Corresponding occupational surnames in English and German
(I'm inluding titles)
BakerBäcker, Becker
BrewerBrauer
ButcherFleischer, Metzger
CarpenterZimmermann (as in Robert Z. aka Bob Dylan)
CarterFuhrmann
CartwrightWagner
CookKoch
CooperKüfer, Fassbender, Fassbinder
DukeHerzog
Dyer Färber, Ferber
FarmerBauer
FisherFischer
GlazerGlaser
HunterJäger
JoinerSchreiner, Tischler
JudgeRichter
KingKönig
KnightRitter
Major (mil. rank)Hauptmann
MasonMaurer
MasterMeister
MayorSchulz, Schulze
MerchantKaufmann
MillerMüller
MinerBergmann
PopePapst
PrincePrinz
PastorPastor
PotterTöpfer, Krüger
PriestPriester
SextonKüster, Glöckner
ShepherdSchäfer
ShoemakerSchumacher
SingerSänger
SmithSchmied, Schmidt, Schmitz and more
StewardMeier (a Meier can also be a dairy farmer)
TannerGerber
TaylorSchneider
TurnerDreher
WaggonerFuhrmann
WeaverWeber
Common English occupational surnames with no corresponding German version that I know of
BarberFriseur, Barbier
Common German occupational surnames with no(?) corresponding English version
My test is via the white pages of my local telephone book, that of the Greater New Haven area.
I'm leaving out exotic names like Leyendecker or Beckenbauer that probably haven't made it to the US.
DienerServant, footman, valet
GeigerViolinist
GrafCount
KaiserEmperor
Köhler lit. "coaler": guy who makes charcoal by burning wood piles in the forest—frequently encountered in German fairy tales
Krämer, KremerShopkeeper, haberdasher
LehrerTeacher
Ma[h]lerPainter
SchusterCobbler
SeilerRope maker
SpielmannMusician
SpenglerTin smith
WeinbrennerBrandy maker (lit. "wine burner")
WinzerVintner, wine grower


Last change made to this page: 25 November, 2008
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