85+ Most Common Austrian Surnames (With Meanings)

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Plus, learn where Austrian last names come from

Co-authored by Dan Hickey

Last Updated: April 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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Most Common

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Popular

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Rare & Unique

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Austrian Surname Origins

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More Last Names

Austria is a beautiful country in Central Europe that has been an important nation in historical events for centuries—it’s no wonder you’re interested in learning about Austrian last names! Whether you’ve got Austrian heritage, you’re a European history buff, you’re creating a new Austrian character, or you’re choosing a unique name for your baby, we’ve got you covered. Keep scrolling for the most common last names in Austria and what they mean, as well as some unique and rare surnames that stand out from the crowd. We’ll also explain where Austrian last names come from historically and linguistically.

Last Names in Austria

Austrian last names are largely German in origin. Many refer to geographic locations that families are from (like Steiner, meaning “Someone living on or near rocks”) or their occupations (like Koch, meaning “Someone who cooks”). The most common last names in Austria are Gruber, Huber, and Bauer.

Section 1 of 5:

Most Common Austrian Last Names

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These are the 30 most common last names in Austria. When it comes to Austrian last names, these are the ones you’ll come across most often.^{[1]
X
Research source} The majority of these surnames refer to where someone’s family is from geographically, or what their traditional family occupation is.
- Gruber: Someone who lives near a pit or depression in the land.
- Huber: Farm steward or someone who manages rural land.
- Bauer: Farmer or agricultural worker.
- Wagner: Wagon maker, someone working in travel or trade.
- Müller: A miller (a worker who grinds grain).
- Pichler: Someone who lives on or near a hill.
- Steiner: Someone living on or near rocks.
- Mayer: “The Mayor” (English origins).
- Moser: “Of Mosser,” referring to a geographic location in Austria.
- Hofer: Land owner or farmer.
- Berger: Mountain dweller, someone living in high terrain.
- Leitner: Someone living near a hillside.
- Fuchs: “Fox” or someone who owns or operates a village or estate.
- Eder: Someone who lives on barren or uncultivated land.
- Fischer: A fisherman, someone tied to aquatic occupations.
- Schmid or Schmidt: A Blacksmith or metalworker.
- Weber: Someone who weaves.
- Schneider: A tailor or uniform maker.
- Schwarz: Black or dark (possibly referring to hair or complexion color).
- Winkler: Someone who lives on or near a corner.
- Maier: An overseer or administrator.
- Reiter: “Knight” or someone noble.
- Mayr: “Manor’s Lord” or someone important in a small court.
- Lang or Langer: Someone who is tall.
- Baumgartner: A tree gardener or nursery worker.
- Aigner: A plowman or field worker.
- Auer: Someone who lives in the woods.
- Binder: Someone who is a cooper or barrel maker.
- Böhm: Someone who came from Bohemia.
- Brunner: Someone who lives by a well or spring.

Section 2 of 5:

More Popular Austrian Last Names

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These last names are also easy to find in Austria. There are a number of recognizably Austrian last names outside of the 30 most common. These surnames are among the most common you’ll hear today:^{[2]
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- Ebner: A surname meaning “Father is a light.”
- Egger: Someone who lives on a hill or ridge.
- Fink: A surname meaning “finch bird.”
- Graf: An Old English name meaning “the Lord’s establishment” or “the Earl.”
- Haas: A surname meaning “hare.”
- Haider: Someone who lives on a heath or wasteland.
- Hauser: Someone who lives in a house that is paid for.
- Hofbauer: Someone who is a farm owner or court farmer.
- Holzer: Someone who lives near a forest.
- Kaiser: A noble title meaning “Emperor.”
- Kaufmann: Someone who is a merchant.
- Kern: A surname meaning “excellent choice.”
- Koch: Someone who cooks.
- Koller, Kolar, or Kohler: Someone who burns charcoal.
- König: The German word for “King,” referring to someone who is good at sports or other skills.
- Krenn: A surname meaning “crane.”
- Lackner: Someone who lives near a lake, pond, or water meadow.
- Lechner: Someone who lives near the Lech River (western Germany).
- Lehner: Someone who owns or has a feudal tenant.
- Mair: Someone who is a steward or bailiff.
- Mauerer: A surname meaning “wall.”
- Schuster: A shoemaker or cobbler.
- Stadler: Someone who owns and manages a barn or storehouse.
- Strasser: A surname meaning “on the street.”
- Wallner: Someone who is a powerful army ruler or warrior.
- Weiss: White (possibly referring to someone’s hair or complexion color).
- Wieser: Someone who lives in a meadow or in nature.
- Wimmer: Someone who takes care of the church or a descendant of a family of wine makers.
- Wolf: A medieval pagan last name meaning “wolf.”
- Winter: Someone who lives near white water.

Section 3 of 5:

Rare & Unique Austrian Last Names

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These last names are among the least common in Austria. If you’re looking for a last name that’s quintessentially Austrian but not something that you hear every day, these surnames are for you:
- Adam: A biblical last name referring to the first man.
- Alt: Someone who is old, senior, or experienced.
- Angerer: Someone who lives in a meadow or on a hillside.
- Bacher: Someone who lives near a brook or stream.
- Benedikt: Someone who is blessed or pious.
- Breitner: Someone who lives in a broad meadow.
- Christmann: Someone who is a follower of Christ.
- David: A Hebrew surname for someone who is a beloved ruler.
- Dietrich: Someone who leads, a leader of the people.
- Ehrenreich: A noble or honorable ruler.
- Fabel: Someone who tells stories or fables.
- Falker: A falcon trainer.
- Gasser: Someone from an alley or lane.
- Kosch: Someone who is cunning or clever.
- Morgenstern: “Morning star.”
- Plank: Someone who lives on a flat ridge or flat area.
- Rainer: A wise warrior.
- Sacher: An artisan or someone who makes things.
- Tobler: Someone who lives in a valley or in the lowlands.
- Trost: Someone who provides comfort or solace.
- Zauner: Someone who works as an innkeeper or in hospitality.

Section 4 of 5:

Where do Austrian last names come from?

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Austrian last names are primarily German in origin. Austria is a German-speaking country and has close historical and cultural ties with Germany, with its people considering themselves ethnic Germans at different points in history. Austria and Germany were both part of the Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, as well as the German Confederation (a loose collection of German-speaking states) that followed. Unsurprisingly, many Austrian last names have Germanic roots.^{[3]
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- Some Austrian last names are also influenced by Turkish, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, and other nearby ethnic groups.