Sussmann

Sussmann is a surname of German origin. It is often a variant spelling of Süssmann, with the umlaut rendered as ss in orthographies that do not use umlauts. The root Süss or Suss may derive from a nickname meaning “sweet” or “pleasant,” combined with Mann to form a byname or patronymic surname. The name is found in German-speaking countries and in diaspora communities, including Ashkenazi Jewish populations, and is present in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Israel.

Notable people with the surname include Michael Sussmann, an American attorney who worked at the law firm Perkins Coie. He gained public attention in connection with the federal investigation led by Special Counsel John Durham. In 2021 he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to making a false statement to the FBI about whether he was representing any client when he provided information to the bureau in 2016. He was acquitted of all charges in December 2021.

The surname can appear in different transliterations, such as Süssmann, and may have multiple families bearing the name across various countries. As with many Germanic surnames, its distribution reflects historical migration and the movement of Jewish communities in the modern era.