Swiss Submitted Surnames

Swiss names are used in the country of Switzerland in central Europe.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Boudreaux French
Variant of Beaudreau. Originated in ancient area known as Languedoc, where the family was established. Comes from having lived in Languedoc, where the name was found since the early Middle Ages.
Boulanger French
Means "baker" in French.
Boulier French
Occupational name for a maker of balls or the organizer of a game of boules, from French boule meaning "ball".
Bourbon French
The Bourbons were one of the most important ruling houses of Europe . Its members were descended from Louis I, duc de Bourbon from 1327 to 1342, the grandson of the French king Louis IX (ruled 1226-70)... [more]
Bourbon French
habitational name from a village in Allier the site of the (now ruined) castle of Bourbon or from another place called (Le) Bourbon mainly in the southern part of France. The placename is derived from a Celtic and pre-Celtic element borb- denoting a hot spring.
Bourcard French, German (Gallicized)
From the given name Bourcard, variant of Bouchard, and frenchified form of Burckhardt.
Bourgeois French
from bourgeois "burgher" (from Old French burgeis from burc "fortified town") a status name for an inhabitant and (usually) freeman of a fortified town (see Bourg)... [more]
Bourget French
Possibly meaning "from the city, town" or given to wealthy families, (from bourgeois)
Bourguignon French
Originally denoted a person from Burgundy (called Bourgogne in French), a historical region of east-central France.
Bourguin French
From the medieval name Bourguin the French form of Burgwin.
Bousquet French
Originally a name for someone living or working in a wooded area.
Boutet French
from a pet form of the ancient Germanic personal name Boto a short form of any of various names composed with the element bod "messenger"... [more]
Bouthillette French
Diminutive form of Boutilier.
Boutilier French
Name for a butler or sommelier of a medieval household.
Bovary French
It is the surname of the famous fictional character Emma Bovary protagonist of Gustave Flaubert's novel.
Bovo Italian
Variant of Bove.
Boye English, German, Dutch, Frisian, Danish
From the Germanic given names Boio or Bogo, which are of uncertain origin... [more]
Bracco Italian
Either a nickname derived from Calabrian braccu meaning "small, chubby", or probably for someone thought to resemble a hunting dog, from Italian bracco literally meaning "hunting dog, bloodhound"... [more]
Bräger German
Habitational name for someone from Bräg in Bavaria.
Braille French
Braille is a writing system used by people with vision impairment. It was named after its inventor Louis Braille (1809-1852).
Brancaccia Italian (Rare)
Derived from the medieval Italian given name Brancazia, which is the feminine form of the masculine given name Brancazio. For more information, please see the entry for the patronymic surname Brancazio... [more]
Brancaccio Italian
Variant form of Brancazio. There are a few sources that claim that the surname is derived from a place name (which would make it a locational surname), but that claim is incorrect, as all Italian geographical places carrying the name Brancaccio were either established long after the Middle Ages (by which time virtually all Italians already had a hereditary surname) or were named after a person who had Brancaccio for a surname... [more]
Brancaleone Italian
Derived from the medieval Italian masculine given name Brancaleone, which means either "a lion's paw" or "he who captures the lion". In the case of the former meaning, the name is derived from Italian branca meaning "paw, claw" combined with Italian leone meaning "lion"... [more]
Brancatella Italian (Rare)
Derived from the feminine given name Brancatella, which is a diminutive of the medieval Italian given name Brancazia, the feminine form of the masculine given name Brancazio. For more information about this, please see the entry for the patronymic surname of Brancazio... [more]
Brancatello Italian (Rare)
Derived from the masculine given name Brancatello, which is a diminutive of the medieval Italian given name Brancazio, itself ultimately derived from the late Latin given name Brancatius... [more]
Brancato Italian
This surname can be derived from a given name (thus making it a patronymic surname) as well as from a place name (thus making it a locational surname). In the case of a patronymic surname, the surname is derived from the medieval Italian given name Brancato, which is a variant form of the given name Brancazio, itself ultimately derived from the late Latin given name Brancatius... [more]
Brancazio Italian (Rare)
Derived from the medieval Italian masculine given name Brancazio, which itself is derived from Brancatius (also found spelled as Brancaccius and Brancatus), a late Latin corruption of the given name Pancratius... [more]
Branche French
From Old French branche meaning ‘branch’ (which is from Late Latin branca meaning ‘foot’, ‘paw’), the application of which as a surname is not clear. Compare Branch.
Branciforte Italian, Sicilian
nickname from branchi "claws hands" (plural of branca) and forte "strong" meaning "strong claw".
Brandenburg German
habitational name from Brandenburg the name of a province its principal city and numerous other places.
Brandis German, Jewish, Swiss
German & Swiss: Habitational name from a former Brandis castle in Emmental near Bern, Switzerland, or from any of the places so named in Saxony, Germany. A famous bearer of the name is Jonathan Brandis (1976-2003).... [more]
Branner Danish, German, English
Danish variant of BRANDER and German variant of BRANTNER.
Braque French
Surname of cubist artist Georges Braque.
Brase German
North German variation of Brass.
Brashear French (Anglicized)
Americanized spelling of French Brasseur or Brassier "brewer."
Brass English, German
English (Northumberland): variant of Brace.... [more]
Brassard French
Derivative of bras "arm" most likely applied as a nickname denoting a person with strong arms or perhaps a pugilist.
Brasseur French
French and English (of both Norman and Huguenot origin): occupational name for a brewer, from Old French brasser ‘to brew’. See also Brasher.
Brau Italian
Meaning uncertain, possibly from the dialectical term brau, meaning "wild, untamed" in Sardinian and "brave, fierce" or "bull" in Catalan, or from blau "blue, turquoise".
Brauch German
From Middle High German bruchen "to enjoy".
Brault French
Variant of Béraud.
Braundt German
Variant of Brandt.
Braunershrither German, Dutch, English
This name mean Leather (Tanned) Knight, or a fighter of leather armor, or in Dutch, Leather writer, one who branded print on leather
Bräunlich German
Originally a nickname for a person who had brown hair or skin, meaning "brownish" in German.
Braunschweig German, Jewish
Denoted a person from the city of Braunschweig in Lower Saxony, Germany, which is of Old Saxon origin meaning "Bruno's settlement".
Braunstein German, Jewish
Ornamental name composed of German braun "brown" and stein "stone".
Brecht German
From a short form of any of various personal names formed with Germanic element berth " bright" "famous".
Breeding German
Likely from an ancient Germanic given name, now lost.
Breeding German
From the Low German brēde "open field". Denotes a person from such a place.
Breeding German
Americanized form of Breiding.
Brehme German
Variant form of Bremer. German former soccer player Andreas Brehme (1960-) bears this name.
Breidegam German
"bridegroom"
Breiding German
From the name of a place in the Lippe area in northwestern Germany.
Breiding German
South German; shortened form of the given name Breide.
Breit German
From Middle High German breit meaning "broad". a nickname for a stout or fat person.
Breithaupt German
Nickname for someone with a broad head, from Middle High German breit "broad" and houbet or houpt "head".
Breitkreutz German
probably a nickname for a person with a broad butt. Breitkreutz replaced an earlier more transparent form of the surname Breitarsch the use of kreuz (literally "cross") as a euphemism for "buttocks" first occurring in the 17th century... [more]
Breitzmann German
Eastern German topographic name for someone who lived by a birch wood, ultimately derived from the Slavic stem bres "birch".
Bremer German
Indicated a person from Bremen in the State of Bremen, Germany.
Bremont French
A variant of Bremond.
Brenari Jewish, Italian
Jewish family and possible place-name in N.E.Italy in 1500's.
Brenn German
Variant of Brenner.
Brenner German, German (Austrian), Jewish
Derived from Middle High German brennen "to burn". Both as a German and a Jewish name, this was an occupational name for a distiller of spirits. As a German surname, however, it also occasionally referred to a charcoal or lime burner or to someone who cleared forests by burning.
Bresson French
From a pet form of the personal name Brès (see Brice).
Breton French, English
French and English: ethnic name for a Breton, from Old French bret (oblique case breton) (see Brett).
Breuer German, Jewish
occupational name for a brewer of beer or ale from Middle High German briuwer "brewer". Cognitive of Brewer.
Breunig German, German (Austrian), American
Origin probably in Frankfurt am Main... [more]
Brevard French
French: nickname from Old French bref ‘small’ + the derogatory suffix -ard.... [more]
Breyer German (Americanized)
Americanized variant of Brauer.
Brian Irish, English, French
1) Variant spelling of Bryan. ... [more]
Briand French
Variant of Brian.
Briar German
From the given name Briar.
Briatore Italian
This surname originates from the province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region of Italy. It is probably derived from Piedmontese brijador meaning "postilion, coachman", which itself is ultimately derived from Piedmontese bria meaning "bridles, reins".... [more]
Brick Irish (Anglicized), English, German, Jewish
Irish Anglicized form of Gaelic $Ó Bruic] "descendant of Broc", i.e. "badger" (sometimes so translated) or Ó Bric "descendant of Breac", a personal name meaning "freckled"... [more]
Brickner German
Derived from "brückenbauer," which means "bridge builder" in English. It was originally an occupational name for someone who built bridges. Over time, the name Brickner was likely shortened from Brückenbauer to its current form.
Bridon French (Rare)
Patronymic surname derived from French bride "bridle, harness", this name used to denote a maker or merchant of bridle, harness or horse-gear and more generally a saddler.
Brie French
Variant of Labrie.
Briet French, Picard
Of uncertain origin and meaning.
Briette French
Variant of Briet.
Brinck German
Means "home on or near a hill".... [more]
Briner German (Swiss)
Habitational name for someone from Brin in Grison canton (Graubünden) or from the Brin valley.
Brinker German, Dutch
From the word brink "edge, slope". This indicated that the bearer of the surname lived near a prominent slope of land
Brion French
Refers to any of several places of the same name. Derived from Gaulish briga "height, hill" and the suffix -one.
Brisse French
Derived from the given name Brictius.
Brisset French
Variant of Brisse by way of adding the diminutive suffix -et.
Brizendine French, English, Jewish
Derived from a personal name, probably of Celtic origin (Latinized as Britus), which was borne by a 5th century saint, who succeeded St. Martin as bishop of Tours.
Broccoli Italian, Sicilian
From the Italian plural for “The flowering crest of a cabbage”. Best known as the surname of the (Calabrian-originated) Sicilian American family who made James Bond internationally famous, by making movies (loosely) based on the books where the titular antihero himself appeared.
Brochtrup German
Possibly indicated someone who was from a farm called Brochtrup in the town of Lüdinghausen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. A famous bearer is American actor Bill Brochtrup (1963-).
Brocker German
North German topographic name for someone who lived by a swamp, from Middle Low German brook bog + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.
Brockhaus German
Occupational hereditary surname for a person who was physically powerful, derived from Old German brock which may refer to persons with a stocky or strong build. Or derived from Old German "Brook" or "Brauk," for people near a marshy landscape, common in northern regions.
Brockman German
German in origin, in heraldry a "brock" is represented by a badger. It could mean wet/water and man. It also has been said to mean broker.
Brogna Italian
From Sicilian brogna "conch, shell".
Brogni Italian
Possibly from the dialectical term brogneau meaning "wild plum", or figuratively "foreigner".
Brogno Italian
Possibly from the given name Bronius.
Broin Italian
Italian and French form of or comes from Brown.
Brook German, Dutch
Topographic name for someone who lived by a water meadow or marsh, from Low German brook, Dutch broek (cf. Bruch).... [more]
Brook German, Jewish
Americanized spelling of German Bruch and Jewish Bruck.
Brosi Romansh
Derived from the given name Ambrosius.
Brosig German
Brosig is a German patronymic from a vernacular pet form of the personal name Ambrosius (see Ambrose).
Brosseau French
Derived from a diminutive of Brusse.
Brottman German
Dr Mikita Brottman
Brousseau French
Southern French variant of Brosseau.
Bruch German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a marsh or a stream that frequently flooded, from Middle High German bruoch "water meadow" or "marsh" (cognate to old English broc "brook", "stream" cf... [more]
Brück German
Topographic name for someone who lived near a bridge, or an occupational name for a bridge keeper or toll collector on a bridge, from Middle High German bruck(e) "bridge".
Bruck German
Variant of Brück.
Brucker German
Variant of Brück.
Bruckheimer German (Rare)
Bruckheimer is a German surname and is for someone who lived near a bridge.... [more]
Bruckman German, English
German (Bruckmann): variant of Bruck, with the addition of the suffix -mann ‘man’. ... [more]
Bruckner German
Topographic name for someone living by a bridge or an occupational name for a bridge toll collector; a variant of Bruck with the addition of the suffix -ner.
Bruder German
From a byname meaning "brother", occasionally used for a younger son, i.e. the brother of someone important, or for a guild member.
Brueck German
Variant of Brück.
Brueckner German, German (Silesian)
German (Brückner): from Middle Low German brugge, Middle High German brugge, brücke, brügge ‘bridge’ + the agent suffix -ner, hence a topographic name for someone living by a bridge, an occupational name for a bridge toll collector, or in the southeast (Silesia for example) a bridge keeper or repairer... [more]
Brueggeman German
Variant of German Brueggemann.
Brueggemann Low German, German
North German (Brüggemann): topographic name for someone who lived near a bridge or a metonymic occupational name for a bridge keeper or street paver, Middle Low German brüggeman (see Bruckman, Brueckner).
Bruen German
This is my 2nd great uncle's wife's Surname of German ancestry.
Brüesch Romansh
Derived from the given name Ambrosius.
Brüggemann German
Name for someone who worked as a street paver or bridge keeper, or someone who lived near a bridge. From Middle Low German brügge "bridge" or brüggeman "street paver".
Brugger German, American
South German variant or Americanized spelling of North German Brügger (see Bruegger). habitational name for someone from any of various (southern) places called Bruck or Brugg in Bavaria and Austria.
Brugman Dutch, Swiss
Dutch: topographic name for someone who lived near a bridge or a metonymic occupational name for a bridge keeper, from Dutch brugge ‘bridge’ (see Bridge); in some cases, it is a habitational name for someone from the Flemish city of Bruges (or Brugge), meaning ‘bridges’... [more]
Brühl German, Jewish
Topographic name for someone who lived by a swampy area, derived from Middle High German brüel and Middle Low German brul meaning "swampy land with brushwood". It may also be a habitational name from various places named Brühl in Germany.
Bruneau French
Derived from a diminutive form of French brun "brown", a nickname for a person with brown hair or skin.
Brunel French
Diminutive of Brun meaning "brown". Variant of Lebrun and Brunet.
Brunello Italian
From the given name Brunello.
Bruni Italian
Patronymic or plural form of Bruno.
Brunke German
Nickname for an ostentatious dresser, from Middle High German brunke "splendor".
Brunke German
North German pet form of the given name Bruno.
Brunner Upper German, German (Austrian), German (Swiss), Jewish
Derived from Middle High German brunne "spring, well", this name denoted someone who lived beside a spring.
Brunner German (Austrian), Upper German, Jewish
Derived from one of various places named Brunn or Brunnen as well as a habitational name denoting someone from the Czech city of Brno (Brünn in German).
Bruns French
Bruns was first found in Poitou where this noble family held a family seat since ancient times. The Bruns surname derives from the French word "brun," meaning "brown"; possibly a nickname for someone who habitually dressed in the color brown.
Brunswick English, German
English habitational name from the city in Saxony now known in German as Braunschweig. ... [more]
Brusch Romansh
Derived from the given name Ambrosius.
Brusse French
Topographic name for someone living in a scrubby area of country, from Old French broce meaning "brushwood, scrub". It is also occupational name for a brush maker, from Old French brusse meaning "brush".
Brusseau French (Anglicized)
Probably an Americanized spelling of Brousseau.
Buccambuso Sicilian, Italian
Believed to be an Americanization of the surname Buccinfuso
Buch German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a beech tree or beech wood, from Middle High German buoche, or a habitational name from any of the numerous places so named with this word, notably in Bavaria and Württemberg... [more]
Buche German
Meaning "beech" and denoting someone who lived near beech trees.
Bucher German
Upper German surname denoting someone who lived by a beech tree or beech wood, derived from Middle High German buoche "beech tree".
Buchli Romansh
Derived from Buchilo, a medieval diminutive of the given name Burkhard.
Buchmann German
Combination of Buch and German Mann "man".
Buchwalder German, German (Swiss)
Buchwalder is a German Surname.
Buechler German
From the common field name Büchle 'beech stand', the -er suffix denoting an inhabitant. from buchel 'beech nut', hence a metonymic occupation name for someone who owned or worked in an oil mill producing oil from beech nuts.
Buehman German
Variant of Bauer.
Buelter German, English
Middle European variant of Butler, also meaning "a vat or large trough used to contain wine." The name originated in southern Germany in the mid-seventeenth century.
Buerk German (Anglicized)
German from a short form of the personal name Burkhardt, a variant of Burkhart.
Buermeister German
North German: status name for the mayor or chief magistrate of a town, from Middle Low German bur ‘inhabitant, dweller’, ‘neighbor’, ‘peasant’, ‘citizen’ + mester ‘master’.
Buffa Italian
From Sicilian buffa, "toad". May alternately derive from Rebuffo.
Buffet French
Occupational name for a maker of furniture, derived from Old French buffet meaning "table, cupboard". It could also be a nickname for an angry and violent man, from Old French buffet meaning "slap in the face"... [more]
Buffett French (Anglicized), English
Americanised form or a variant of French Buffet, or probably an English variant of Bufford. Famous bearers of this name include the Americans Warren Buffett (1930-), a businessman, investor and philanthropist, and Jimmy Buffett (1946-), a musician.
Buffo Italian
Character in an Opera Buffa; clown, jester, comedian, buffoon.
Buford English, French (Anglicized)
English: most probably a variant of Beaufort.... [more]
Bugiardini Italian
Means "little liar" in Italian, from bugiardo "lying, false, deceitful; liar" and the diminutive suffix -ino.
Bühler German
From the German word "bühl", meaning hill.
Buisson French, Haitian Creole (Rare)
Topographic name for someone who lived in an area of scrub land or by a prominent clump of bushes from (Old) French buisson "bush scrub" (a diminutive of bois "wood"); or a habitational name from (Le) Buisson the name of several places in various parts of France named with this word.
Bulgaria Italian, Spanish
Originally an ethnic name or regional name for someone from Bulgaria or a nickname for someone who had visited or traded with Bulgaria, which is named after the Turkic tribe of the Bulgars, itself possibly from a Turkic root meaning "mixed".
Bundi Romansh
Derived from Romansh bun "good" and di "day" (compare Bongiorno and Bonasera). Another theory, however, derives this name from the given name Abundius.
Bünting German
Derived from an unknown given name or from Middle High German binden "to bind".
Buonamico Italian (Anglicized)
Di Martino Buffalmacco was a widely renouned painter in Italy cities in Florence, Bologna, Pisa although his work was not known to survived the Great Fire of Italy back in the late 1300 hundreds he was widlely known for asummed work as The Three Dead- Three Living, The Triump of Death, The Last Judgement, The Hell and the Thebasis.... [more]
Buonaparte Italian (Rare)
Derived from the given name Buonaparte
Buonocore Italian
Nickname for a reliable or good-hearted person, derived from Italian buono meaning "good" and core meaning "heart" (ultimately from Latin cor).
Buonopane Italian
Nickname for a person who is "as good as bread", or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a baker, derived from buono meaning "good" and pane meaning "bread".
Bur Swiss, Low German, Czech, French
Swiss and North German variant of Bauer. ... [more]
Burcy French
Denoting someone from the town of Burcy.
Burdorf German
Means little farmer in german
Burel French
metonymic occupational name for a worker in the wool trade or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually dressed in brown from Old French burel borel a diminutive of boure "frieze" a type of coarse reddish brown woolen cloth with long hairs (from Late Latin burra "coarse untreated wool").
Burgäzzi Romansh
Derived from the given name Pancratius.
Burger English, German, Dutch
Status name for a freeman of a borough. From Middle English burg, Middle High German burc and Middle Dutch burch "fortified town". Also a German habitational name for someone from a place called Burg.
Burgio Italian
Denoting someone from a town of the same name, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning "high, lofty", possibly by way of Arabic بُرْج (burj) "tower", German burg "castle, fortification; settlement", French bourg "burg, market town", or Latin burgus "watchtower, fortified town".
Burgmeier German
Occupational name for the tenant farmer of an estate belonging to a castle or fortified town, from Middle High German burc "(fortified) town, castle" and meier "tenant farmer" (see Meyer).
Burkhalter German
Topographic name composed of the Middle High German elements burc "castle" "protection" and halter from halde "slope".
Burkhardt German
Burk is German for "Strong", and hardt is the "heart of a castle".
Burkhart German, Germanic
From the given name Burkhart.
Burmeister German
North German: status name for the mayor or chief magistrate of a town, from Middle Low German bur ‘inhabitant, dweller’, ‘neighbor’, ‘peasant’, ‘citizen’ + mester ‘master’.
Burnette French
Descriptive nickname from Old French burnete ‘brown’ (see Burnett). Possibly also a reduced form of Buronet, from a diminutive of Old French buron ‘hut’, ‘shack’.
Burr English, Scottish, German
Nickname for a person who is difficult to shake off, derived from Middle English burr meaning "bur" (a seedhead that sticks to clothing). It could also be a derivation from Old English bur meaning "small dwelling, building", or a German topographic name derived from burre meaning "mound, hill"... [more]
Bursey French
Variant of Burcy.
Busalacchi Italian
Means "father of Zallaq", from Arabic أَبُو‎ (abu) "father of" and الزلاق (zallaq) of unknown meaning, possibly related to the given name Salah meaning "righteousness".
Buschbaum German
Means "bush tree" in German.
Buschiazzo Italian
It's a surname in northern Italy (Piedmont). It emerges from the German spelling Bosch or Busch and this means "forest" or "wooded area".
Busse German, English
German: variant of Buss. ... [more]
Butera Italian
Means “vineyard” or “grapevine” in Italian.
Butta Italian
Italian: from a short form of a compound name formed with butta- ‘throw’, as for example Buttacavoli.Italian: from an old German feminine personal name Butta.Italian: variant of Botta.
Buttacavoli Italian
Nickname composed of the elements butta "throw" + cavoli "cabbages".
Buttafuoco Italian
Nickname composed of the elements butta "throw" + fuoco "fire".
Butter English, German
1. English: nickname for someone with some fancied resemblance to a bittern, perhaps in the booming quality of the voice, from Middle English, Old French butor ‘bittern’ (a word of obscure etymology)... [more]
Buttermann German
An occupational name for a dairyman or seller of dairy produce. See Butter.
Büttner German
Occupational name for a cooper or barrel-maker, an agent derivative of Middle High German büte(n) "cask", "wine barrel". This name occurs chiefly in eastern German-speaking regions.
Buxbaum German, Jewish
Means "box tree" in German.
Buxtehude German, Low German
From the name of the town of Buxtehude in Lower Saxony, Germany. A famous bearer of this surname was the German-Danish Baroque composer and organist Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637-1707).
Buzelli Italian
Chris Buzelli is an illustrator.
Byers German (Anglicized)
Americanized spelling of German Bayers.