Zöllner

Zöllner refers primarily to a German surname. Its origin is occupational, derived from the Middle High German word "zolner," meaning "toll collector" or "customs officer." Thus, the name indicates an ancestor who was responsible for collecting tolls or customs duties, often at border crossings or trade routes.

The name can be found in various spellings, including Zollner, Zöllnerin (the feminine form), and other regional variations.

Historically, individuals bearing the Zöllner surname were often associated with administrative or governmental roles related to trade and commerce. The prevalence of the name can also reflect the importance of trade and customs administration in certain regions throughout German history.

The surname is relatively common in German-speaking countries and among descendants of German emigrants in other parts of the world.

Beyond being a surname, "Zöllner" can less commonly, and more archaically, refer directly to the profession of a toll collector or customs officer itself. In modern usage, however, this is rare, with more contemporary German terms being used instead to describe the profession.