His surname originates from his paternal ancestral house

One of the most interesting facts about Johannes Gutenberg is his surname comes from his paternal ancestral house. Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg was the youngest son of Friele Gensfleisch zur Laden and his second wife Else Wyrich, and was born in the German city of Mainz. They lived in a house that had been passed down through patrician families since the 13th century. The patricians were affluent, powerful, and members of Mainz's political elite.

Gutenberg was born in the year 1400, according to official records. His date of birth, according to historians, was between 1394 and 1404. It was common practice in 15th century Germany to use the name of one's home as one's surname. Johannes' family resided in Hof zum Gutenberg, his paternal ancestral home. Unlike his father, who got his surname Gensfleisch zur Laden from other family possessions, Johannes got it from Hof zum Gutenberg.