The common Russian last names are in the form of possessive adjectives; in comparison, surnames in the form of attributive adjectives and nouns are lesser in number. Thank you for visiting the website of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR). Because of this, German last names can be found throughout bordering countries, including Poland, Austria, France and Spain. It is a toponymic surname for someone from the place called Oberhausen. It is a variant of the name ‘Pfeiffer,’ which is an occupational name for a pipe player since Pfeife means ‘whistle’ or ‘pipe’ in German. Occupational name for a fur trader, from the Slavic word soboli meaning "sable, marten". It is a variant of ‘Jan’ that comes from ‘Jane,’ the feminine form of the name ‘John.’ The name ‘John’ comes from Hebrew and means ‘god is gracious.’. The meanings of German last names are those as defined initially when these names became surnames. One of the reasons … Did you know that “Putin” means “one who travels along the road” and “Stalin” means “made of steel”? 66 Russian Last Names (And What They Mean) By Jerome London Updated June 19, 2018. These occupational names form the largest group among the German family names. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘fust’ meaning ‘fist’ thus referring to a strong person. It is a variant of the word ‘Maler,’ which means ‘painter’ in German. Last names can reveal where your ancestors came from, or what they did for a living. List of the most common surnames in Germany. It is an occupational name for a steward. It is a toponymic name for someone who lived by a defensive wall or any other fortification. Russian surnames can take different forms on the basis of gender. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘ramft’ meaning ‘edge’ or ‘wall.’ It is used as a topographic name for someone who lived at the outer edge of a field. The feminine form is the same plus an "a" at the end for most surnames ending in "v" and "n". Discover the ethnic origin and meaning of last names. It is a variant name of ‘Eisele,’ which is derived from Middle High German and is a nickname for a blacksmith or someone who deals with iron. In Russia, most surnames change depending on the gender of the person. It comes from the Old German word ‘trippe’ that refers to wooden pattens or clogs, which are a type of wooden footwear. The occupational surname refers to someone who makes pattens. It is derived from the word ‘treppe,’ which means ‘steps’ in German. In fact, it’s quite the opposite — German is a strong language, so it’s no surprise that their names are, too. Another reference for the surname could be the Latin word ‘Faustus,’ which means ‘favorable’ or ‘lucky.’. Surname – Number of families. It is a combination of the Middle High German words ‘lache’ meaning a ‘lake’ or a ‘pond’ and ‘mann’ meaning a ‘man.’ It is a toponymic surname referring to someone who lived by the side of a lake or water body. The feminine form is the same plus an "a" at the end for most surnames ending in "v" and "n". It comes from the Middle High German word ‘trumpe’ meaning a ‘drum’ and refers to someone who works as a drummer. The ornamental name is derived from the German word ‘prinz’ that means ‘prince.’. Links for Further Study. BRAHMS German. It is the German word for ‘night’ and probably an occupational name for a night watchman. Lemmer. It was two or three hundred years before it was commonplace to use last names, though most people were using them by the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘Kule,’ which means a ‘quarry.’ It is a toponymic surname for one who lives by a quarry. Another tricky thing about German last names: A last name could be what you would call a farm name. Whether you want something simple and traditional or something out of the ordinary, these German last names are sure to pack the punch you’re looking for. It is a toponymic name for someone from a place called Vorbeck in Northern Germany. The name is derived from ‘Anthony’ or ‘Antonius’ which is a Roman … The word kegel refers to the game of ‘skittles.’ The name denotes someone who is a player of the game. Occupational. Joseph Johann Abert (1832-1915), a German musician and composer of operas. It comes from the German word ‘palme,’ referring to any of the several palm and willow trees. It is a spelling variant of ‘Kandler,’ which is an occupational name for a potter. Traditional Dutch Surnames Or Family Names, Russian Last Names Or Surnames With Meanings, 50 Alphabet Coloring Pages Your Toddler Will Love, Top 10 Ways To Enhance Your Parenting Skills, Understanding Teenage Behavior Problems And Tips To Handle Them, Top 10 Foods To Boost Your Kid’s Brain Power, 10 Negative Effects Of Divorce On Children And Ways To Mitigate Them, 135 Modern Tamil Baby Names For Girls And Boys, 100 Common Finnish Surnames Or Last Names With Meanings, 15 Amazing Algerian Names For Girls And Boys With Meanings, 103 Traditional English Girl Names Making A Strong Comeback, 40 Valentine’s Day Inspired Baby Names For Boys And Girls. It is the German word for ‘gaunt’ or an ‘extremely thin person.’ Another derivation could be the Middle High German word ‘hac’ meaning a ‘hedge’ or a ‘fenced enclosure.’. ‘Harling’ could also be a toponymic surname referring to people who originally came from any of the several places with similar sounding name in Germany. Friesen – 254; Penner – 242; Reimer – 217; Dyck/Dick/Dueck – 151; Wiebe – 146; Klassen – 104; Peters – 93; Giesbrecht – 92 The Origin of German Last Names . First Settlers List - Head of Families. Established in 1968, AHSGR is an international organization dedicated to the discovery, collection, preservation, and dissemination of information related to the history, cultural heritage and genealogy of Germanic settlers in the Russian Empire and their descendants. Most of the last names ending with an ‘-enko’ have originated in Ukraine. It’s a variant name for ‘Hess,’ which denotes people from the state of Hesse in Germany. Another origin could be the Middle High German word ‘wac’ meaning a ‘pool,’ ‘pond’ or ‘standing water.’ It could be a toponymic name of someone who lived by a pond or a marsh. Dumler (Grimm, Eckheim, Gnadenfeld) Eberhard (Grimm, Schwab) They include Schneider (tailor), Fischer (fisherman), Weber (weaver) and Meier (also Mayer and Meyer). https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_surnames_in_Russia&oldid=997968768, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles that may contain original research from November 2016, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2019, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Articles with Russian-language sources (ru), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 January 2021, at 03:22. It is the combination of two Middle High German words ‘oster’ meaning ‘eastern’ and ‘meyer’ meaning ‘farmer.’ The surname thus means ‘eastern farmer’ and referred to farmers or peasants who worked in the eastern part of a region. It means a ‘chaplain’ in German and thus refers to someone who is a clergyman. Another origin could be the Middle High German word ‘lind,’ which means ‘gentle’ or ‘kind-hearted.’. Anyway, here are the 50 most common Russian Mennonite surnames, according to their frequency in the Steinbach phonebook or, in other words, a list of Mennos who still have a landline. Learn how and when to remove this template message. A large number of Russian surnamesalso end in "evich," "ovich," or just "ich" . German last names have a strong presence in both Christian and Jewish communities across the globe. This name is of Teutonic (a tribe that inhabited coastal Germany) origin, which means ‘illustrious.’. It is a combination of the German words ‘eber’ meaning a ‘boar’ and ‘hardt’ meaning ‘strong’ or ‘tough.’ The name thus means ‘strong boar’ or ‘brave boar.’, It is related to the name ‘Eberhardt’ and means ‘strong boar.’ Another origin could be the name ‘Herbert,’ which comes from the Old German words ‘hari’ meaning an ‘army’ and ‘beraht’ meaning ‘bright.’. It comes from the Middle High German word ‘vasel,’ which refers to a ‘brood’ or ‘several offspring.’ It may have referred to someone who had or came from a large family. The bearer of this name could be someone born or baptized in this month. It is a variant of the name ‘Bayer,’ the toponymic name for someone from the state of Bavaria, which is called ‘Bayern’ in German. Kuzmich and Verenich are common Russian surnames. The word means ‘discord,’ ‘discontentment’ or a ‘quarrel’ in New High German (Modern German). It is the short form of the name ‘Alexander,’ which comes from the Greek name ‘Alexandros’ meaning ‘defender of mankind.’. It is a toponymic name for someone from any of the several places named Uffeln in Germany. It is likely a toponymic surname for someone living by a terrain with a step-like feature. A traditional Russian name consists of a given name, patronymic name, and a family name. Kuzmich and Verenich are common[citation needed] Russian surnames. The toponymic name refers to someone from Eulenburg or Eilenburg in Germany. It is a toponymic name for someone from the place called Uhlhorn near the Hunte river in Germany. It is a toponymic name for people from several places called Dahme in Germany. The surname could also be toponymic referring to someone from any of the several places called Rath in Germany. It is a variant of the name ‘Eckmann’ where ‘ecke’ is the Old German word for ‘edge’ or ‘corner.’ This surname likely refers to someone who lived on the edge of a hill or corner of two streets or corner of a field. It comes from the Old German words ‘ecke’ meaning ‘edge’ or ‘corner’ and stein meaning ‘stone.’ This German surname is either toponymic referring to someone who lived on a cliff or occupational referring to a stonemason. It is the German word for ‘wine’ and refers to a wine merchant or wine producer. It is a toponymic name for someone from the place called Remlingen in Germany. It is a variant of the Middle High German name ‘luhs,’ which denotes a person with keen sight. The name is derived from the Middle High German word ‘schoup’ meaning a ‘sheaf of grains.’ It makes it an occupational name for a brewer. It is toponymic surname referring to someone who belonged to the town called Celle in Germany. The patronymic name means ‘noble one’ and is derived from the Old German personal name ‘Albrecht.’, This name is of Teutonic (a tribe that inhabited coastal Germany) origin, which means ‘illustrious.’ Another origin for the name could be the Old German word ‘Albrecht.’. The name could also be the German variant of ‘Paul,’ which in Latin means ‘humble.’. The root word ‘Neu’ means ‘new’ in German, and the surname denotes a newcomer in a particular area. A toponymic name for someone hailing from any of the several places called Gern in Bavaria, Germany. The first European surnames seem to have arisen in northern Italy around 1000 A.D., gradually spreading northward into the Germanic lands and the rest of Europe. It is a variant of ‘Hubert,’ which comes from Old German and means ‘bright-hearted’ or ‘bright-spirited.’, It is a variant of ‘Hafner,’ which is an occupational name for a potter. It is a variant of ‘Markgraf’ that comes from Middle High German word ‘margrave.’ It is a combination of the words ‘marc’ meaning ‘boundary’ and ‘grave’ meaning ‘royal judge.’, It is a variant of ‘Maurer,’ which refers to a ‘mason,’ ‘wall-builder,’ or a ‘brick-layer.’. After that, merchants and general townspeople started using surnames, with rural people adopting the practice last. By Jerome London Updated June 19, 2018. It is a spelling variant of the German name ‘Eicher,’ which comes from the word ‘Eich’ meaning an oak tree. It is a toponymic surname for someone who is from any of the several places called Edingen in Germany. It may be used to contact other members who are interested in the same surnames or geographic regions (directly contacting other members of the GGG is a Members Only feature). It is a toponymic name for someone from the place called Neida in Germany. It is a short form of a German personal name ‘Aido,’ which probably derived from ‘Eid’ meaning an ‘oath.’. It is easy to guess that this surname was derived from the name of an… An alphabetical list of German surnames; ideal for researching your family history and discovering the roots of your German last name. Oba. It is a toponymic name for someone from the place called Norden in Germany. Another origin could be the Middle High German word ‘scheffe,’ which means a ‘juror.’. It means ‘Son of Anton’. It comes from the German word ‘decke’ meaning a ‘ceiling,’ ‘roof’ or ‘cover.’ This occupational surname refers to a ‘carpenter,’ ‘builder’ or someone who thatches a roof. With almost 144 million people and Moscow as the capital, Russia has always had a complicated history. Müller, occupation ; Schmidt, occupation ; Schneider, occupation ; Fischer, occupation ; Weber, occupation ; Meyer, occupation (originally a manorial landlord, later a self-employed farmer) Wagner, occupation ; Becker, occupation Those that came at the invitation of Catherine were farmers needed to develop the vast steppes. The surname is a variant of the German word ‘Anger,’ which means ‘meadow,’ ‘lawn’ or ‘greenery.’, It is a variant of the name ‘Babo,’ which is derived from the Old German name ‘Badubrecht.’ It means ‘battle-bright.’. It is derived from the German word ‘Jänner,’ which refers to January. The Members Code List contains a cross reference of member code numbers with their corresponding mailing address. Contents. Please read our Disclaimer. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘neser,’ which refers to a ‘shoulder bag for food.’ The name is also a likely nickname for someone who is a connoisseur of food. Surnames ending in "evich" are common . This German surname is also a status name for an arbitrator. The toponymic name refers to someone from a place named Weidich in the Silesia region of Europe. Here we will look at an alphabetical list of German … It is a variant of the German word ‘Schäfer,’ which refers to a shepherd. It is probably a toponymic name referring to someone who lived by a stream or a water body. For example, the surname Meyer means dairy farmer today, whereas, during the Middle Ages, Meyer designated people who were stewards of landholders. It comes from the German word ‘rinne,’ which refers to a ‘groove’ or a ‘channel’ for water. Also, the "coch"[citation needed] ending last names are found everywhere in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, but most typically in Belarus and Russia. Surnames ending in "y" change to the feminine form by replacing the ending with "-aya". German last names starting with K These changes had their influence on German surnames that were often based on the places and the profession of the people. For example, there is Stasevich, Fyodorovych, Ogiyevich, Alkhimovich, and Denisovich. Genealogy: it's not just a hobby; it's an obsession. It is the German word for ‘fork.’ It is an occupational surname for someone who was a seller or maker of all types of forks including pitchforks. Germanic languages have had a huge influence in the development of certain English words, and surnames with German origins are therefore common in English-speaking countries. The individual(s) or village chart coordinator commissioning the chart are listed on each chart. It is a toponymic name for someone from any of the places around the mountain named Wallberg in Germany. The name denotes a fisherman. The German word ‘loch’ means ‘hollow,’ and the name denotes someone who lived by a valley. If you know of any more German surnames, then leave them in the comment section below. The German word ‘vogel’ means ‘bird.’ It is either an occupational name for a birdwatcher or a nickname for a jovial and chirpy person. It is a variant of the name ‘Egger,’ which originated from the German word ‘eggen’ meaning ‘to harrow.’ This surname is likely an occupational one referring to a farmer. In Russia, most surnames change depending on the gender of the person. It is a toponymic name for the people who came from the town of Adelberg in Germany. Derived from Russian смирный (smirny) meaning "quiet, peaceful, timid". The name is related to the word ‘unholz’ that refers to waste wood or unwanted wood left after making wooden furniture. Germany is a land that has undergone various political and geographical changes. It is an occupational name for a swineherd – a person who rears and tends swine or hogs. Dolores Schick is the Village Coordinator for Steinau, and a member of Galizien German Descendants. This name is derived from the German name ‘Kümmel,’ which refers to the caraway plant. It is derived from the German word ‘wirt,’ which means ‘host’ or ‘landlord.’ The name is an occupational name for an innkeeper. (2019) Surnames in modern Russia. 1. It is an occupational name for a cook. The surname comes from the Middle High German word ‘hafen,’ which means an ‘earthen pot.’, It is derived from the name ‘Heimirich,’ which means ‘home ruler’ or ‘ruler of the household.’, It is a short form of the name ‘Heinrich’ and also means ‘home-ruler.’. In this MomJunction post, we put across 200 German last names along with their interesting meanings and origins. It is derived from the German name ‘Hugo,’ which means ‘bright soul’ or ‘bright-hearted.’. 1798 List of Heads of Families. Mandel means ‘almond’ and is a toponymic surname for someone living by an almond tree or an occupational name for the trader of almonds. Significantly less known is the fact that Russian Jewish surnames are extremely heterogeneous. It is the German word for ‘sign,’ ‘pointer’ or an ‘indicator.’ It is an occupational name for a sign-maker. This information is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional health services. List Of Popular German Last Names Or Surnames. It is a variant of ‘Küper’ or ‘Küfer,’ which is an occupational name for ‘cooper.’. This German surname is a variant of the name ‘Aldman.’ It translates into ‘old man’ in German. The surname likely denotes people who have the attributes of a cat-like light-footedness or independence. It is derived from the name of the Linden tree. It originates from the word ‘Schleie’ that means ‘tench,’ a kind of fish. The same applies to German surnames mentioned in Jewish surname databases. It is a variant of Macher, which is a toponymic name for someone from the place called Machern in Germany. Kuznetsov is another very common Russian surname. It is the German word for ‘bench’ and was likely an occupational name for anyone in a profession that required a bench for work. Sometimes family names will be gender-neutral and have no suffix, e.g. The origin of the name lies in the Middle High German word ‘uover’ that refers to the ‘bank of a river or lake’ or ‘shore of a sea.’. It is a personal name composed of two words, namely ‘geb’ meaning ‘gift’ and ‘hardt’ meaning ‘strong’ or ‘hard.’, It is derived from the Old German word ‘ger,’ which means ‘spear.’, It is an occupational name for a goatherd derived from the word ‘geiz’ meaning ‘goat.’. It is likely derived from the Middle Low German word ‘dan,’ which means ‘pines’ or ‘forest.’ It is a German toponymic name for people who live near the forest. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘nip’ meaning ‘keen eyesight and hearing.’ This surname likely originated as a nickname for a person who is sharp and alert. These German surnames do inherit an influence from other cultures due to the inflow of several civilizations into the country. It is a toponymic surname for someone from any of the several places called Rangen in Germany. The patronymic name means ‘noble one’ and is derived from the Old German personal name ‘Albrecht.’. It comes from the Middle High German word ‘riute’ meaning ‘cleared land.’ Another origin could be the Middle High German word ‘riutoere’ that could refer to a ‘highwayman,’ ‘a mounted soldier,’ and even a ‘thief.’. It is the German variant of the name ‘Oswald,’ which comes from the Old English words ‘os’ meaning ‘god’ and ‘weald’ meaning ‘ruler.’ The surname likely referred to someone who was a powerful ruler or chief. Another reference could be the German word ‘hart,’ which means ‘hard’ or ‘strong.’, It combines two Old German words, namely ‘hard’ meaning ‘strong’ and ‘wic’ meaning ‘battle.’. It comes from the Middle High German word ‘rinke,’ which means a ‘buckle.’ It is an occupational name for someone who makes buckles or clasps. It is derived from the Middle High German word ‘Banier,’ which means ‘flag bearer.’ This German surname is probably an occupational one. The name thus refers to a ‘bright warrior.’, This toponymic German surname comes from the Middle High German word ‘hurst’ meaning ‘woodland.’. A large number of Russian surnames also end in "evich," "ovich," or just "ich"[citation needed]. This name is derived from the feminine Biblical name ‘Hanna,’ which comes from the Hebrew name ‘Hannah’ meaning ‘favorable one’ or the ‘graceful one.’, It is a toponymic name referring to someone who lived in the woods. 1816/1834 List of Heads of Families. It is a German toponymic surname referring to people who originally came from the place called Eben in Bavaria, Germany. Klamm, in German, means ‘ravine,’ ‘gorge,’ or a ‘pass’ and thus is a toponymic name for someone living by a gorge. It is a variant of ‘katze,’ which means cat in German. It is related to ‘ofen,’ the German word for an ‘oven.’ The surname ‘offen’ is an occupational name for a baker. Lebed, meaning swan, and Zhuk, meaning beetle. Derived from the given name ABRAHAM. It comes from the Middle High German word ‘Habere,’ which means ‘oats.’ It is likely an occupational surname referring to a grower or seller of oats. ‘Palmer’ is a toponymic surname for someone who lived by a plantation or forest of willow and palm trees. The name is derived from the Old German name ‘Odalric,’ which means ‘prosperity and power.’. SOBOL Соболь Russian, Ukrainian, Jewish. The Surname Exchange consists of the following two documents which correspond to the original two sections in the Staumbaum : The Surname Exchange List contains all the surnames currently on file and the code numbers of members who are researching those surnames.. It is a combination of two Middle Low German words ‘tins’ meaning ‘tax’ and ‘man’ meaning ‘man.’ The name either denotes a taxpayer or a taxman who collects taxes. It is a variant of the name ‘Rosner,’ which is a toponymic surname for someone from any of the places called Rosenau in Germany and other parts of Europe. Under the repressive regimes of Tsars, Bolsheviks and eventually the Communist Party, one would hardly find a country in the world with larger cultural and social differences. It may refer to someone who lived in the northern part of a region. It is an occupational name for someone who makes ‘cords,’ ‘strings,’ ‘shoestrings’ or ‘ribbons.’. German surnames generally started out as one of four different types. The toponymic name was given to someone from the place called Zehring in Germany. It is derived from the name ‘Matthaus,’ which is the German variant of the name ‘Matthew’ that means ‘gift of God’ in Hebrew. It comes from the Middle High German word ‘nixe,’ which means ‘water sprite’ – a term used to refer a spirit associated with water. This is a toponymic name for people who hail from a place called Palzing in the Bavarian region of Germany. Dmitry Sovyak. It is a toponymic name referring to people who originally came from the city of Aachen in western Germany. ‘Eisen’ means ‘iron’ and ‘hauer’ means ‘to hew’ or ‘to cut.’ It is a German occupational name for a blacksmith. The surname likely originated from the Middle High German word ‘vunke’ meaning ‘spark.’. It originates from the Old High German word ‘herling’ meaning ‘sour.’ The name could have been a nickname for an immature person. It is a toponymic name for someone from the town called Nidda in Germany. It is a variant of ‘Joachim,’ which comes from the Hebrew name ‘Yoyakim.’ Yoyakim means ‘raised by god’ or ‘god’s judgment.’, It is derived from the personal name ‘Jacob,’ which ultimately traces its roots to Hebrew where it either means ‘supplanter’ or ‘god-protected.’. The regional name denotes a person from the German state of Bavaria, which is called ‘Bayern’ in German. It comes from the Middle High German word ‘hor,’ which means ‘mud.’ It’s a toponymic name for people who live by swampy land. It is a variant of ‘Herbert,’ which means ‘shining army’ or ‘bright army’ in Old German. It is a toponymic name for someone from any of the many places named Hasselbach in Germany. 2. She sent Galizien German Descendants the following information: "I would like to share the surnames I have found who lived in Steinau (Administrative district: … It comes from the Middle Low German word ‘pal’ meaning a ‘pile’ or a ‘post.’ It is an occupational name for a pile driver – someone who drives poles into the ground to build a foundation. The individual(s) or village chart coordinator commissioning the chart are listed on each chart. Another origin could be the name ‘Lucas,’ which comes from Latin and means ‘the one who brings light.’. A list of German origin and Americanised family names. It is the German word for ‘beetle.’ It could also have been derived from the Low German word ‘kufe’ meaning ‘hut.’ The name thus would have denoted someone living in a hut. These sources include: 1. International Genealogical Index.®The index provided names and vital information for thousands of deceased Germans from Russia. BRABAND German. It is the German word for a ‘plow’ and is an occupational name for a plowman – a peasant or a farmer. By 1500 the use of family names such as Schmidt (smith), Petersen (son of Peter), and Bäcker (baker) was common in the German-speaking regions and all across Europe. If your second name is Lebedev, Ivanov or Preobrazhensky, read on to find out your roots. Cyrillic spelling: Егоров/Егоров/Eгонов. It is a toponymic name for someone who hailed from any of the places along the Odenwald mountain range. It is the German occupational name for a carpenter. ABERT: German surname of which the first element is uncertain, the second coming from beort "bright, famous." Egorov/Egorkov/Egonov. Colony Movement. It is believed that the "ich" ending last names originated from northern Belarus and southwestern Russia. An occupational name for a potter, where degel means ‘pot’ or ‘earthenware’ in Low German. It comes from the German word ‘swingen,’ which means to ‘swing’ or ‘swingle.’ It is an occupational name for an individual who would swingle flax – remove fiber from flax plant using a wooden instrument called swingle. The Varangians brought it to Russia in the 10th century. It is a combination of Middle High German words ‘Eisen’ meaning ‘iron’ and ‘berg’ meaning ‘mountain.’. It is an occupational name for a ‘merchant,’ ‘trader’ or a ‘businessman.’. It comes from the Middle High German word ‘landt,’ which means a ‘land.’ It probably began as an epithet for someone who was ‘famous throughout the land.’, This German word means ‘load’ or ‘burden’ and is an occupational name for a ‘porter.’. It is a combination of the Middle High German word ‘Eiche’ meaning ‘oak’ and ‘mann’ meaning ‘man.’ The surname thus translates to ‘oak man’ and could be a toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near an oak tree. A Meier – the third most common German surname – was a high-ranking peasant entrusted with supervising the property of his local baron. Katharinenstadt, Russia - Surnames By Census Years. It is a variant of the German word ‘nebel,’ which means ‘mist,’ ‘fog’ or ‘haze.’ It is likely a toponymic surname for someone from the colder regions of Germany.