Kramer /ˈkreɪmər/ is an occupational surname of Dutch or Low German origin (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkraːmər]) or is derived from the High German surname Krämer (German pronunciation: [ˈkʁɛːmɐ] or [ˈkʁeːmɐ]).
In Middle Low German during the Late Middle Ages, Kramer meant "travelling merchant". The meaning later changed to "merchants trading with different rather small things".