What does your German surname say about you?

Do you have a German surname? Like other Australians with German heritage, your last name could well yield some interesting clues to your family history.

The most common form of German family name is occupational. It can often be identified by its ending: -er, -hauer, -macher, or man/-mann.

Often a person was distinguished by a reference to his or her father. This is referred to as “patronymic.”

Many German surnames are descriptive names based on a physical characteristic, such as size or hair colour.

Lastly, geographical names derive from where a person lived or came from. They may stem from the name of a city or village or the location of someone’s home.

What does your last name mean? Find out.