GERMAN
German
Origin: German is an English surname of occupational origin, derived from the Old French word "germain," which means brother or kinsman. It was used to denote someone who was a relative or a kinsman. The name could also refer to individuals who were from Germany or had ancestry from Germany.
History: The surname German has been recorded in England since medieval times, indicating a long history of usage. It is likely that the name was introduced to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, when the French language and naming practices were adopted by the ruling class.
Distribution: The surname German is distributed throughout the United Kingdom, with concentrations in areas that historically experienced high levels of immigration or trade with continental Europe.
Notable Bearers: Notable individuals bearing the surname German include:
- John German (1832–1894), English cricketer
- Eva German (1886–1966), British artist and designer
- Andrew German (born 1955), English footballer
Variants: Variants of the surname German include Germain, Jerman, and Jermen.
Coat of Arms: The German family coat of arms typically features traditional heraldic symbols such as shields, lions, and crowns. These symbols can vary depending on the specific branch of the family.
Trivia: The surname German is not necessarily indicative of German ancestry, as it may have originated from other sources such as occupation or relationships. The diversity of English surnames reflects the rich tapestry of the country's history and cultural influences.
There are approximately 1,822 people named German in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,543rd most common surname in Britain. Around 28 in a million people in Britain are named German.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
- Steven
Female
- Alison
- Angela
- Anne
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Janet
- Karen
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Rachel
- Sarah
Similar and related surnames
- Gearman
- Gehrman
- Gehrmann
- Geirman
- Geran
- Germa
- Germain
- Germaine
- Germains
- Germana
- Germanacos
- Germane
- Germanes
- Germaney
- Germani
- Germanis
- Germaniuk
- Germann
- Germano
- Germanos
- Germanou
- Germanov
- Germans
- Germanus
- Germany
- Germay
- Germen
- Germeney
- Germin
- Germon
- Germyn
- Gierman
- Girma
- Girman
- Greman
- Gyerman
- Jarmain
- Jarmaine
- Jarman
- Jarmann
- Jarmans
- Jarmin
- Jermain
- Jermaine
- Jerman
- Jermanis
- Jermann
- Jermany
- Jermin
- Jermyn
- Jorman
- Jurmaine
- Jurman
- Jurmann
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.