I have heard mention of a Yeke custom of washing hands before kiddush but no explanation of why or whether it is done only by the person leading kiddush or everyone.
Further to the question about origin, how widely (geographically) was this practiced in German Ashkenazi communities?
Further to the question about how it is done, are there any other important elements to the minhag that need to be known to do it correctly?
I'd also be interested in hearing from anyone following this minhag whether it is has ever caused confusion with guests and how this can be avoided. Although this might be considered off-topic?
Answer
To answer the last question:
When I was a bachur (single rabbinical student) in Monsey, NY, I frequently (every 5 weeks, to be Yekkishly exact) ate a meal by R' Shlomo Breslauer (who stems from Frankfurt), the rav of Beth Tefilla. To avoid confusion, he would, right before kiddush, explain his (father's) minhag (custom) that everyone, except the one making kiddush, washes beforehand: It reduces the hefsek (interruption) between kiddush and hamotzi, and keeps order (especially with small children), while not preventing the one making kiddush from saying additional things that strictly speaking are not required for the sake of kiddush.
Indeed, @kouty brings from Ateres Z'keinim (left margin) and Darkei Moshe that only the listeners should practice early hand washing – to avoid the kiddush-maker's speech being a hefsek. This is held by everyone, except for Rabbeinu Tam who sees shomeia' k'oineh (listening, with intention that it should be for himself, is as if he said it himself) as including the aspect of speech that constitutes a hefsek).
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