Baumgartner
A German occupational surname meaning “orchard gardener” or “tree gardener.”
The #3,156 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 26,969 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Baumgartner is built from German Baum, meaning “tree,” and Gartner/Gärtner, meaning “gardener.” In older usage it could refer more specifically to someone who tended an orchard or tree garden, not just any gardener. The name is a straightforward occupational surname formed from a place of work or trade.
History
The surname is especially associated with German-speaking areas and is widely recognized as a German occupational name. Historical surname dictionaries also gloss it as “nurseryman,” “tree gardener,” or “orchard-grower,” reflecting closely related senses. It has remained common in German-speaking countries and spread more widely through emigration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older reference works often translated the name very literally as a “tree gardener,” showing how transparent the original occupational meaning was.
From the historical record
“mdn(n]\ BAUMGARTNER (Ger.) Nurseryman* [see Baum ; and + gdrtner, gardener, f. M.H.Ger. ^art^, 'O.H.Ger. garto, garden] BAYER (Ger.) Bavarian [f. the Latinized; tribal name Bauarii] BEAUFORT (Fr.) Noble Stronghold, [Fr. ibeau, bel, tine, noble ; Lat. bell-us + Fr, , fort, a stronghold, fort ; f. 'Lai. fort-is…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named Baumgartner
- Felix Baumgartner (1969–2025)
- Christoph Baumgartner (b. 1999)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.