NameCensus.

UK surname

German

Denoting an individual of Germanic origin or a person who came from Germany.

In the 1881 census there were 1,396 people recorded with the German surname, ranking it #2,966 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,349, ranked #4,472, down from #2,966 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Bassetlaw and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for German is 1,920 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.

1881 census count

1,396

Ranked #2,966

Modern count

1,349

2016, ranked #4,472

Peak year

1911

1,920 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • German had 1,396 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,966 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,349 in 2016, ranked #4,472.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,920 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

German surname distribution map

The map shows where the German surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

German surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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German over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 821 #3,286
1861 historical 1,053 #2,662
1881 historical 1,396 #2,966
1891 historical 1,525 #2,896
1901 historical 1,661 #3,100
1911 historical 1,920 #2,585
1997 modern 1,412 #4,111
1998 modern 1,442 #4,186
1999 modern 1,408 #4,281
2000 modern 1,418 #4,246
2001 modern 1,385 #4,253
2002 modern 1,388 #4,325
2003 modern 1,353 #4,343
2004 modern 1,319 #4,430
2005 modern 1,309 #4,408
2006 modern 1,292 #4,469
2007 modern 1,304 #4,474
2008 modern 1,316 #4,468
2009 modern 1,350 #4,455
2010 modern 1,386 #4,439
2011 modern 1,348 #4,502
2012 modern 1,338 #4,461
2013 modern 1,369 #4,452
2014 modern 1,389 #4,420
2015 modern 1,358 #4,458
2016 modern 1,349 #4,472

Geography

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Where Germans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Doddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Bassetlaw, Huntingdonshire, Cherwell and County Durham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Doddington Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
2 Bassetlaw 014 Bassetlaw
3 Huntingdonshire 006 Huntingdonshire
4 Cherwell 004 Cherwell
5 County Durham 053 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with German

These lists show first names that appear often with the German surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for German

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For German, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the German surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every German household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, German is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

German is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

German falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for German is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with German, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of German

The surname GERMAN is of German and English origin, derived from the medieval personal name Gereman or Germen. This name is thought to have originated from the Old German word "gari" meaning "spear" combined with the root "man" meaning "man." It was originally an occupational name for a man who carried a spear or javelin.

In England, the surname GERMAN is believed to have originated from the Middle English word "germain" meaning "a cousin or kinsman." It was used to refer to someone who was a close relative but not a direct descendant. The earliest recorded instance of this surname in England dates back to the 13th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname GERMAN was Johannes Germen, who was mentioned in the records of the city of Cologne, Germany, in 1292. Another early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire, England, from 1332, which lists a person named John le Germeyn.

In the 14th century, the GERMAN surname appeared in various historical records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which recorded a Walter German. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 also mentioned a Robert Germain.

Notable individuals with the surname GERMAN throughout history include:

1. Frederic German (1775-1847), a British playwright and author known for his works such as "The Rovers" and "The Rent Day." 2. Edward German (1862-1936), an English composer and violinist best known for his light operas and incidental music for plays. 3. Aleksey German (1938-2013), a renowned Soviet and Russian film director and screenwriter, known for his films "My Friend Ivan Lapshin" and "Khrustalyov, My Car!" 4. Yuri German (1910-1967), a Soviet military commander who played a significant role during World War II, particularly in the Battle of Kursk. 5. Theodor German (1872-1943), a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other German cities.

The GERMAN surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Germanton in North Carolina, USA, and the town of Germain in Normandy, France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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German families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the German surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 199 Germans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.02x.

County Total Index
Devon 199 7.02x
Lancashire 189 1.17x
Middlesex 122 0.90x
Surrey 93 1.40x
Kent 86 1.85x
Hampshire 73 2.61x
Cambridgeshire 67 7.76x
Westmorland 64 21.37x
Glamorgan 57 2.40x
Yorkshire 45 0.33x
Staffordshire 42 0.91x
Cheshire 34 1.13x
Derbyshire 34 1.59x
Essex 33 1.23x
Lincolnshire 27 1.24x
Cornwall 26 1.69x
Somerset 23 1.05x
Durham 21 0.52x
Northamptonshire 18 1.40x
Gloucestershire 17 0.64x
Leicestershire 17 1.13x
Warwickshire 14 0.41x
Anglesey 13 5.38x
Sussex 13 0.57x
Worcestershire 12 0.67x
Shropshire 10 0.85x
Brecknockshire 9 3.30x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.38x
Norfolk 6 0.29x
Dorset 4 0.45x
Suffolk 4 0.24x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.11x
Northumberland 3 0.15x
Oxfordshire 2 0.24x
Renfrewshire 2 0.19x
Royal Navy 2 1.23x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Cardiganshire 1 0.30x
Denbighshire 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Benwick in Cambridgeshire leads with 38 Germans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1000.00x.

Place Total Index
Benwick 38 1000.00x
Ilfracombe 33 113.01x
Portsea 32 5.85x
Bishops Nympton 23 425.14x
Deptford St Paul 21 5.86x
Croydon 20 5.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 20 7.29x
Kendal 18 32.83x
Ashburton 17 125.37x
Battersea 17 3.39x
Beerferris 17 307.41x
Higher Booths 17 58.32x
Monks Coppenhall 17 14.98x
Lewisham 15 6.05x
Whittlesey St Mary St 15 49.75x
Clerkenwell London 14 4.35x
Everton 14 2.72x
Islington London 14 1.06x
St Just In Roseland 14 207.41x
Mile End Old Town London 13 4.48x
Peterborough 13 14.01x
Swansea Town 13 6.68x
Bromley London 12 4.00x
Claines 12 24.57x
Litchurch 12 13.98x
Skelsmergh 12 685.71x
Southampton St Mary 12 6.83x
Wigan 12 5.31x
Ystradyfodwg 12 5.77x
Dulverton 11 171.34x
Sevenoaks 11 29.18x
Aberdare 10 6.14x
Derby St Werburgh 10 8.12x
Lambeth 10 0.84x
Oldham 10 1.92x
St Marylebone London 10 1.37x
Stoke Newington London 10 9.42x
Wem 10 57.11x
West Bromwich 10 3.80x
Burton Upon Trent 9 8.36x
Fawley 9 101.58x
Kirkdale 9 3.31x
Undermilbeck 9 91.09x
Barrow In Furness 8 3.64x
Bridlington 8 25.87x
Exeter St David 8 33.02x
Hove 8 7.93x
Liverpool 8 0.81x
Llanelly 8 24.53x
Measham 8 102.04x
Pendlebury 8 23.43x
Romiley 8 94.23x
Tormoham 8 6.67x
Wolverhampton 8 2.26x
Ashby De La Zouch 7 19.99x
Bristol St James In 7 17.81x
Burlescombe 7 181.82x
Chorley 7 7.71x
Habergham Eaves 7 4.74x
Helmington Row 7 37.08x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 7 97.09x
Hulme 7 2.07x
Meon Stoke 7 316.74x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 3.07x
Neath 7 14.50x
Pilton 7 74.79x
St Andrewthe Less 7 7.10x
Swansea Lower 7 57.85x
West Derby 7 1.48x
Westbury On Trym 7 7.73x
Black Torrington 6 146.70x
Bradford 6 1.84x
Camberwell 6 0.69x
Cornforth 6 50.25x
Deptford St Nicholas 6 16.26x
Morton In Gainsborough 6 140.19x
Murston 6 145.99x
Shoreditch London 6 1.02x
Timperley 6 57.36x
Ulverston 6 12.74x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the German surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the German surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 98
John 89
George 49
James 45
Thomas 39
Henry 34
Robert 28
Charles 24
Alfred 22
Richard 21
Edward 20
Frederick 19
Samuel 14
Albert 13
Joseph 11
Arthur 10
Harry 8
Ernest 6
Walter 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
Amos 4
Geo. 4
Herbert 4
Isaac 4
Lewis 4
Benjamin 3
Fred 3
Jonathan 3
Peter 3
Wm. 3
Bernard 2
Bertie 2
Cornelius 2
Daniel 2
Henery 2
Hugh 2
Jacob 2
Jessie 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
W.H. 2
Cronan 1
Foster 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1

FAQ

German surname: questions and answers

How common was the German surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,396 people were recorded with the German surname. That placed it at #2,966 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the German surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,349 in 2016. That gives German a modern rank of #4,472.

What does the German surname mean?

Denoting an individual of Germanic origin or a person who came from Germany.

What does the German map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of German bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.