I am basically wondering where the name "Germ" came from. My husband is a Germ (no joke intended) and we have been trying to find the ancestry of a Maximilian Germ who is believed to be from either Germany or, more likely, Austria. There are many Germs in the Pittsburgh, PA area and was wondering about ship lists and name genealogy. Anyone that could help would be greatly in our debt. Is Germ short for something?