familienamen

Familiennamen, or surnames, are the part of a personal name that is passed down within a family and used to indicate lineage. In most cultures, a person has a given name (first name) and a Familienname (family name). Surnames help identify kinship, social history, and family connections across generations.

Surnames originate from several sources. Occupational names refer to a person’s trade, such as Müller (miller), Schmidt (smith), and Weber (weaver). Patronymic names derive from the father’s given name, for example Hansen or Petersen. Toponymic names come from places, such as Berg (mountain) or Hamburg. Some surnames arose from nicknames describing appearance or character.

History and development: In medieval Europe, descriptors often identified individuals, but over time many names became hereditary. In German-speaking areas, surnames gradually fixed by the early modern period, with local laws and church records standardizing spellings and family names. The process varied by region and social status.

Legal and social aspects: In many countries, marriage can affect surnames or lead to combining family names. Germany allows various forms of name choice for spouses and children, including hyphenated or double surnames; practices differ by jurisdiction and personal preference. In other countries, laws regulate changes and the transmission of names to offspring.

Contemporary usage and variation: Surnames may be adapted in migration contexts, with diacritics or spellings altered (for example, Müller becoming Mueller). Transliterations occur in non-German-speaking environments. Common German surnames include Müller, Schmidt, Schneider, Fischer, Weber, Meyer, and Wagner.