swabia, wherein the knight Conrad von Husen is noted as having become known as Mueller for his ownership of a mill.

Muller Spelling Variations Muller Spelling Variations Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia . German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Muller include Mueller, Muller, Mueler, Muler, Miller, Moeller, Muellner, Milner, Molner and many more. Muller Early History Muller Early History This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Muller research.

Another 477 words (34 lines of text) covering the years 1693, 1670, 1752, 1807, 1631, 1675, 1779, 1829, 1828, 1815, 1758, 1749, 1825, 1806 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Muller History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Muller Early Notables (pre 1700) Muller Early Notables (pre 1700) Prominent among members of the name Muller in this period include Heinrich Mï¿½ller (1631-1675) was a German devotional author, Protestant author of hymns and Lutheran theologian; Adam Heinrich Mueller (1779-1829), ennobled in 1828 as Ritter von Nittersdorf, who influenced Hegel and accompanied Metternich to Paris in 1815, Johann Matthias Mueller, a... Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Muller Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. The Great Migration The Great Migration Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada.

An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Muller or a variant listed above: Muller Settlers in United States in the 17th Century Anneken Pietersen Muller, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1656 Muller Settlers in United States in the 18th Century Andrew Muller, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 Christopher Muller, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1739 Dietrich Muller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 Albrecht Muller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1744 Apollonia Muller, who landed in America in 1751 ...

(More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.) Muller Settlers in United States in the 19th Century Conrad Muller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1801 Eckard Muller, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 Caspar Muller, aged 25, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 Catharina Margretha Muller, aged 13, landed in Pennsylvania in 1805 Jacob Friederich Muller, who was naturalized in Pennsylvania in 1805 ...

(More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.) Muller Settlers in United States in the 20th Century Abraham Muller, aged 19, landed in America in 1909 Adele Muller, who landed in America in 1923 Muller Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century Johann Willhelm Muller, who immigrated to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1751 Barbara Muller, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757 Clara Muller, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757 Daniel Muller, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757 Muller Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century Wilhelm Muller, aged 30, arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" [1] CITATION[CLOSE] State Records of South Australia . (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847.

Retrieved from Carl Muller, aged 23, arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" [1] CITATION[CLOSE] State Records of South Australia . (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from Ferdinand Muller, aged 22, arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" [1] CITATION[CLOSE] State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from Carl Heinrich Muller, aged 21, arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" [1] CITATION[CLOSE] State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847.

Retrieved from Frederick Muller arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Victoria" [2] CITATION[CLOSE] State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) VICTORIA 1848. Retrieved from ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.) Contemporary Notables of the name Muller (post 1700) Contemporary Notables of the name Muller (post 1700) Major-General Walter Joseph Muller (1895-1967), American Assistant Chief of Staff (G-4), Army Field Forces (1948) Romeo Muller Jr. (1928-1992), American actor and writer, best known for his 1964 TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Steven Muller, President of Johns Hopkins University from 1972 to 1990 Richard A. Muller (b. 1944), American physicist, University of California, Berkeley Hermann Joseph Muller (1890-1967), U.S.

geneticist (Muller's ratchet) and educator Herbert J. Muller (1905-1980), American historian, academic, government official and author Sergeant Joseph E Muller (d. 1945), American Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1946 Hermann Joseph Mï¿½ller (1890-1967), American geneticist Georg Mï¿½ller SS.C C. (1951-2015), German bishop, Bishop of Trondheim (1997-2009) Manfred Mï¿½ller (1926-2015), German Roman Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Regensburg (1982-2002) ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.) Muller Historic Events MULLER Surname Meaning and Family History By Kimberly Powell Updated January 02, 2017. The Müller last name is a German occupational surname for "miller," from the Middle High German mülnære or müller.

MILLER is the English version of this common German surname. MÜLLER is the most common German surname , as well as the most common last name in Switzerland and in the French départements of Bas-Rhin and Moselle. Muller or Müller is also the fifth most common surname in Austria. Alternate Surname Spellings: MUELLER, MOLLER, MUILLER, MUELER, MULER, MILLER, MOELLER Famous People with the Surname MÜLLER: Erwin Wilhelm Müller - German physicist, the first person to experimentally observe atoms Filip Müller - Holocaust survivor and author of Eyewitness Auschwitz - Three Years in the Gas Chambers Willy Müller - inventor of the first automatic answering machine Hermann Joseph Muller - American geneticist, educator, and Nobel laureate Where is the MULLER Surname Most Common? The Muller surname, according to surname distribution information from Forebears , is most prevalent in Switzerland (ranked 5th in the country), Luxembourg (2nd), France (37th), South Africa (38th), and Austria (39th).

continue reading below our video How to Trace the Origin of a Surname The Mueller spelling, on the other hand, is most prevalent in Germany, where it is the 10th most common surname. The Mueller spelling is also common in Switzerland (12th), in addition to the Muller variant. WorldNames PublicProfiler also highlights the Muller surname's popularity in Switzerland, and indicates that it is most common in Nordwestschweiz by more than double any other region. It is also fairly common in Espace Mittelland and Zentralschweiz in Switzerland, and Alsace and Lorraine in France. Top 100 German Last Names and Their Meanings By Ingrid Bauer Updated February 22, 2016. The following is a listing of the top one hundred German last names currently in Germany. The list was created by searching for the most common surnames in 2012 via German telephone books. Take note that variances in spelling of a surname were looked at as separate names . For instance, Schmidt which is ranked as number two, appears as Schmitt (rank twenty-four) and Schmid (rank twenty-six) as well.

The origin of German Last Names The meanings of German last names are those as originally defined when these names became surnames. For example, the surname Meyer means dairy farmer today, whereas in the Middle Ages, Meyer was designated to people who were stewards of landholders. Most names derive either from archaic professions (Schmidt, Müller, Weber, Schäfer) or places (not too many of those in the following list but e.g. Brinkmann, Berger, Frank). (The acronyms OHG and MHG stand for Old High German and Middle High German respectively.) Top 100 German Family Names 1. continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States Müller miller

Question: The German surname Müller refers to what occupation?
Answer: Miller