237 Amish Last Names: Traditional Surnames and Origins

Amish last names offer a glimpse into the family history, traditions, and heritage of Amish communities. This list features 237 surnames associated with Amish families, along with brief notes about their origins and historical background where known. It is useful for genealogy research, family-history projects, writing, and anyone curious about traditional Amish surnames in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and other communities.

Traditional Amish Last Names

• Stoltzfus – A well-known surname in Lancaster County Amish and Mennonite communities.
• Stoltzfoos – A spelling variant of Stoltzfus.
• Miller – An English form associated with German Müller, meaning miller.
• Yoder – A surname associated with Swiss-German Anabaptist family history.
• King – An English surname that may translate German König, meaning king.
• Fisher – An occupational surname for someone who catches fish.
• Beiler – A traditional surname strongly associated with Lancaster County Amish families.
• Byler – A related surname spelling found in Anabaptist communities.
• Lapp – A traditional surname common in several Amish settlements.
• Zook – A surname associated with Swiss-German Anabaptist ancestry.
• Esh – A traditional surname found among Lancaster County Amish families.
• Esch – A spelling variant associated with the Esh surname.
• Eash – Another documented spelling variation.
• Glick – A surname found in historic Amish communities.
• Riehl – A German-origin surname associated with Amish family history.
• Smucker – A traditional surname found among Amish and Mennonite families.
• Petersheim – A surname associated with Pennsylvania Amish communities.
• Smoker – A traditional surname found in Amish settlements.
• Blank – A German-origin surname found in Anabaptist family records.
• Kauffman – A spelling variant of Kaufman, traditionally associated with German-speaking families.
• Kaufman – A German occupational surname often associated with merchants.
• Lantz – A surname found in Pennsylvania Amish genealogy.
• Ebersole – A surname associated with historic Pennsylvania German families.
• Huyard – A surname documented in Amish surname research.
• Allgyer – A surname associated with Lancaster County Amish families.
• Dienner – A traditional surname found in Amish community records.
• Swarey – A surname associated with Amish family history.
• Hertzler – A surname found among Amish and Mennonite families.
• Bontrager – A surname especially associated with Amish settlements in the Midwest.
• Renno – A traditional surname found in Amish communities.
• Speicher – A German-origin surname associated with some Amish settlements.
• Schrock – A Swiss-German surname frequently found among Amish families.
• Peachey – A surname particularly associated with Amish communities in Pennsylvania.
• Peachy – A spelling variation of Peachey.
• Flaud – A surname documented in historical Amish surname lists.
• Graber – A surname found in Amish communities in the Midwest.
• Schwartzendruber – A distinctive surname associated with Amish and Mennonite families.
• Troyer – A traditional surname common in several Midwestern Amish settlements.
• Hershberger – A surname associated with Amish communities in Ohio and Indiana.
• Coblentz – A German-origin surname found in Amish genealogy.
• Schwartz – A German surname meaning black or dark.
• Mast – A surname commonly associated with Amish families in Indiana.
• Burkholder – A German-origin surname found in Amish and Mennonite records.
• Hostetler – A traditional surname common among Amish families in the Midwest.
• Hochstetler – A related surname spelling associated with Amish genealogy.
• Beachy – A surname linked to Swiss immigrant family history.
• Beechy – A spelling variant associated with Beachy.
• Bitsche – An older surname form associated with the Beachy family history.
• Pitsche – A historical spelling associated with Beachy ancestry.
• Swartzentruber – A surname associated with a well-known Old Order Amish affiliation.
• Schwartzentraub – A historical spelling associated with the Swartzentruber name.
• Gingerich – A surname found in Amish communities in Iowa and other Midwestern states.
• Borntrager – A spelling variant of Bontrager.
• Bender – A German-origin surname found in Anabaptist family records.
• Sauder – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German and Amish families.
• Schmucker – A traditional surname found in Amish and Mennonite communities.
• Detweiler – A surname associated with historic Swiss-German Anabaptist families.
• Amman – A surname linked to the historical origins of the Amish movement.
• Ammann – A related spelling of Amman.
• Simons – A surname appearing in historical Pennsylvania Amish records.
• Simona – A surname recorded in historical Anabaptist family references.
• Geiger – A German-origin surname appearing in Amish genealogy.
• Reist – A Swiss-German surname associated with Anabaptist history.
• Gerber – A German occupational surname meaning tanner.
• Koenig – A German surname meaning king; also written König.
• König – The German spelling of Koenig.
• Moser – A German-language surname associated with Swiss and German ancestry.
• Blaurock – A historical surname associated with early Anabaptist history.
• Grebel – A surname associated with the early Swiss Anabaptist movement.
• Guth – A German-origin surname found in historical family records.
• Habecker – A surname documented in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Hubmaier – A surname associated with early Anabaptist history.
• Allebach – A surname found in Pennsylvania German family records.
• Althouse – A surname documented in Pennsylvania Dutch genealogy.
• Altorfer – A Swiss- or German-origin surname found in family-history records.
• Amweg – A surname associated with Swiss-German ancestry.
• Augsberger – A German-origin surname found in historical records.
• Bacher – A German-language surname found in Anabaptist genealogy.
• Bachman – A German-origin surname found in Pennsylvania Dutch families.
• Bachmann – A related German spelling of Bachman.
• Baer – A German surname meaning bear.
• Bär – The German spelling of Baer.
• Bally – A surname documented in Swiss and German family histories.
• Balmer – A surname associated with Swiss-German ancestry.
• Barr – A surname appearing in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Bassler – A surname found in German-speaking family records.
• Bauer – A German occupational surname meaning farmer.
• Baumann – A German surname traditionally associated with farming.
• Baumgartner – A German surname associated with an orchard or tree garden.
• Bear – An English spelling that may correspond to German Baer in some family lines.
• Bechtel – A German-origin surname found in Pennsylvania Dutch genealogy.
• Beck – A German surname that can refer to a stream or brook.
• Becker – A German occupational surname meaning baker.
• Beechy – A variant spelling associated with Beachy family history.
• Beelman – A surname appearing in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Beery – A surname found in historic Mennonite and Pennsylvania German family records.
• Bender – A surname associated with German-speaking Anabaptist families.
• Bergey – A surname found in Pennsylvania German and Mennonite genealogy.
• Bergman – A Germanic surname that can mean mountain man.
• Bergmann – A German spelling of Bergman.
• Bixler – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German ancestry.
• Blough – A surname found among Amish and Mennonite families.
• Bollinger – A surname with German-speaking European roots.
• Brenneman – A surname found in Amish and Mennonite genealogy.
• Brubacher – A traditional Swiss-German surname associated with Anabaptist families.
• Brubaker – An English spelling variant associated with Brubacher.
• Burkholder – A German-origin surname found among Amish and Mennonite families.
• Byler – A surname found in several Amish and Mennonite settlements.
• Cassel – A German-origin surname appearing in Pennsylvania Dutch records.
• Clemmer – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German ancestry.
• Clymer – A surname found in historic Pennsylvania German family records.
• Conrad – A Germanic personal name also used as a surname.
• Cressman – A surname found in Mennonite and Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Detwiler – A spelling variant of Detweiler.
• Diller – A German-origin surname found in Pennsylvania German records.
• Eby – A surname associated with Swiss Anabaptist family history.
• Erb – A German surname that can relate to an heir or inheritance.
• Eshelman – A surname found in Pennsylvania Dutch genealogy.
• Fahnestock – A surname associated with German-speaking Pennsylvania families.
• Falk – A German surname meaning falcon.
• Feller – A Germanic surname with several possible historical origins.
• Frey – A German surname associated with the word for free.
• Frantz – A surname related to the personal name Franz.
• Freyberger – A German-origin surname appearing in family-history records.
• Freyermuth – A Germanic surname found in historical records.
• Funk – A surname associated with German-speaking Anabaptist families.
• Gehman – A surname found in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Gehman – A traditional family name appearing in Mennonite records.
• Gingerich – A surname found in Amish settlements in Iowa and elsewhere.
• Good – An English surname that can have several historical origins.
• Goodman – An English and Germanic surname with varied origins.
• Grieser – A German-origin surname found in family records.
• Groff – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German ancestry.
• Gross – A German surname meaning large or tall.
• Haldeman – A surname found in Pennsylvania German and Mennonite genealogy.
• Harnish – A surname associated with historic Pennsylvania German families.
• Hartman – A Germanic surname related to the personal name Hartmann.
• Hartzler – A spelling variant associated with Hertzler.
• Hassler – A German-origin surname found in historical records.
• Hege – A surname found in German-speaking family histories.
• Heisey – A surname associated with Pennsylvania Dutch genealogy.
• Helmuth – A Germanic personal name also used as a surname.
• Hershey – A surname associated with Swiss-German and Pennsylvania German ancestry.
• Hess – A German surname that can refer to someone from Hesse.
• Hoch – A German surname meaning high or tall.
• Hoover – An English form associated with German Huber in some family histories.
• Horst – A German surname that may refer to a wooded hill or thicket.
• Hunsberger – A surname found in Pennsylvania German and Mennonite records.
• Imhoff – A German-origin surname found in historical family records.
• Jantzi – A surname associated with Swiss and German Anabaptist genealogy.
• Kauffroth – A Germanic surname appearing in family-history references.
• Keim – A German surname with several possible historical meanings.
• Kendig – A surname found in Pennsylvania German family records.
• Kessler – A German occupational surname traditionally associated with a kettle maker.
• Kinsinger – A surname found in Amish and Mennonite genealogy.
• Kline – An English spelling often associated with German Klein, meaning small.
• Klingaman – A surname appearing in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Klopp – A German-origin surname found in family-history records.
• Kreider – A surname associated with Swiss-German Anabaptist families.
• Landis – A surname found in Pennsylvania German and Mennonite records.
• Leatherman – An English surname with occupational origins.
• Lehman – A surname found in many Amish and Mennonite settlements.
• Lehmann – A German spelling variant of Lehman.
• Lichty – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Longenecker – A surname found in historic Mennonite family records.
• Martin – A surname derived from the personal name Martin.
• Mellinger – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German ancestry.
• Meyers – A surname with Germanic and English historical roots.
• Miller – A common surname with German and English forms.
• Moyer – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German families.
• Musser – A surname found in Mennonite and Amish genealogy.
• Nafziger – A surname associated with Swiss-German Anabaptist family history.
• Neff – A surname found in Pennsylvania German records.
• Nissley – A surname associated with Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry.
• Oberholtzer – A surname found in Mennonite and Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Overholt – A surname with Germanic roots found in historic family records.
• Peifer – A German-origin surname appearing in Pennsylvania Dutch genealogy.
• Peters – A surname derived from the personal name Peter.
• Reber – A surname associated with Swiss and German family histories.
• Reiff – A surname found in Swiss-German Anabaptist genealogy.
• Risser – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German family records.
• Roth – A German surname meaning red.
• Royer – A surname found in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Ruth – A surname with several possible Germanic and biblical-name origins.
• Schantz – A surname found in Swiss-German and Pennsylvania German records.
• Schlegel – A German surname meaning hammer or mallet.
• Schneider – A German occupational surname meaning tailor.
• Schrag – A surname associated with Swiss-German family history.
• Shank – A surname found in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Shirk – A surname associated with Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry.
• Showalter – A surname found in Mennonite and Pennsylvania German records.
• Shue – A surname with several possible Germanic family-history origins.
• Sider – A surname found in historical Pennsylvania German records.
• Slabaugh – A surname associated with Amish and Mennonite genealogy.
• Snyder – An English spelling of German Schneider, meaning tailor.
• Sommer – A German surname meaning summer.
• Steiner – A German surname that can refer to someone living near a stone.
• Stoner – A surname with several possible historical origins.
• Stauffer – A surname associated with Swiss-German Anabaptist families.
• Stoltzfus – A traditional surname particularly associated with Lancaster County.
• Strickler – A surname found in Pennsylvania German family records.
• Studer – A Swiss-German surname found in Anabaptist genealogy.
• Sutter – A surname associated with German-speaking family histories.
• Swartz – A spelling variant related to German Schwarz, meaning black.
• Tanner – An English occupational surname for someone who tans hides.
• Thiessen – A surname associated with Germanic and Dutch-speaking family histories.
• Tschantz – A Swiss-German surname found in family-history records.
• Ulrich – A Germanic personal name also used as a surname.
• Umble – A surname associated with Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Weaver – An English occupational surname for someone who weaves cloth.
• Weber – The German equivalent of Weaver.
• Weidman – A Germanic surname found in Pennsylvania Dutch records.
• Weiss – A German surname meaning white.
• Wenger – A surname found among Amish and Mennonite families.
• Witmer – A surname associated with Swiss-German Anabaptist ancestry.
• Wolgemuth – A Germanic surname found in Mennonite genealogy.
• Yoder – A traditional Swiss-German surname associated with Amish communities.
• Zimmerman – A German occupational surname meaning carpenter.
• Zimmermann – The original German spelling of Zimmerman.
• Ziegler – A German occupational surname meaning brick maker.
• Zercher – A surname found in Amish and Mennonite family records.
• Zehr – A surname associated with Swiss-German Anabaptist ancestry.
• Zerbe – A surname found in Pennsylvania German genealogy.
• Zook – A traditional surname found among Amish families in Pennsylvania and the Midwest.
• Zug – A Swiss-German surname associated with Anabaptist family history.
• Zurcher – A surname linked to Swiss geographic and family origins.

How to Choose the Right Name

Choosing an Amish surname depends on your purpose and the family history you want to explore.

• Research your family tree: Begin with surnames documented in your family’s records, census entries, church registers, or immigration documents.
• Check spelling variations: Names such as Stoltzfus and Stoltzfoos may appear differently in historical records.
• Consider regional history: Some surnames are more closely associated with Pennsylvania, while others are common in Ohio, Indiana, or other Midwestern settlements.
• Verify the origin: Use historical records before assigning a meaning or ancestry to a surname.
• Respect cultural context: A surname alone does not establish that someone is Amish or belongs to a particular religious community.

Where Do Amish Last Names Come From?

Many Amish surnames have Swiss-German or German-speaking European roots. Early Anabaptist families migrated to North America, and their descendants established communities in Pennsylvania and other states. Over time, surnames developed different spellings as families moved and records were written in different languages

Most Common Amish Last Names

Some surnames appear especially frequently in historical records and established Amish settlements.

Last name	Historical association
Stoltzfus	Particularly common in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Miller	Found across many Amish settlements, especially in the Midwest
King	A prominent Lancaster County surname
Beiler	Strong association with Pennsylvania Amish families
Fisher	Found in several Amish regions
Lapp	A traditional Pennsylvania Amish surname
Zook	Found in Pennsylvania and Midwestern communities
Yoder	Common in several Amish settlements
Troyer	Associated with Ohio and other Midwestern communities
Hershberger	Common in several Midwestern Amish settlements

These are established examples, not a universal ranking for every Amish community. Surname frequency differs by region and settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common Amish last names?

Miller, Stoltzfus, Yoder, King, Beiler, Fisher, Lapp, and Zook are among the surnames commonly associated with Amish communities. Their relative frequency varies by location.

What is the most common Amish surname?

Miller is often described as one of the most common Amish surnames overall, while Stoltzfus is particularly prominent in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The answer depends on the settlement and the records being studied.

Are all Amish last names German?

No. Many have German or Swiss-German roots, but surnames can have different linguistic origins and may have changed spelling over generations. Family records provide better evidence than the surname alone.

Can a last name prove that someone is Amish?

No. Many Amish surnames are also found among Mennonites and other communities. A surname may provide a useful research clue, but it cannot establish a person’s religion or family background by itself.

How can I research an Amish family surname?

Start with birth, marriage, death, census, and immigration records. Local historical societies, genealogy collections, and specialized Amish family histories may also help connect a surname to a documented family line.

Conclusion

Amish last names offer valuable clues about family history, migration, and Swiss-German heritage. If you are researching your ancestry or exploring traditional surnames, share your favorite name in the comments.