Bader

Bader is a surname of German origin. It is generally considered an occupational name derived from the Middle High German Bader, meaning bath attendant or a person who operated a bathhouse.

Across centuries the name spread beyond its linguistic heartland through migration, and it is now found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and in communities of German and Jewish ancestry in North America and elsewhere. The spelling Bader is the most common in English-language contexts; in German records, diacritical marks or regional spellings may appear depending on historical transcription.

Variants and related forms have emerged in different regions, reflecting phonetic shifts and immigration patterns. The name is sometimes associated with towns or spa-related sites, which can give rise to occurrences in toponymic contexts within German-speaking areas.

Notable people with the surname Bader span a range of fields, including science, politics, the arts, and sports; no single figure defines the name. The surname is frequently discussed in onomastic and genealogical literature as an example of an occupational German surname and its dispersion through migration.

See also Baader, a similarly spelled surname with distinct origins.