German History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought many new words to England from which surnames were formed. German was one of these new Norman names. It was specifically tailored to its first bearer, who was a person of German descent, or a person who was associated with that country through trade or other means. Another derivation of the name suggests that it derives from the Old French given name Germain. This name was borne by a popular French saint from the 5th century, and also meant of the same stock, or related to.

Germanus (378?-448), was "Bishop of Auxerre, and missionary to Britain, son of noble parents whose names are given as Rusticus and Germanilla, was born at Auxerre about 378, and after attending schools in Gaul went to study at Rome. " 1

German is a classic example of an polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently.

Early Origins of the German family

The surname German was first found in Essex where Jerman filius Willelmi was listed in the Feet of Fines for 1248. 2 However, Germanus was earlier listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 3

Early History of the German family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our German research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1248, 1250, 1279, 1318, 1377, 1397, 1402, 1650, 1680, 1718, 1738 and 1769 are included under the topic Early German History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

German Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled German, Germans, Jermain, Jarman and others.

Early Notables of the German family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

German Ranking

In the United States, the name German is the 2,172nd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 4

Migration of the German family to Ireland

Some of the German family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


German migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name German or a variant listed above:

German Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
German Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
German Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

German migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

German Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
German Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

German migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

German Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

German migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

German Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name German (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name German +
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