Counterman Family History

Probably an Americanized spelling of German Kundermann, a nickname for a devilish person, from Middle High German kunder ‘monster’ + man ‘man’, or an altered form of Kondermann, a habitational name for someone from Kondrau in Bavaria. The surname is found in England, though now rare, and may be an occupational name meaning ‘servant of the accountant’, from Middle English countour ‘accountant’ (see Counter) + man ‘servant’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press