German (Swiss) Submitted Surnames

These names are a subset of German names used more often in Switzerland. See also about German names.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Abegg German, German (Swiss)
Topographic name for someone who lived near the corner of a mountain, from German ab meaning "off" and Egg, dialect form of Eck(e) meaning "promontory", "corner".
Abplanalp German, German (Swiss)
Topographic name for someone living high on a mountainside, from German ab- "below", "off" + Planalp "high, flat mountain-meadow".
Allemann German (Swiss)
Derived from German Alemanne, originally "member of the Alemanni tribe", this word came to denote "of Germanic descent". It was used to refer to members of the German-speaking population of Switzerland (as opposed to those who spoke one of the Romance languages; compare Welsch).
Allenbach German, German (Swiss)
Habitational name from any of several places called Allenbach.
Almendinger Upper German, German (Swiss)
Habitational name for someone from a place called Allmendingen, of which there are two examples in Switzerland, in the canton of Bern, and one in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.
Ammann Upper German, German (Swiss)
Alemannic form of Amtmann "official". Ultimately derived from Middle High German ambet man "retinue man; retainer", this word came to denote various kinds of administrator including a tax farmer.
Amrein German (Swiss)
Derived from the prepostion am "at" and German Rain "edge of plowed land".
Amsler German (Swiss)
Derived from German Amsel "(European) blackbird", this was an occupational name for a fowler (bird catcher).
Amstutz German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
Topographic name for someone living near or at the foot of a steep mountainside, German am Stutz ‘at the escarpment’.
Annasohn German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Anna and German Sohn "son".
Annen German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Anna.
Au Upper German, Swiss, German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
South German, Swiss, and Austrian topographic name from dialect Au ‘water meadow’, ‘stream’ (see Aue).
Baechli German (Swiss)
Derived from the word "Bächli," which means "small brook" in Swiss German.
Bantli German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from the given name Pantaleon.
Beeli Romansh, German (Swiss)
Adoption of French Belfort.
Bern German, Scandinavian, German (Swiss)
German and Scandinavian: from the personal name Berno, a pet form of Bernhard. In South German it comes from the habitational name from Bern, Switzerland, notably in the south; in other parts from the personal name Berno.
Berri German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from Old High German bero "bear".
Bickel German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German: 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... [more]
Bieri German (Swiss)
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Pierre which was also commonly used in German-speaking Switzerland.
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.
Bircher German (Swiss)
South German and Swiss German topographic name for someone who lived by a birch tree or in a birch wood, from Middle High German birche "birch" + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.
Birchler German (Swiss)
A Swiss German variant of Bircher.
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).
Bosshart German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German bōzen "to thrash" and hart "hard".
Briner German (Swiss)
Habitational name for someone from Brin in Grison canton (Graubünden) or from the Brin valley.
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.
Buchwalder German, German (Swiss)
Buchwalder is a German Surname.
Christen German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Christian.
Conrad German, German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from the given name Conrad.
Damur German (Swiss)
Germanized form of Damour.
Degraffenried German, German (Swiss)
Derived from a place in Switzerland. ... [more]
Detweiler German (Swiss)
From the name of a village in Switzerland or from one with a similar name (Dettweiler) in France.
Deubelbeiss German (Swiss)
Alemannic nickname from Middle High German dūvel "devil" and beiz "biter".
Doss German, German (Austrian), German (Swiss)
German: Habitational name for someone from Dosse in Altmark. Variant of Dose ... [more]
Dubach German (Swiss)
A surname describing a person from the town of Tübach in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Eberly Upper German, German (Swiss), English (American)
Variant of Eberle, which is a diminutive of Eberhard.
Ellenberg German, Jewish, German (Swiss)
Derived from two municipalities and a village called Ellenberg in Germany. As an ornamental name, it is derived from German ölenberg, literally meaning "olive mountain".
Elsener German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Elisabeth.
Elsinger German (Swiss)
Probably a derivative of Elsing.
Ermatinger German (Swiss)
The surname Ermatinger derives from the village of Ermatingen on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance. It simply means "from Ermatingen".... [more]
Erni German (Swiss)
Derived from a short form of the given name Arnold.
Ess Low German, German (Swiss)
North German: topographic name for someone living on or owning land that was waterlogged or partly surrounded by water, from Middle Low German es ‘swamp’, ‘water’. ... [more]
Fahr German, German (Swiss)
A topographic name for someone who lived near a crossing point on a river, from Middle High German vare, meaning ferry.
Federspiel German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German vederspil "bird of prey (trained for hunting)", this was an occupational name for a falconer.
Finel German (Swiss)
In colloquial language the word “Finel” describes a shelter, protecting animal and man from wind and weather.
Finsler German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Alfons.
Fluri German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a diminutive of the German given name Florian and the Romansh given name Flurin.
Fricker German, German (Swiss)
Habitational name for someone from the Frick valley in Baden, Germany, or from Frick in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland.
Friedmann German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German and Swiss German from a derivative of Friedrich. ... [more]
Furrer German (Swiss)
Topographic name from the regional term furre ‘cleft in the ground’.
Gartmann German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German garte "garden; yard" and German Mann "man", this was occupational name for a gardener. In some cases it may have been a status name referring to the owner of a small (enclosed or fenced) farm or an occupational name for a worker at a deer preserve.
Gasser German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a goat herd from Middle High German geiz meaning "Goat" and (n)er an agent suffix.
Gätzi German (Swiss)
Derived from a short form of the given name Pancratius.
Geiser German, German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a goatherd, from a derivative of Middle High German geiz 'goat'.
Gerth German (Swiss)
From a reduced form of Gerhardt. Habitational name for someone from Gerthe near Bochum.
Gertsch German (Swiss)
From a short form of any of the Germanic personal names formed with gēr meaning ‘spear’, ‘lance’.
Gilgen German (Swiss)
Derived from a short form of the given name Aegidius.
Gilgen German, German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German gilge "lily", this was a habitational name from the inflected form of a house name meaning "at the lily".
Glaus German (Swiss)
Derived from a late medieval short form of Niklaus.
Glauser German (Swiss)
Patronymic form of Glaus.
Greiner Upper German, German (Swiss)
Nickname for a quarrelsome or cantankerous person, derived from Middle High German grīner meaning "squabbler, quarreler" (ultimately an agent derivative of grīn meaning "loud, cry, screaming, shouting")... [more]
Grumbach German (Swiss), Alsatian
From the name of various places in Switzerland and Germany, for example the municipality of Grumbach in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Grunwald German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German and Swiss German (Grünwald): habitational name from any of various places named Grün(e)wald, from Middle High German gruene ‘green’ + walt ‘wood’, ‘forest’. ... [more]
Gubler German (Swiss)
Means "Of the Mountains"... [more]
Gutjahr German, German (Swiss)
nickname for someone born on New Year's Day from a New Year's greeting meaning "Good year".
Gutknecht German, German (Swiss)
Status name for a page of noble birth (Middle High German guot kneht).
Gutknecht German, German (Swiss)
status name for a page of noble birth (Middle High German guot kneht). Derived from the elements guot "good" and kneht "servant, apprentice".
Häberli German (Swiss)
Derived from Alemannic and Upper German Haber, a variant of Standard High German Hafer "oats" in combination with the diminutive suffix -li. This name denoted a young farmer of oats.
Hang German (Swiss)
From the given name Hank
Hansli German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a diminutive form of the given name Hans.
Hässli German (Swiss), French (Rare)
Swiss German diminutive form of Haas. This is a French surname via Alsace-Lorraine. A notable bearer is French footballer (soccer player) Eric Hassli (1981-).
Hilfiker German (Swiss)
Altered spelling of Hilfinger, patronymic derivative of the personal name Hilfo, Helfo, a short form of a Germanic personal name based on helfe 'helper'.
Hotz German (Swiss), German
Of debated origin and meaning; theories include a habitional name for someone from the Hotzenwald, a derivation from any given name containing the Germanic name element hadu "battle, combat" and a derivation from the verb hotzen "to swing, to sway, to tremble".
Hugli German (Swiss)
Meaning: Little Hill
Imberi German (Swiss)
It comes from Stuttgart Germany from the late 1800s. Then the name moved to a small village outside of Odessa Ukraine, in my family at least.
Jenny German (Swiss), Alsatian
Derived from the given name Johannes.
Kaeser German, German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a cheesemaker or a cheese merchant from an agent derivative of Middle High German kæse "cheese". Variant of Käser.
Kalt German, German (Swiss)
From Middle High German kalt "cold" probably applied as a nickname for someone who felt the cold or for someone with an unfriendly disposition.
Käser German, German (Swiss)
occupational name for a cheesemaker or a cheese merchant (see Kaeser ). topographic name for someone who lived by a summer dairy in the Alps from a Tyrolean dialect word derived from Ladin casura... [more]
Kathriner German (Swiss, Rare)
From the given name Kathrin + er meaning "of, from."
Keel German (Swiss)
Swiss German variant of Kehl.
Kiener German (Swiss)
Nickname derived from the dialect verb chienen 'to whimper'.
Knecht German, German (Swiss), Dutch
From the occupation of a servant and a journeyman from Middle High German kneht Middle Low German and Middle Dutch knecht "knight's assistant" also "lad, servant"... [more]
Knobel German, German (Swiss), Yiddish
Derived from the Middle High German knübel probably a nickname for a fat person or in the sense "ankle". However the term also denotes a rounded elevation and may therefore also be a topographic name for someone who lived by a knoll... [more]
Krähenbühl German (Swiss)
Combination of German Krähen "crow" and Bühl "hill".
Kronenberg German, German (Swiss)
Habitational name from a place called Kronenberg (there is one near Wuppertal) or possibly from any of the places called Kronberg (see Kronberg ) from German Krone "crown" and German Berg "mountain, hill".
Kübler German, German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German kübel "tub vat barrel", this is an occupational surname referring to a cooper.
Kuni German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Konrad.
Künzi German (Swiss)
Derived from a diminutive of Kunz.
Landis German, German (Swiss)
German and Swiss German nickname for a highwayman or for someone who lays waste to the land, from Middle High German landoese.
Lauper German (Swiss)
From the short form of a Germanic personal name composed of the elements liut 'people', 'tribe' + berht 'famous'. topographic name for someone who lived at a Lauben, a row of houses and stores with an arcade in front, from Middle High German loube 'arbor', 'bower', 'gallery'.
Leuenberger German (Swiss)
Means "one who came from Löwenberg" in German.
Lieberherr German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Lieber.
Lienhard Upper German, German (Swiss), Alsatian
Upper German and Alemannic form of the given name Leonhard.
Lipp German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a short form of the given name Philipp.
Loretz German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from the given name Laurentius.
Lüdi German (Swiss)
Probably derived from the given name Ludwig
Lutz German, German (Swiss), French
From the given name Lutz, a short form of Ludwig, or of names containing the element liut "people" such as Luitgard.
Mani German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a short form of the given name Emmanuel.
Marti Italian (Swiss), German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from the given name Martin.
Mathis German, German (Swiss), Flemish, Alsatian, English
Derived from the given name Matthias.
Mattli German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Matthias.
Meer German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from Late Latin maior domus "mayor of a palace" (compare Meyer 1).
Mohler German (Swiss)
Derived from the Low German word möhl, meaning "mill." Variant of Müller.
Mohr German, German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from Latin maurus "Moorish, North African".
Monsch German (Swiss), Romansh
Romansh form and Alemannic variant of Mönch.
Morgenthaler German (Swiss)
Derived from the place name Murgental in the Swiss canton Aargau and Obermurgenthal in the canton Bern.
Nadig German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from from Old High German (gi-)nadig "kind", this was a nickname for a kind and benevolent person.
Nater German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle High German nâtaere "tailor; furrier".
Neeser German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Agnes.
Neff German, German (Swiss)
From Middle High German neve 'nephew', hence probably a distinguishing name for a close relation or familiar of a prominent personage.
Negley German (Swiss)
Altered spelling of Swiss German Nägele, Naegeli, or Nägeli, variants of Nagel.
Neidhart German, German (Swiss)
German and Swiss German variant of Neidhardt.
Nett German, German (Swiss)
Derived from Early New High German net(t) "clean; pure; unadulterated".
Neuenschwander German (Swiss), Swiss
Means "newly cleared land".
Neukirch German, German (Swiss)
Derived from the Middle High German niuwe meaning "new" and kirch meaning "church".
Nigg Upper German, German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a short form of the given name Niklaus.
Niggli German (Swiss), Romansh
Variant of Nigg in combination with the diminutive suffix -li.
Nighswander German (Swiss)
An Americanized form of the Swiss German Neuenschwander or its variant Neuschwander.
Oberlin German, German (Swiss), Alsatian
Derived from an Alemannic diminutive of the given names Albrecht and Albert.
Ochsner German (Swiss)
Means "oxen herder" in Swiss, from Middle High German ohse "ox".
Oechslin German (Swiss)
South German (also Öchslein): from Middle High German ohse ‘ox’ + the diminutive suffix -lin. An occupational name for someone who tended cattle, or for a cattle dealer; or a nickname for a farmer who used oxen for plowing, or for someone perceived to resemble an ox.
Overholser German (Swiss)
The Oberholtzer family originated in the Swiss village of Oberholtz, south of Zurich, before the 15th century. However, in 1661, one family left Switzerland for the Palatinate in Germany.
Peterli German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Peterli.
Ragatz German (Swiss)
Habitational name from Ragaz in Grison canton.
Raisch German, German (Swiss)
From Middle High German rīsch, rūsch ‘reed’, ‘rush’, hence a topographic name for someone who lived near a reed bed, or perhaps a metonymic occupational name for someone who used or harvested reeds... [more]
Ramp German (Swiss)
German and Swiss German: variant of Rampf, from Middle High German ramft, ranft ‘edge’, ‘wall’, ‘crust (of bread)’; applied as a topographic name for someone who lived at the limit or outer edge of some feature, for example a field, or possibly, in the sense ‘crust’, a nickname for a poor person.
Ramser German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
someone from any of several places in the Palatinate and in Switzerland called Ramsen or from places in Austria and upper Bavaria called Ramsau. In the Bavarian dialect Rams means "scree".... [more]
Räuber German, German (Swiss)
German, Swiss German: derogatory nickname, from Middle High German roubære ‘robber’, ‘bandit’, ‘highwayman’ (from roub, roup ‘booty’, ‘spoils’).
Reller German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a miller, derived from the Swiss German dialect term relle meaning "grist mill".
Rengel German (Swiss)
From a pet form of a Germanic personal name formed with rang "curved", "bending"; "slender".
Repass German (Swiss)
An Americanization of the Swiss Rippas. The first recorded person with this surname was from Ziefen, Switzerland.
Rippas German (Swiss)
The first recorded person with this surname was from Ziefen, Switzerland.
Ritch English, German, German (Swiss)
1. English: variant spelling of Rich. ... [more]
Rohrbach German, German (Swiss)
German and Swiss German: habitational name from any of numerous places called Rohrbach (‘reed brook’ or ‘channel brook’) in many parts of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is a common surname in Pennsylvania.
Roos Estonian, Swedish, Danish, Dutch, German (Swiss), Low German
Means "rose" in Estonian and Dutch. Swedish and Danish variant of Ros, also meaning "rose". This could be a locational name for someone living near roses, an occupational name for someone who grew roses, or a nickname for someone with reddish skin.
Ruch German (Swiss)
It was originally a nickname for a greedy person, from Middle High German ruoch ‘eager,’ ‘intent.’... [more]
Ruesch German (Swiss), Jewish
Swiss/German variant of Rusch. Meaning "shaggy," "bristly," "unkempt," or "quick."
Rusch German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Rudolf.
Ruth English, German (Swiss)
English: from Middle English reuthe ‘pity’ (a derivative of rewen to pity, Old English hreowan) nickname for a charitable person or for a pitiable one. Not related to the given name in this case.... [more]
Rutz Romansh, German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Rudolf.
Ryne German (Swiss)
Respelling of Swiss German Rhyn, a topographic name for someone living on the Rhine river, Middle High German Rin.
Rynearson German, German (Swiss)
Derived from the Rhine River.
Sandmeier German, German (Swiss), German (Austrian)
From Middle High German sand combined with Meier 1, referring to a tenant farmer whose farm was on sandy soil.
Saxer German (Swiss), Romansh
Habitational name for someone from a place called Sax or Saxe.
Schaffner German, Jewish, German (Swiss)
German: occupational name for a steward or bailiff, variant of Schaffer.
Scheidegger German, German (Swiss)
Topographic name for someone who lived near a boundary or watershed. The name was derived from the Old German word SCHEIDE, meaning 'to part, to divide'. It may also have been a habitation name from any of the numerous places named with this word.
Schrepfer German (Swiss), German
Derived from from Middle High German schrepfer "barber-surgeon's assistant", ultimately from the verb schrepfen "to bleed someone".
Shaffner German, German (Swiss)
Americanized version of German occupational name for a steward or bailiff, variant of Schaffner and Schaffer.... [more]
Simmen German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from the given name Simon 1.
Staub German (Swiss), German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational nickname for a miller, from Middle High German stoup, German Staub ‘dust’. The Jewish surname may also be ornamental.
Strahm German (Swiss)
Derived from Middle Hugh German strām "strip of land".
Sullenberger German (Swiss)
Derived from an unknown place called Sullenberg or from Schallenberg in Baden, Switzerland. A famous bearer is Sully Sullenberger (1951-), an American retired Air Force fighter pilot and airline captain who is best known for saving all 155 people aboard in the 2009 ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan, after both engines were disabled by a bird strike.
Thoma German, German (Swiss)
German and Swiss German: variant of Thomas. Greek: genitive patronymic from Thomas. Genitive patronymics are particularly associated with Cyprus.
Thomet French (Swiss), German (Swiss)
Derived from a diminutive form of the given name Thomas.
Thommen German (Swiss), Romansh
Patronymic form of the given name Thomas.
Treichel German (Swiss)
Swiss German: from a word meaning ‘cow bell’, presumably a nickname for a cowherd or farmer, or a metonymic occupational name for someone who made cow bells.
Tromme Belgian, German (Swiss)
From low German meaning "drum".
Urech German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Ulrich.
Valentin German, Upper German, German (Swiss), Romansh, French, French (Quebec), Haitian Creole, Croatian, Jewish
Derived from the given name Valentin. It was sometimes adopted as a personal name by Jews.
Vögele Upper German, German (Swiss)
Swabian and Swiss German diminutive of Vogel.
Vögeli German (Swiss)
Swiss German diminutive of Vogel.
Von Allmen German (Swiss)
Means "of Allmen."
Von Arx German (Swiss)
Means "from Arx."
Weininger German (Swiss), Jewish
Denoted a person from Weiningen, a municipality in the Canton of Zürich, Switzerland. It is also a Jewish ornamental name derived from German wein meaning "wine" and the suffix -inger.
Welti German (Swiss)
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Walter.
Welty German (Swiss)
From a Swiss German diminutive of the German given name Walther. A literary bearer was the American writer Eudora Welty (1909-2001).
Wittenbach German (Swiss)
Toponymic name meaning "white stream" in German.
Wyss German (Swiss)
A nickname for someone denoting pale or white skin.
Zbären German (Swiss)
Zbären means "Bear hunter".
Zehren German (Swiss)
From a prepositional phrase from Middle High German ze hērren, an occupational name for someone was in service of a lord.
Zuber German, German (Swiss)
German: Metonymic occupational name for a cooper or tubmaker, from Middle High German zuber ‘(two-handled) tub’, or a habitational name from a house distinguished by the sign of a tub. ... [more]
Zurich German (Swiss)
Habitational name from a city in Switzerland named Zürich.