Swiss
names are used in the country of Switzerland in central Europe.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Bevilacqua ItalianFrom Italian
bevi l'acqua "drinks water", a nickname likely applied ironically to an alcoholic.
Bhaer GermanLikely a variant of German
Baer, meaning "bear". A notable bearer is character Friedrich Bhaer, Jo's husband in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Bhole German1 North German: nickname for a male relative, colleague in a guild or fraternity, or lover, Middle Low German bōle.... [
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Bickel German, German (Swiss), JewishGerman: from bickel ‘pickaxe’ or ‘chisel’, hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made pickaxes or worked with a pickaxe or for a stonemason. South German: from a pet form of Burkhart... [
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Biedermann German, Jewishnickname for an honest man from a compound of Middle High German
biderbe "honorable" and
man "man". Jewish surname adopted because of its honorific meaning from German
bieder "honest, upright" and
mann "man".
Biehl GermanFrom Middle Low German
bil "hatchet", Middle High German
biel; given to someone who made or used hatchets.
Bieler German, JewishJewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of the many places in eastern Europe whose name incorporates the Slavic element
byel- ‘white’.... [
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Bier German, Jewishfrom Middle High German
bier "beer" German
bier Yiddish
bir a metonymic occupational name for a brewer of beer or a tavern owner or in some cases perhaps a nickname for a beer drinker.
Bierbaum GermanGerman: topographic name for someone who lived by a pear tree, Middle Low German berbom. Compare
Birnbaum.
Bieri German (Swiss)Derived from a diminutive of the given name
Pierre which was also commonly used in German-speaking Switzerland.
Bigot FrenchEither from Old French
bigot possibly meaning "beggar" or from the Norman interjection
bî got ("by God"), used as a pejorative nickname for the Normans... [
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Billeaud FrenchFrom a personal name composed of the Germanic elements
bil "sword" (or possibly
bili "gentle") +
wald "ruler".
Billig GermanHabitational name from a place named Billig, near Cologne. Nickname from Middle High German billich ‘proper’, ‘appropriate’.
Bindschädler German (Swiss)Derived from German
binden "to bind" and Swiss German
schädlen "to make wood vessels", this is an occupational surname referring to a cooper, a barrel maker.
Binetti ItalianComes from a diminutive of Bino. Italianized form of French
'Binet'. Habitational name from a place called Binetto (named with Latin vinetum ‘vineyard’) in Bari province.
Bingel GermanA topographic name derived from a diminutive of Middle High German
binge, which means "depression", "ditch", or "pit". May also be derived from
pingel, which is a Westphalian nickname for a pedantic person.
Bingemann German (Rare)Possibly a habitational name for someone from a place named Bingen or Bingum. May also be from a topographic name derived from the German word
Binge, which means "trench", and may also refer to a kettle-shaped depression or a collapsed shaft in a mine (see
Bingel).
Bini ItalianComes from the given name
Albino and other names ending with
-bino ending.
Biondolillo ItalianProbably from Sicilian
biunnuliddu "little fair one", a nickname for someone with blonde hair. Compare
Biondi.
Birch English, German, Danish, Swedish (Rare)From Middle High German
birche, Old English
birce, Old Danish
birk, all meaning "birch". This was likely a topographic name for someone living by a birch tree or a birch forest... [
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Birindelli ItalianIt is a regional surname of Tuscany common in provinces like Pisa, Lucca or Livorno.... [
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Birk GermanEither a variant of
Buerk or a habitational name derived from places named Birk, Birke, or Birken.
Birnbaum GermanTopographic name for someone who lived by a pear tree, from Middle High German
bir "pear" and
boum "tree".
Birne English, German, JewishMeans "pear" in German, making it the German equivalent of
Perry 1, perhaps originally referring to a person who harvested or sold pears... [
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Biscotti ItalianAn occupational surname for someone who sells or bakes biscotti.
Bistolfo ItalianBistolfi has a lineage between Alessandria Casale Monferrato, Acqui Terme and Prasco, Genoa and Savona. Bistolfo may derive from a modified form of the medieval name Guisulfus. In an act of 1327 Gui-sulfus Cottalorda (Mayor of Breil) signed an important peace agreement with Tenda, probably passing by the name Wisulfus, and therefore by common substitution of W with B.
Bitencourt Brazilian, Portuguese (Brazilian), French (Rare), EnglishBITENCOURT, derives from Bittencourt, Bettencourt and Bethencourt; They are originally place-names in Northern France. The place-name element -court (courtyard, courtyard of a farm, farm) is typical of the French provinces, where the Frankish settlements formed an important part of the local population... [
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Bittenbinder GermanOccupational name for a cooper, from Middle High German
büte(n) "cask", "(wine) barrel" +
binder "binder" (agent derivative of
binden "to bind").
Bixio ItalianFrom an older form of Ligurian
bixo "grey", a nickname for someone with grey hair.
Blacher FrenchMainly used in Southern France. Topographic name for someone who lived by an oak grove, originating in the southeastern French dialect word blache ‘oak plantation’ (said to be of Gaulish origin), originally a plantation of young trees of any kind.
Blasey FrenchThe name may have been associated with a 4th century (316) French saint Blasius of Armenie (Armienes,) and later introduced into and adopted by Yorkshire people as their saint of wool-combers from a Norman noble.
Blasioli ItalianAncient and illustrious Benevento family, called Blasi or Di Blasi, of clear and avita nobility.
Blasius German, Dutch, ScandinavianFrom the Latin personal name
Blasius. This was a Roman family name, originating as a byname for someone with some defect, either of speech or gait, from Latin
blaesus "stammering" (compare Greek
blaisos "bow-legged")... [
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Blatt German, JewishOrnamental name derived from German
blatt and Yiddish
blat meaning "leaf", or a topographic name for someone who lived at a farm on a ledge on a mountainside, derived from Middle High German
blate meaning "flat surface, ledge, plateau".
Blaum GermanGerman last name, likely a variant of the last name Blom or Blum, referring to the word flower/blooming.
Bleibaum German"Lead tree" possibly changed at Ellis Island from Blumenbaum meaning "flowering tree"
Blesse English (British), Filipino, Indian, FrenchThe last name Blesse was first discovered in Oxfordshire and held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. In the Philippines, Blesse means "a blessing in the family." In India, Blesse means "bless you."
Blitz GermanThis surname is presumed to be coming from a nickname for a fast runner or a quick tempered person, from German
blitz(er) meaning "lightning" (ultimately from Middle High German
blicze.)
Bloch Jewish, German, FrenchRegional name for someone in Central Europe originating from Italy or France, from Polish "Włoch" meaning "Italian" (originally "stranger / of foreign stock"), ultimately derived – like many names and words in various European languages – from the Germanic Walhaz.
Blond FrenchNickname from old French
blund blond "fair-haired" a word of ancient Germanic origin.
Blondel FrenchFrom old French
blondel a diminutive of
blond "blond, fair" variant of
Blond.
Bluemel GermanDiminutive of the Middle High German
bluome meaning "flower." The name is believed to be an occupational name.
Bluestein GermanThe surname Bluestein is an Anglicized surname and translates as blue stone.
Bluhm GermanGerman alternate spelling of the Italian surname,
Blum meaning flower.
Blumenschein Germanfrom Middle High German
bluomenschin "flower splendor" from the elements
bluomo "bloom" and
sconi "beautiful" probably a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by a sign depicting a bunch of flowers or decorated with flower designs or noted for its flower garden.
Bluth German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): ornamental name from Middle High German bluot, German Blüte ‘bloom’, ‘flower head’. ... [
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Boccadamo ItalianMeaning uncertain, first element probably comes from
bocca "mouth".
Boccadifuoco ItalianMeans "mouth of fire", a nickname for someone known for picking fights, or perhaps given to foundlings.
Boccafusca ItalianPossibly means "dark mouth", from
bocco "mouth" and
fosco "dark, gloomy", a nickname for someone who often spoke ill of others, or perhaps given to foundlings.
Boccaletti ItalianPossibly related to
boccale, a kind of jug often used for wine. An occupational name for an innkeeper.
Boccalupo ItalianPossibly from an Italian saying,
in bocca al lupo, literally "in the mouth of the wolf", a way of wishing good luck.
Boccasavia ItalianMeans "sensible mouth", given to someone known for being wise, or giving good advice.
Bocchino ItalianThe Italian family name is classified as being of nickname origin. The most obvious are those names which are based on a physical characteristic or personal attribute of the initial bearer. In this particular instance, according to the author Emedio De Felice, the family name Bocchino derives from "bocca", meaning "mouth", in turn derived from the Latin word "bucca".De Felice states that this family name may not only have arisen from a nickname which described the mouth in a literal sense, since "bocca" in a figurative sense designated such things such things as intelligence and veracity.... [
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Bockelmann GermanPossibly derived from the name Bockel, a place in Germany. A famous bearer is Udo Jürgens (1934-2014), an Austrian musician, born Jürgen Udo Bockelmann.
Bodeman GermanBodeman is an occupational name meaning "adherent of the royal messenger".
Boden German, Low GermanPatronymic from the personal name
Bode or a topographic name for someone living in a valley bottom or the low-lying area of a field. From Middle High German
boden "ground, bottom".
Bodi FrenchThe United State Version of Bodi is an alteration of the French name Baudin. The name also has roots from Hungary.
Bodin German (Rare)Likely derived from various Germanic personal names containing the name element
Bod meaning "messenger". Another theory is that the name could be derived from any of the several places named
Boddin in Germany.
Bodine FrenchPossibly derived from the Germanic root
bald meaning "bold".
Boettcher GermanOccupational name for a cooper, from Middle High German
botecher,
bötticher,
bütticher, an agent derivative of
botech(e),
bottich,
bütte "vat", "barrel".
Boffi ItalianPossibly from
buffare "to blow, to be short of breath", or a related term meaning "bloated".
Bohne GermanHabitational name for someone form the town of
Bone in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Bohner GermanOccupational name from an agent derivative of Middle Low German
bönen meaning "to board, to lay a floor", and a topographic name for someone who lived in a loft, derived from a variant of
Bohne combined with the suffix
-er, denoting an inhabitant.
Bois French, French (Quebec)Derived from French
bois "wood, forest", this name used to denote someone who lived near a forest.
Boisvert FrenchMeans "green wood" in French, from
bois "wood" and
vert "green".
Bold German, EnglishEnglish: nickname from Middle English bold ‘courageous’, ‘daring’ (Old English b(e)ald, cognate with Old High German bald). In some cases it may derive from an Old English personal name (see Bald)... [
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Boldt GermanFrom the Germanic personal name
Baldo, a short form of the various compound names with the first element
bald ‘bold’.
Bolland French, German, EnglishFrom the Ancient Germanic name
Bolland. Alternatively it derive from the place name
Bowland from the Old English
boga meaning "bow" and
land meaning "land".
Bollard FrenchFrom a personal name composed of the Germanic elements boll "friend", "brother" +
hard "hardy", "strong".
Bolle ItalianMeans "bubbles" in Italian, derived from the singular
bolla.... [
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Bolling English, Germannickname for someone with close-cropped hair or a large head, Middle English bolling 'pollard', or for a heavy drinker, from Middle English bolling 'excessive drinking'. German (Bölling): from a personal name
Baldwin Bollinger German (Swiss)Habitational name for someone from any of three places called Bollingen, in Schwyz, Württemberg, and Oldenburg, or from Bohlingen near Lake Constance (which is pronounced and was formerly written as Bollingen).
Boltz GermanMay designate a creator of bolts for crossbows or bowmen. May also be a short form of
Baldwin.
Bolzonaro ItalianOccupational name for a person who operated a battering ram, derived from Italian
bolzone literally meaning "battering ram".
Bompadre ItalianFrom a medieval given name Bonuspater, meaning "good father", given in hopes that the "eternal father (god)" would look kindly on the child. Was often given to abandoned infants as a surname.
Bon French, HungarianAs a French surname, it is derived from Old French
bon meaning "good", or occasionally from the Latin given name
Bonus (borne by a minor 3rd-century Christian saint martyred at Rome with eleven companions under the Emperor Vespasian... [
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Bonacci Italian"Bona" comes from the Italian for good, "Buona" and "cci" is ancient Latin form for "man." Thus, "the good man." A derivation of FiBonacci, or "son of Bonacci." Was the name of the famous mathematician, Leondardo de Pisa: Leonardo of Pisa is now known as Fibonacci short for filius Bonacci... [
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Bonaduce ItalianFrom the Latin phrase
bona duce fortuna, "with good luck as your guide".
Bonal FrenchThis is a surname formed from the Latin root "bonus" (= good) and the Germanic "wald" (waldan = govern). Bonwald meaning good governor.
Bonamici ItalianMeans "good friend", originating as a nickname or from a given name of the same meaning.
Bonanno ItalianFrom the medieval personal name
Bonanno, an omen name meaning "good year". Mainly found throughout southern Italy.
Bonatti ItalianComes from the pesonal name '
Bona' which is derived from Latin '
bonus', which means
'great'.
Bonera ItalianBresciano surname (i.e., concentrated in Brescia, Lombardy, Italy), derived from the medieval Italian given name
Bonora or
Buonora which in turn meant "(it was a) good hour (when you were born)" from Latin
bonus "good" and
hora "time, hour".
Bonfiglio ItalianFrom the given name
Bonfiglio an omen or well-wishing name meaning "good son" from
bono "good" and
figlio "child, son"... [
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Bongiorno ItalianItalian from the medieval personal name
Bongiorno (composed of
bono ‘good’ +
giorno ‘day’), bestowed on a child as an expression of the parents’ satisfaction at the birth (‘it was a good day when you were born’).
Bongiovanni ItalianComes from the personal name
Giovanni composed of the elements
bon ‘good’ +
Giovanni, Italian equivalent of John
Bonnefoy FrenchThe name is derived from the French words
bonne, meaning good, and
foi meaning faith.
Bonnemaison FrenchLiterally means "good house", derived from French
bonne "good" and French
maison "house". As such, this surname is most likely a locational surname, in that it originally either referred to someone who lived in a good house (probably more like a mansion) or to someone who was born in (or lived in) the place Bonnemaison, which is nowadays located in the Calvados department of France... [
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Bonnin FrenchDerived from a diminutive of
Bon, it is also found in the island of Mallorca and Turin, Italy.
Bonsor FrenchBonsor is from French origin mean good day
Bon soir Bontempo ItalianFrom the personal name
Bontempo, meaning "good time" from Old Italian
bono "good" +
tempo "time". This was a name bestowed as an expression of gratitude for the birth of a much wanted child.
Bontemps FrenchFrom a French word
bon temps meaning "good time". One popular bearer of the name is the American poet and novelist Arna Wendell Bontemps (1902-1973).
Bontrager GermanComing from the Old German, Bonträger or Bornträger, meaning 'water carrier'.
Bonus French, German, DutchHumanistic Latinization of vernacular names meaning ‘good’, for example French Lebon or Dutch de Goede
Boomgarden German, Dutch (?)Either an occupational name for an orchard worker or a topographic name for someone who lives in or by an orchard.
Boomhouwer German, DutchBoomhouwer, means "Cutter of Trees", or "The one who hews trees", having Boom translating into "tree", houw meaning to "hew" or to "cut", and er meaning "the one who".... [
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Boot English, Dutch, GermanEnglish: metonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of boots, from Middle English, Old French bote (of unknown origin).... [
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Bordner GermanA variant spelling of Bartner, a job name for a battle axe maker.
Boren GermanOf unclear origin, most likely a variant of the German surname
Born.
Borgo ItalianBorgo is an Italian surname, which means 'village' or 'borough'.
Bormann GermanThis surname is presumed to be a variant of
Bornemann, which is made up of Middle Low German
born meaning "spring" and
man meaning "man," denoting someone who lived by a spring or a well.
Born German, EnglishA topographical name indicating someone who lived near a stream, from the Old English "burna, burne". Alternatively, it could be contemporarily derived from the modern English word "born". Possible variants include
Bourne,
Burns and
Boren.
Borrelli ItalianThere are three possible origins of this surname. It could derive from some place names located in Catania and Campania -two Italian southern regions. Another hypothesis is that it derives from the Celtic word
borro, meaning "proud" or maybe "ditch"... [
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Boscolo ItalianHabitational name for someone who lived by a forest, derived from Italian
bosco meaning "woods, forest".
Boso ItalianFrom the medieval personal name Boso, from a Germanic personal name derived from a pejorative nickname meaning ‘leader’, ‘nobleman’, or ‘arrogant person’. Compare Dutch Boos.
Bossier FrenchOccupational name for a cooper, from an agent derivative of Old French
bosse 'barrel'.
Bosso ItalianDerived from Italian
bosso "box tree", probably applied as a topographic name but possibly also as a metonymic occupational name for a wood carver or turner.
Boswell French (Anglicized)The name Boswell is an Anglicization of the name of a French village: Boseville (Beuzeville). This was a village of 1400 inhabitants near Yvetot, in Normandy. (from 'A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames', by Charles W. Bardsley, New York, 1901)... [
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