Austrian Last Name Generator
Discover authentic Austrian surnames with meanings, origins, and history. Perfect for genealogy research, character naming, and understanding your Austrian heritage.
Austrian Surname Generator
Generated Austrian Surnames
The Complete Guide to Austrian Last Names
Key Facts About Austrian Surnames
Austrian surnames reflect the country’s diverse cultural influences from German, Slavic, Hungarian, and other European traditions. About 80,000 different family names exist in Austria today, with regional concentrations showing historical settlement patterns.
Occupational Surnames
Occupational names are common in Austria, often showing German roots but with Austrian variations:
- Bauer (farmer) – Very common in agricultural regions
- Müller (miller) – Most common surname in Austria
- Schmidt (smith) – Often spelled “Schmid” in Austria
- Wagner (wagon maker) – Reflects transport trades
Unique Austrian occupational names include Pichler (pitch maker) and Fuchs (fox hunter). Many show Bavarian influence in their formation.
Geographical Surnames
Austrian geographical surnames often reflect the alpine landscape:
- Berg (mountain) – Common in alpine regions
- Gruber (from a pit or hollow) – Very Austrian
- Steiner (stone dweller)
- Bacher (from a stream)
Many Austrian place names end with -er (Wiener = from Vienna, Tiroler = from Tyrol). The name Gruber is particularly common in Austria, ranking in the top 10.
Descriptive Surnames
These surnames described physical or personality traits:
- Klein (small) – For a short person
- Gross (big) – For a large person
- Schwarz (black) – Dark hair or complexion
- Fuchs (fox) – Red hair or cleverness
Austrian descriptive names often have Bavarian dialect forms, like Stadler (from “Stadel” meaning barn) for someone who lived near one.
Patronymic Surnames
Patronymics are less common in Austria than Germany but include:
- Nowak (from Slavic “new”)
- Kovács (Hungarian for smith)
- Horvath (Croatian origin)
- Mayer/Maier (from Latin “major”)
Eastern Austria has more Slavic and Hungarian patronymics due to historical Habsburg empire influences. Names like Novak show this mixed heritage.
Nature-Inspired Surnames
Alpine nature features heavily in Austrian surnames:
- Eder (from a type of tree)
- Holzer (woodcutter or dweller)
- Steiner (stone dweller)
- Wieser (from meadows)
Names like Albrecht (noble+bright) combine nature with status. The alpine environment shaped many uniquely Austrian nature names.
Historical Development
Austrian surnames developed through key periods:
- Middle Ages: Occupational names dominate
- Habsburg Era: Slavic/Hungarian names enter
- 19th Century: Standardization occurs
- 20th Century: Some names Germanized
Jewish Austrians often adopted German-sounding names in the 1800s. After WWII, some families reclaimed original names.
Regional Variations in Austrian Surnames
Austrian surnames show distinct regional patterns:
- Western Austria: Bavarian influence (Müller, Huber)
- Eastern Austria: Slavic/Hungarian names (Horvath, Kovács)
- Alpine Regions: Nature names (Berg, Steiner)
- Vienna: Mixed from all regions
The name Gruber is most common in Tyrol, while Horvath dominates in Burgenland. These patterns help trace family origins within Austria.
Austrian Surnames: Frequently Asked Questions
The top 10 most common Austrian surnames with their meanings:
- Gruber – From a pit or hollow (uniquely Austrian)
- Huber – Landowner (more common in Austria)
- Bauer – Farmer
- Wagner – Wagon maker
- Müller – Miller
- Pichler – Pitch maker (Austrian variant)
- Steiner – Stone dweller
- Moser – From mossy areas
- Mayer – Farm administrator
- Hofer – Farmer (Austrian spelling)
Austrian names often have Bavarian dialect forms (Huber instead of Hoffmann) and unique alpine references (Gruber, Pichler) that distinguish them from German names.
Austrian naming laws have some unique aspects:
- Marriage names: Couples must choose one family name (no hyphenation allowed)
- Children’s names: Must take the parents’ chosen family name
- Given names: Must indicate gender clearly
- Name changes: Very restricted compared to Germany
Unlike Germany, Austria doesn’t allow double-barreled surnames after marriage. The 2013 law requires couples to select either the husband’s or wife’s name, with children receiving that name.
These surnames are distinctly Austrian:
| Surname | Meaning | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Gruber | From a hollow | Tyrol, Salzburg |
| Pichler | Pitch maker | Upper Austria |
| Knapp | Miner | Styria |
| Ebner | From flat land | Lower Austria |
| Fritsch | Peaceful ruler | Vienna |
These names developed specifically in Austrian regions and reflect local geography, industries, and dialects not found in Germany.
The Habsburg Empire (1273-1918) created a melting pot of surnames:
- Slavic names: Novak, Horvath, Kovac (from Czech, Croatian, Slovak regions)
- Hungarian names: Nagy, Toth, Szabo (from Hungarian nobility)
- Germanization: Many names were adapted to German forms
- Jewish names: Many Austrian Jews adopted German-sounding names
The empire’s diversity means modern Austrian surnames reflect this multicultural history, especially in eastern Austria which bordered Slavic and Hungarian lands.
Researching Austrian ancestry requires specific approaches:
- Check regional patterns: Names often cluster in specific provinces
- Review church records: Austria has excellent parish registers
- Understand spelling variations: Schmid/Schmidt, Mayer/Maier
- Consider language shifts: Names may have been Germanized
- Use Austrian-specific resources: Matricula.eu for church records
Challenges include border changes (some ancestors may be from areas now in Italy or Czech Republic) and the destruction of some records in WWII.