German Names from Nürnberg, 1497: Descriptive Surnames

by Sara L. Uckelman
known in the SCA as Aryanhwy merch Catmael

© 2008, 2012 Sara L. Uckelman; all rights reserved
last updated 29Jul12

The forms listed 'feminine' were used by women only. Occasionally a vowel is superscripted over another vowel. I have used square brackets to indicate this. For example, Lo[e]sin indicates that the e is superscripted over the o.

SurnameNumberNürnbergSurrounding
cities
Notes
Aichhorn1X'squirrel'
alt6Xprepended, 'old'
Altt1X'old'
Altvater1X'old father'
Arg2Xperhaps derivative from MHG argen 'makes me scared, anxious'
Baeir1X'Bavarian'
Baier1X'Bavarian'
Barfussin1X'bear-foot', feminine
Bayer5X'Bavarian'
Bayerin1X'Bavarian', feminine
Bayr1X'Bavarian'
Beer3X'bear'
Ber1X'bear'
Bilgram1X'pilgrim'
Bischoff312'bishop'
Bischoffin1X'bishop', feminine
Braun1X'brown'
Bruder1X'brother'
Bull1X'small, thick chap'
Daum1X'thumb', for a man with prominent thumbs
Dawm3X'thumb', for a man with prominent thumbs
Degen1X'free man, warrior, young hero; follower, vassal'
der alt1Xprepended, 'the old'
der elter211'the elder'
der eltter2X'the elder'
d(er) jung1X'the young'
(der) jung(e)1X'the young'
(der) jung(er)1X'the younger'
de(r) junge(r)3X'the younger'
der jung(er)1X'the younger'
der junge(r)2X'the younger'
der junger12210'the younger'
Dockler1X'supporting pillar'
Galster1X'magic incantation, deceit'
Gassne(r)2X'living on the main street of the town'
Gast11110'stranger, guest'
Gauch2X'cuckoo, fool'
Gauss1X'goose'
Geck4X'silly, foolish person, dude'
Gerngros1X'show off'
Gescheid1X'bright, clever'
Gescheyd1X'bright, clever'
Gescheydt1X'bright, clever'
Geuder413'braggard, squanderer'
Geuderin1Xfeminine, 'braggard, squanderer'
Gewder2X'braggard, squanderer'
Hebenstreit1X'start a fight', for a cantankerous person
Heb(e)nstreitt1X'start a fight', for a cantankerous person
Hebenstreyt1X'start a fight', for a cantankerous person
Helbling514'half-penny'
Held1X'brave, hero'
Herczog4X'duke'
Hoch1X'high, proud, distinguished'
Hoffardt1X'pride, superciliousness'
jung1Xprepended, 'young'
Jung1X'young'
Jungma(n)1X'young man'
Jungman1X'young man'
junior3X'junior'
junior10Xprepended, 'junior'
Mull2Xprepended, 'garbage, trash'
Murr1X'morose, sullen'
Murrin2Xfeminine, 'morose, sullen'
Otterlein1X'cousin'
Paeir6X'Bavarian'
Paer1X'Bavarian'
Paeyr3X'Bavarian'
Paff3X'cleric, priest'
Paier1X'Bavarian'
Parffus1X'bear-foot'
Parffussin1X'bear-foot'
Part1X'beard'
Partma(n)1X'beard man'
Partt2X'beard'
Pay(er)1X'Bavarian'
Payer1X'Bavarian'
Payr2X'Bavarian'
Peham9X'Bohemian'
Pehamin1Xfeminine, 'Bohemian'
Peheim3X'Bohemian'
Pehem8X'Bohemian'
Peie(r)1X'Bavarian'
Peierin1Xfeminine, 'Bavarian'
Reck826'fugitive, outlaw, roaming warrior, warrior hero'
Regelschuster1Xlit. 'rule sister', 'a nun according to the rule'.
Regenpogen1X'rainbow'
Reger1X'lively, restless'
Renne(r)3X'armed thrall, riding messenger'
Renner2X'armed thrall, riding messenger'
Resch725'lively, cheerful, active'
Reschell1X'lively, cheerful, active'
Sturmer1X'fighter'
Windisch321'Serbian, Wendish'
Wirßing1X'bad, evil'
Wirt624'householder, husband'
Wirtini1Xpossessive, 'householder, husband'
Wirtt211'householder, husband'
Wunderlich1X'irritable, moody, odd, strange'
Wurm3X'lindworm, snake, dragon'
Wurstlein1X'little sausage'
Wust4X'chaotic, wild, wasteful'
Wyß1X'white'
Zanck1X'quarrelsome, cantankerous'
Zanger1X'cheerful, lively, energetic'
Zangk1X'quarrelsome, cantankerous'
Zanner321'growler, howler, squabbler'
Zapff1X'tap', for a drunkard
Zehe1X'toe, claw; tough'
Zenck1X'honorable'
Zenger1X'cheerful, lively, energetic'
Zenne(r)2X'growler, howler, squabbler'
Zerrer3X'rowdy, tough'
Zeyer1X'backbiter, slanderer'
Zeys2X'graceful, charming, gentle'
Zeysser1X'quarreler, cantankerous person'
Zeyßer1X'quarreler, cantankerous person'

Return to the main page.


Source:

Fleischmann, Peter, Reichssteuerregister von 1497 der Reichsstadt Nürnberg (und der Reichspflege Weissenburg), (Nürnberg: Gesellschaft für Familienforschung in Franken, 1993.)