Bachmann
A German surname meaning “man by the brook” or “man from the streamside.”
The #7,601 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 70,619 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Bachmann is a German surname built from Bach, meaning “brook” or “stream,” plus Mann, “man.” It originally pointed to someone who lived near a brook, or in some cases to someone identified with a place named Bach or a similar stream-related place-name. The name is therefore topographic in origin, even though it can also overlap with habitational use.
History
The surname is well established in German-speaking areas and appears in many local and regional forms. Similar names such as Bach, Back, Bachhof, and Bachmayr show how often stream- and place-based surnames were created in German naming traditions. In modern times Bachmann is especially associated with Germany, Switzerland, and German-speaking parts of Central Europe.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root bach appears in many German place-names and surnames, which is why stream-related names are so common in German onomastics.
From the historical record
“FN. Bach (= am Bach , s. Luhbeke bi der beke fries. Urk. Pott 543 — Bach auch häufiger ON.) Zumhach. — Bachmann. Anspach, Rilspa^h. Perkhausen von Aiglspach (wie auchPacÄwayrMünch.). — AcJunhaeh. Erlehach; niederd. Eller- heck. Feuerhach. Orumhach. Hagen- hach. Marhach. Raupach (0. Raubach).”
— Die deutschen Familiennamen