Swiss Surnames

Swiss names are used in the country of Switzerland in central Europe.
usage
Neumann German, Jewish
From Middle High German niuwe and man meaning "new man, newcomer".
Neuville French
From the names of various French towns meaning "new town".
Nicastro Italian
From the name of the town of Nicastro in Calabria, southern Italy.
Nicchi Italian
From the Italian word nicchio meaning "shell", possibly a nickname for people related to the sea.
Nicodemo Italian
Derived from the given name Nicodemo.
Nicolai Italian
Means "son of Nicola 1".
Nicolas French
Derived from the given name Nicolas.
Nicolosi Italian
From the name of the town Nicolosi on Sicily, itself named for Saint Nicholas.
Nicosia Italian
From the name of the town Nicosia on Sicily.
Nicotera Italian
From the name of the town of Nicotera in Calabria.
Nieddu Italian
From Sardinian nieddu meaning "black", derived from Latin niger.
Nieri Italian
Either a variant of Neri, or from the Italian name Raniero.
Nigro Italian
Variant of Negri.
Nisi Italian
Means "son of Niso", an Italian form of the mythological name Nisus.
Nizzola Italian
From the name of the Italian town of Nizzola near Modena.
Noel French, English
Either from the given name Noël, or else derived directly from Old French noel "Christmas" and given to a person who had a particular connection with the holiday.
Normand French
French form of Norman.
Noschese Italian
From the name of the town of Nusco in Campania, southern Italy.
Notaro Italian
Occupational name for a clerk, derived from Latin notarius.
Noyer French
French form of Nogueira.
Nuremberg German
Derived from the name of a city in Bavaria, Germany.
Nussbaum German, Jewish
Means "nut tree", derived from the German Nuss "nut" and Baum "tree".
Oberst German
From Old High German obar meaning "above, upper", indicating a person from the uppermost end of a village or the top of a house.
Oberti Italian
Derived from the given name Uberto.
Oberto Italian
Derived from the given name Uberto.
Oelberg German
Means "oil hill" from Middle High German öl "oil" and berg "mountain, hill".
Ohme German
From Middle High German oem meaning "maternal uncle".
Oliver English, Catalan, German, French
Derived from the given name Oliver.
Olivier French
Derived from the given name Olivier.
Ongaro Italian
Variant of Ungaro.
Oppenheimer German
Originally indicated a person from Oppenheim, Germany, perhaps meaning "marshy home".
Orlando Italian
Derived from the given name Orlando.
Orsini Italian
From a nickname meaning "little bear" in Italian, from Latin ursus "bear".
Ott English, German
From the given name Otto.
Otto German
From the given name Otto.
Oursler German
Originally a name designating a person from Ursel (now Oberursel) in Hesse, Germany.
Pabst German
From German Papst, a cognate of Pope.
Pace Italian
Derived from the Italian given name Pace meaning "peace".
Padovan Italian
Regional variant of Padovano.
Padovano Italian
Originally denoted one who came from the city of Padua in Italy, from Italian Padova, itself from Latin Patavium, of unknown meaning.
Pagani Italian
Italian cognate of Payne.
Pagano Italian
Italian cognate of Payne.
Page English, French
Occupational name meaning "servant, page". It is ultimately derived (via Old French and Italian) from Greek παιδίον (paidion) meaning "little boy".
Paget English, French
Diminutive of Page.
Pahlke German
Low German cognate of Peel.
Palazzo Italian
From various Italian places, named from Italian palazzo, Latin palatium meaning "palace, noble mansion".
Palladino Italian
From Italian paladino meaning "knight, defender", from Late Latin palatinus meaning "palace officer".
Palmisano Italian
Locative name from the town of Palmi in the Calabria region of southern Italy.
Palumbo Italian
From Italian palombo meaning "pigeon" (also "dogfish"). This form is typical of southern Italy.
Panza Italian, Literature
From a variant of the Italian word pancia meaning "stomach, paunch", originally a nickname for a chubby person. The Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes used it in his novel Don Quixote (1605), where it is the surname of Don Quixote's squire Sancho Panza. Not a common Spanish surname, Cervantes may have based it directly on the Spanish word panza (a cognate of the Italian word).
Pape French
French cognate of Pope.
Papp 2 German
Nickname perhaps related to Late Latin pappare meaning "to eat".
Paquet 1 French
Occupational name for a firewood gatherer, from Old French pacquet "bundle".
Paquet 2 French
From a diminutive of the given name Pascal.
Parent English, French
Derived from Old French parent meaning either "notable" (from Latin pārēre meaning "to be apparent") or "parent" (from Latin parere meaning "to produce, to give birth").
Parisi Italian
Italian form of Parish 1.
Parma Italian
From the city of Parma in northern Italy, the name of which is probably of Etruscan origin.
Parodi Italian
From the name of a village near Genoa in northern Italy.
Parri Italian
From the given name Gaspare.
Pascal French
Derived from the given name Pascal.
Passerini Italian
From Italian passero meaning "sparrow".
Pastore Italian
Means "shepherd" in Italian.
Paternoster English, Italian
Occupational name for a maker of rosaries, also called paternosters. They are derived from the Latin phrase pater noster "our Father", the opening words of the Lord's Prayer.
Paul English, French, German, Dutch
From the given name Paul.
Pavesi Italian
Variant of Pavia.
Pavia Italian
From the name of the city of Pavia in Lombardy, Italy. It is of unknown meaning.
Pavone Italian
Means "peacock" in Italian. It was originally a nickname for a proud or haughty person.
Pavoni Italian
Variant of Pavone.
Pawlitzki German
German surname derived from a Slavic form of the given name Paul.
Pecora Italian
Means "sheep" in Italian, an occupational name for a shepherd.
Pedrotti Italian
From a diminutive of the given name Pietro.
Pellé French
From French pelé meaning "bald".
Pellegrino Italian
Means "pilgrim, traveller" in Italian, ultimately from Latin peregrinus.
Pelletier French
Derived from Old French pelletier "fur trader".
Pelley French
Anglicized form of Pellé.
Périgord French
From the name of a region in southern France, possibly of Gaulish origin.
Perrault French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Perreault French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Perrin French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Perrot French
From a diminutive of the given name Pierre.
Perugia Italian
From the name of the city of Perugia in Umbria, Italy. It was known as Perusia in the classical period, and it is of Etruscan origin.
Pesaro Italian
From the name of the city of Pesaro, in the Marche region (Latin Pisaurum).
Pesce Italian
Means "fish" in Italian, referring either to a fisherman or to a person who resembled a fish in some way.
Peter English, German, Dutch
Derived from the given name Peter.
Peters English, German, Dutch
Means "son of Peter".
Petit French, Catalan, English
Means "small, little" derived from Old French and Catalan petit. It was perhaps used for a short, small person or to denote the younger of two individuals.
Petri Italian
Derived from the given name Pietro.
Pfaff German
From a nickname meaning "priest, cleric" from Old High German pfaffo, from Latin papa.
Pfeiffer German
Occupational name meaning "pipe player" in German, from Middle High German pfifen "to whistle".
Pfenning German
From Old High German pfenning meaning "penny, coin". It was used in reference to feudal tax obligations.
Pherigo French
Anglicized form of Périgord.
Philippe French
From the given name Philippe.
Piazza Italian
Means "plaza" in Italian, indicating that the residence of the original bearer was near the town square. It is derived from Latin platea.
Picard French
Originally denoted a person from Picardy, a historical region of northern France. It is derived from Old French pic meaning "pike, spike".
Picasso Italian
From Italian pica meaning "magpie". This probably denoted someone who was talkative or prone to stealing, although it may have described someone's unusual colouring. The Spanish painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was a famous bearer of this name.
Piccirillo Italian
From Neapolitan piccerillo meaning "small, young".
Piccoli Italian
Nickname for a short person, from Italian piccolo "small".
Pichler Upper German
From Bavarian Bühel meaning "hill".
Pierno Italian
From the name of the small town of Pierno in southern Italy near Potenza.
Pierre French
From the given name Pierre.
Pietri Italian
Derived from the given name Pietro.
Pini Italian
Name for a person who lived near a pine tree, from Italian pino, Latin pinus.
Pinto Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
Means "mottled" in Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, derived from Late Latin pinctus, Latin pictus "painted".
Piovene Italian
From the name of the town of Piovene Rocchette in Veneto, Italy.
Piraino Italian
From the name of the town of Piraino on Sicily.
Pisani Italian
From Italian pisano, the name for an inhabitant of the city of Pisa, Italy. The city's name is of unknown meaning.
Pittaluga Italian
Originally a nickname for somebody who steals grapes from vineyards. In the Genoese dialect pittà means "to pick" and uga means "grapes" (uva in Italian).
Plamondon French
Derived from French plat "flat" and mont "mountain", referring to someone who lived near a flat-topped mountain.
Planche French
French form of Plank.
Planck German
German variant of Plank.
Plank German, English
Means "plank", from Old French, itself from Late Latin planca. This could have referred to a person who lived by a plank bridge over a stream, someone who was thin, or a carpenter.
Planque French
French form of Plank.
Pletcher German
Anglicized form of Pletscher.
Pletscher German
Possibly from the name of a field where cattle fodder was grown, from German Bletsch.
Plourde French
Possibly derived from French palourde, a type of a shellfish.
Poggi Italian
Variant of Poggio.
Poggio Italian
Means "hillock, small hill" in Italian, a derivative of Latin podium meaning "balcony, platform".
Pohl 2 German
From the given name Paul.
Poirier French
Means "pear tree" in French, originally a nickname for someone who lived close to such a tree.
Poirot French, Literature
From a diminutive of French poire "pear", originally referring to a pear merchant or someone who lived near a pear tree. Starting in 1920 this name was used by the mystery writer Agatha Christie for her Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. Christie based the name on that of Jules Poiret, a contemporary fictional detective.
Poletti Italian
From a diminutive of the given name Paolo. This name is typical of northern and central Italy.
Polzin German
From the name of a town in Pomerania, Poland (formerly part of Germany). In Polish it is called Połczyn.
Pontecorvo Italian, Jewish
From the name of a town in central Italy, home to an old Jewish community. The town's name is derived from Italian ponte "bridge" and curvo "curved".
Porcher English, French
Means "swineherd" from Old French and Middle English porchier, from Latin porcus "pig".
Porsche German
Derived from the given name Boris.
Portelli Italian
Diminutive form of Porto.
Porto Italian
Designated a person who lived near a harbour, from Italian porto, Latin portus.
Portoghese Italian
Means "Portuguese" in Italian.
Post Dutch, German, English
Indicated a person who lived near a post, ultimately from Latin postis.
Potenza Italian
From the name of the southern Italian city of Potenza, called Potentia in Latin, meaning "power, force".
Poulin French
Derived from Old French poule meaning "chicken". It was most likely used to denote a person who raised or sold poultry.
Pozzi Italian
From Italian pozzo meaning "well, pit", derived from Latin puteus.
Prinz German, Jewish
Means "prince", used as an ornamental name by Jews or as a nickname for someone who acted in a princely manner.
Profeta Italian
From Italian profeta meaning "prophet". It probably came from a nickname indicating a person who wanted to predict the future. It is typical of southern Italy.
Prosdocimi Italian
From the given name Prosdocimo, Italian form of Prosdocimus.
Protz German
From a nickname meaning "showy, pompous", derived from an old southern German word meaning "toad".
Proulx French
Derived from Old French preu meaning "valiant, brave".
Provenza Italian
From the name of the Provence region of southern France (in Italian Provenza). It is derived from Latin provincia "province", a territorial division.
Provenzano Italian
Variant of Provenza typical of southern Italy, namely Sicily and Calabria.
Pugliese Italian
From an adjectival derivative of Puglia, from Latin Apulia, a region of southeast Italy containing the boot heel and some of the coastline of the Adriatic Sea. It is a regional name for someone from that region.
Quaranta Italian
Means "forty" in Italian.
Quattrocchi Italian
From Italian quattro meaning "four" and occhi meaning "eyes", a nickname for a person who wore glasses. It is usually found in Sicily.
Ragno Italian
From a nickname meaning "spider" in Italian.
Raimondi Italian
Derived from the given name Raimondo.
Rais Italian
Occupational name for the fisherman in charge of the boat, from Italian rais "captain", of Arabic origin. It is typical of Sicily and Sardinia.
Rana Italian, Spanish
Means "frog" in Italian and Spanish.
Raneri Italian
Derived from the Italian given name Raniero.
Rao 2 Italian
Derived from the given name Raul.
Rapallino Italian
From the name of the town of Rapallo near Genoa.
Rapp 2 German
From Middle High German raben meaning "raven", a nickname for a person with black hair.
Rasch German
German form of Rask.
Raskob German
Variant of Raskopf.
Raskop German
Variant of Raskopf.
Raskopf German
Possibly from German rasch "quick" and Kopf "head".
Ratti Italian
From Italian ratto meaning "rat", originally denoting a sly individual.
Ravenna Italian
From the name of the city of Ravenna in northern Italy, which is of uncertain origin, possibly Etruscan.
Rayne English, French
Derived from a Germanic name that was short for longer names beginning with the element ragin meaning "advice, counsel".
Italian
Italian form of Rey 1.
Regenbogen German, Jewish
From a German nickname meaning "rainbow".
Reich German, Jewish
Nickname for a wealthy or powerful person, from Old High German rihhi "rich, powerful".
Reier German
Variant of Reiher.
Reiher German
Means "heron" in German, a nickname for a person with long legs.
Reis German, Jewish
From Middle High German ris meaning "twig, branch, bush", denoting a person who lived in an overgrown area. As a Jewish name it is ornamental.
Renard French
From the given name Renard.
Renaud French
From the given name Renaud.
Renault French
Derived from the given name Renaud.
Rettig German
Derived from Middle High German retich, Middle Low German redik meaning "radish", an occupational name for a grower or seller of radishes.
Reuter 1 German
Fom Middle High German riute meaning "cleared land".
Reuter 2 German
From Middle High German riutœre meaning "highwayman, thief".
Rey 1 English, Spanish, French, Catalan
Means "king" in Old French, Spanish and Catalan, ultimately from Latin rex (genitive regis), perhaps originally denoting someone who acted like a king.
Reyer German
Variant of Reiher.
Ricchetti Italian
Diminutive form of Ricci.
Ricci Italian
From Italian riccio meaning "curly", a nickname for someone with curly hair. It is ultimately from Latin ericius meaning "hedgehog".
Richard English, French, German, Dutch
From the given name Richard.
Richelieu French
From the name of the town of Richelieu, derived from French riche "wealthy" and lieu "place". The historic figure Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642), born Armand du Plessis, was so-called because he became the first Duke of Richelieu. He appears in Alexander Dumas' novel The Three Musketeers (1844).
Richter German
Means "judge" in German, from Middle High German rihtære.
Riese German, Jewish
Means "giant" in German, from Old High German risi.
Riggi Italian
From the name of the Italian city of Reggio Calabria, from Latin Rhegium, of Greek origin.
Righi Italian
From the given name Arrigo.
Riker German
Possibly a variant of Reich.
Rinaldi Italian
Derived from the given name Rinaldo.
Ritter German
From Middle High German riter meaning "rider, knight", a cognate of Ryder.
Riva Italian
Means "bank, shore" in Italian, from Latin ripa, denoting one who lived by a river or a lake.
Rivière French
French cognate of Rivers.
Rizzi Italian
Variant of Ricci.
Rizzo Italian
Variant of Ricci.
Robert French, English
From the given name Robert.
Robin French
From the given name Robin.
Robustelli Italian
From a nickname for a strong person, from Italian robusto "strong", from Latin robustus "firm, solid, oaken".
Rocca Italian
Italian cognate of Roach.
Rocchi Italian
Derived from the given name Rocco.
Rocco Italian
Derived from the given name Rocco.
Roche French
French cognate of Roach.
Roger French
From the given name Roger.
Rolland French
From the given name Roland.
Roma Italian
Variant of Romano 2.
Romagna Italian
From the region of Romagna, on the Adriatic coast of Italy. It is derived from Latin Romania meaning "land of the Romans".
Romano 1 Italian
Derived from the given name Romano.
Romano 2 Italian
Denoted a person from the city of Rome, either a resident or someone who visited as a pilgrim. In Calabria it was also used to designate a person from New Rome, a name for Constantinople.
Rome French, English
English and French form of Romano 2.
Romilly English, French
Originally denoted a person who came from any of the various places in northern France called Romilly or from Romiley in England.
Roncalli Italian
From the names of places like Ronco or Ronchi, quite common in northern Italy, derived from ronco meaning "cleared land, terraced land". It was the surname of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (1881-1963), the pope John XXIII.
Ronchi Italian
From Italian places named Ronchi, derived from ronco meaning "cleared land, terraced land". It is most common in northern and central Italy.
Rosa Italian, Catalan
Italian and Catalan form of Rose 1.
Rose 1 English, French, German, Jewish
Means "rose" from Middle English, Old French and Middle High German rose, all from Latin rosa. All denote a person of a rosy complexion or a person who lived in an area abundant with roses. As a Jewish surname it is ornamental, from Yiddish רויז (roiz).
Rosenberg German, Swedish, Jewish
Means "rose mountain" in German and Swedish. As a Swedish and Jewish name it is ornamental.
Rosenfeld German, Jewish
Means "field of roses" in German. As a Jewish surname it is ornamental.
Rossi Italian
Derived from a nickname for a red-haired person, from Italian rosso, Latin russus meaning "red". This is the most common surname in Italy.
Rossini Italian
Diminutive form of Rossi. A famous bearer was the Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868).
Rot German, Jewish
Variant of Roth.
Roth German, Jewish
From Middle High German rot meaning "red". It was originally a nickname for a person with red hair.
Rothbauer German
From Old High German riuten "to clear land" and bur "peasant, farmer".
Rothenberg German, Jewish
From Middle High German rot meaning "red" and berg meaning "mountain". As a Jewish name it may be ornamental.
Rotolo Italian
From the Italian word for a measure of weight, from southern Italian dialects, derived from Greek via Arabic.
Rousseau French
Diminutive of Roux. A famous bearer was the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) whose ideas influenced the French Revolution.
Roussel French
French form of Russell.
Roux French
Derived from Old French ros meaning "red", from Latin russus, a nickname for a red-haired person.
Rovigatti Italian
From the name of the city of Rovigo in northeastern Italy near Venice. It was called Rodigium in Latin, and is of unknown meaning.
Royer French
From French roue meaning "wheel", ultimately from Latin rota, an occupational name for a wheelwright.
Ruf German
From the given name Rolf.
Ruff German, English
From the given name Rolf.
Ruggeri Italian
Derived from the given name Ruggero.
Ruggiero Italian
From the given name Ruggiero.
Russo Italian
Variant of Rossi.
Rustici Italian
From Italian rustico meaning "rustic, rural".
Ruzzier Italian
From a dialectal variant of Ruggiero. It is typical of northeastern Italy, the area around Trieste.
Ryer German (Anglicized)
Possibly an Americanized form of Reiher.
Sabbadin Italian
From a nickname from Italian sabbato "Saturday", a name for one born on that day of the week.
Sacco Italian
Occupational name for a maker of sacks, from Italian sacco, Latin saccus.
Sachs German
Originally indicated a person from Saxony (German Sachsen). The region was named for the Germanic tribe of the Saxons, ultimately derived from the Germanic word *sahsą meaning "knife".
Sala Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Romanian
Occupational name for a worker at a manor house, from the Romance word sala meaning "hall, large room", of Germanic origin.
Saller 1 German
Originally denoted a person from the town of Sallern in Bavaria, possibly from a Celtic element meaning "stream".
Saller 2 German
Denoted a person who lived by a prominent sallow tree, from Middle High German salhe "sallow tree".
Salmon English, French
Derived from the given name Solomon.
Salomon French, German, Jewish
Derived from the given name Salomon or Salomo.
Salucci Italian
From Italian sale meaning "salt".
Salvaggi Italian
Italian form of Savage.
Salvatici Italian
Italian form of Savage.
Salvi Italian
From the given name Salvo or Salvio.
Salzwedel German
Originally denoted a person from Salzwedel, Germany, which is of Old Saxon origin meaning "salt ford".
Samson English, French
Derived from the given name Samson.
Samuel English, Welsh, French, Jewish
Derived from the given name Samuel.
Sander German, Danish
Derived from the given name Alexander.
Sanna Italian
From Italian sanna or zanna meaning "tusk, fang", a nickname for a person with a protruding tooth.
Sansone Italian
Derived from the given name Sansone.
Santini Italian
Diminutive form of Santo.
Santo Italian
Italian form of Santos.
Santoro Italian
Means "all saint's day" in Italian, a nickname for one born on that day.
Sapienti Italian
Means "wise, learned" in Italian.
Sarno Italian
Originally denoted a person from Sarno in Italy, named for the Sarno River (called Sarnus in Latin).
Sarti Italian
Variant of Sarto.
Sartini Italian
Diminutive form of Sarto.
Sarto Italian
Occupational name meaning "tailor" in Italian, from Latin sartor, from sarcire meaning "to mend".
Sartor Italian
Variant of Sarto.
Sartore Italian
Variant of Sarto.
Sartre French
French cognate of Sarto.
Sauber German
Means "clean, tidy" in German.
Sauer German
Means "sour" in German, a nickname for an embittered or cantankerous person.
Sault French
French cognate of Soto.
Sauter German
Occupational name for a cobbler, from Latin sutor "sewer, cobbler".
Sauvage French
French form of Savage.
Sauvageau French
French diminutive form of Savage.
Sauvageon French
French diminutive form of Savage.
Sauvageot French
French diminutive form of Savage.
Sauveterre French
From the name of various towns in France, derived from French sauve "safe" and terre "land".
Savatier French
From Old French savatier "shoemaker", derived from savate "shoe", of uncertain ultimate origin.
Savona Italian
From the name of the city of Savona in northern Italy, called Savo by the Romans, of uncertain meaning.
Scarpa Italian
Means "shoemaker" from Italian scarpa meaning "shoe".
Scarsi Italian
Nickname for a poor or miserly person, from Italian scarso "scarce, scant".
Scavo Italian
Means "serf, slave", from Old Sicilian scavu.
Schäfer German
From Old High German scaphare meaning "shepherd".
Scheer German
Variant of Scherer.
Schenck German
Variant of Schenk.
Schenk German, Dutch
From Middle High German, Middle Dutch schenke meaning "wine server" (from Old High German scenken "to pour out").
Scherer German
Occupational name for a cutter of cloth or a sheep-shearer, from Old High German skeran "to cut".
Schindler German
Occupational name for a roof tiler, from Middle High German schindel "shingle". A famous bearer was Oskar Schindler (1908-1974), who saved over a thousand Polish Jews during World War II.
Schirmer German
Means "fencer, fencing master", from Old High German skirmen meaning "to defend".
Schlender German
From Middle High German slinderen "to dawdle" or Middle Low German slinden "to swallow, to eat".
Schlimme German
From German schlimm "bad, crooked, awry".
Schlosser German
Occupational name for a locksmith, derived from Old High German sloz meaning "lock".
Schmeling German
From Middle Low German smal meaning "small, slender".
Schmid German
Variant of Schmidt.
Schmidt German
Occupational name derived from Middle High German smit "smith, metalworker", a cognate of Smith.
Schmitz German
Variant of Schmidt, originating in the Rhine area in western Germany.
Schneider German, Jewish
From German schneider or Yiddish shnayder, making it a cognate of Snyder.
Schnell German
German cognate of Snell.
Schnoor German
Variant of Schnur.
Schnur German, Jewish
From Old High German snuor meaning "rope, cord", an occupational name for a maker of rope.