Bach
/bɑːx/noun
A surname of German origin, most famously borne by the composer Johann Sebastian Bach.
Did you know?Bach is a German surname originally meaning “stream” or “brook,” and it became immortal through the family of Johann Sebastian Bach, whose name literally echoes water moving through the land.
Etymological Timeline
Old High German
OHG
bah
“stream, brook”
Old English
OE
bæc
“brook, stream”
Middle High German
MHG
bach
“brook, stream”
Modern German
German
Bach
“stream, brook; surname”
Modern English
English
Bach
“German surname, especially the composer’s family name”
Explore more surprising origins