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.
Geipelhorst GermanThis rather rare surname is appears to be the combination of "Geipel", which is a variant of "Geibel" originating from a personal name or topographic name formed with Old High German gawi ‘fertile region’, ‘countryside’ (as opposed to a town), and "Horst" which came from of Old High German, meaning "man from the forest", "bosk" or "brushwood"... [
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Geisberger GermanRegional name for someone who lives in a town in Germany called "Geisa".
Geisinger GermanDenoted a person from the town of Geising in Germany, which in turn got it's name from the Geisingberg mountain. The Geisingberg most likely got it's name from the Germanic
geut or the Early New High German
geußen, both meaning "to pour", and the German word
Berg meaning "mountain"... [
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Geist GermanHabitational name for someone who lived in a house marked by the sign of the Holy Spirit (normally depicted as a dove), from Middle High German geist 'spirit'.
Geller Yiddish, German, RussianThe name may derive from the German word "gellen" (to yell) and mean "one who yells." It may derive from the Yiddish word "gel" (yellow) and mean the "yellow man" or from the Yiddish word "geler," an expression for a redheaded man... [
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Gelsomino ItalianMeans "jasmine" in Italian, possibly also used as a topographic name.
Gemito ItalianFrom a misspelling of
genito "to be born", given to sculptor Vincenzo Gemito upon being abandoned at an orphanage as an infant.
Gemünd GermanRegional name for someone who lives in Gemünden.
Gendron FrenchEither a diminutive of French
gendre meaning "son-in-law" or a habitational name for someone from the town of Gendron in Belgium.
General Germannickname for a mercenary (employed in royal services).
Gennarelli ItalianAncient and illustrious Piedmontese family, originally from Polonghera but residing in Cherasco, which is decorated with the titles of: Counts of Cocconato, Lords of Cocconito and Consignori of Marcorengo.
Genova Italianhabitational name from Genoa (Italian Genova) in Liguria which during the Middle Ages was one of the great seaports of the Mediterranean and a flourishing mercantile and financial center. The origin of the name of the city is uncertain... [
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Gentilis Italian (Latinized)Latinized form of
Gentili. The Italian-born Oxford professor and jurist Alberico Gentili (1552-1608) was known as Albericus Gentilis in Latin.
Gentry FrenchFrom the English word, which is in turn from French
gentrie, referring to that which is "noble," or the "nobility." From earlier
gentillece, which was originally from
gentil, "refinement."
Gerling GermanGerman patronymic from a short form of a Germanic personal name beginning with the element
gar,
ger ‘spear’, ‘lance’.
Germaine FrenchGermaine was first found in Savoy in the Rhône-Alpes region of the French Alps, where the family held a family seat from ancient times.
German English, Norman, German, Jewish, GreekFrom Old French
germain meaning "German". This sometimes denoted an actual immigrant from Germany, but was also used to refer to a person who had trade or other connections with German-speaking lands... [
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Germanotta ItalianPossibly derived from Germano by adding a diminutive suffix. Most common in the Messina area in Sicily. A famous bearer of the surname is singer Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta).
Gerosa ItalianDenoted someone from the town of Gerosa in Lombardy, or perhaps a nickname from
geros (modern
ghiaioso) "gravelly".
Gertsch German (Swiss)From a short form of any of the Germanic personal names formed with
gēr meaning ‘spear’, ‘lance’.
Gertz GermanPatronymic from a Germanic personal name meaning "hardy", "brave", "strong."
Gerwig German, FrenchDerived from the Germanic given name
Gerwig, ultimately from the elements
gēr meaning "spear" and
wīg meaning "battle, fight". This surname is also found in France (mainly in the region of Alsace)... [
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Gerwulf GermanThis is an old Germanic name meaning "spear wolf" (ger "spear" and wulf "wolf.")
Gessa ItalianPossibly a variant of
Chessa. Alternately, may be from a Sardinian term for "mulberry".
Gfeller GermanTopographical name for someone who lived by a gorge, Middle High German gevelle, or a habitational name for someone from any of various places in Bavaria and Austria named from this word.
Ghezzi ItalianPatronymic or plural form of a nickname from Old Italian ghezzo ‘dark’
Giacchino ItalianMeaning unknown. A famous bearer of this name is an American music composer films known as Michael Giacchino (1967-).
Giannone ItalianFrom a diminutive meaning "big Gianni" formed by combining the personal name
Gianni with
-one, a suffix used to form augmentatives.
Gieriet RomanshDerived from the given name
Gieri in combination with the diminutive suffix
-et.
Giesinger GermanDenoted a person from the town of Giesing in Germany. Or perhaps a variant spelling of
Geisinger. A famous bearer of this surname is the German singer-songwriter Max Giesinger.
Giglio ItalianFrom the personal name Giglio, from
giglio "lily" (from Latin
lilium), a plant considered to symbolize the qualities of candor and purity.
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".
Gilio ItalianTuscany. One variation of the surname Giglio meaning ""lily"". ... [
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Gilli ItalianPatronymic form of the personal name
Gillio, a vernacular derivative of
Aegilius, which itself is a later form of the given name
Aegidius.
Gilliard French, SwissFrench and Swiss French from a derivative of
Gillier, from the Germanic personal name
Giselher, composed of
gisil ‘hostage’, ‘pledge’, ‘noble offspring’ (see
Giesel) +
heri ‘army’.
Gindlesperger GermanPossibly a topographic name for someone who lived on a mountain near the town of
Gindels in Bavaria, Germany.
Gingrich German (Americanized)Potentially from German “junge” and “reich,” meaning “rich at a young age.” Anglicized by immigrants as either Gingrich or Guengerich.
Ginsburg German, JewishHabitational name for someone who came from Gunzberg in Bavaria, Günsburg in Swabia, or Gintsshprik (Königsburg) in East Prussia. Its origin is from the name of the river Günz, written in early Latin documents as
Guntia, which was probably of Celtic origin, and Old High German
burg meaning "Fortress, walled town".
Gioi ItalianPossibly from Sardinian
angioi "lamb", a nickname for a shepherd, or from
gioi "Thursday".
Giorno ItalianFrom a short form of the name Bongiorno and means "day" in Italian.
Giove Italianfrom
Giòve ("Jupiter") the name of the chief Roman deity perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually swore per Giove "by Jove". from Sicilian ggiòve iòvi "Thursday" applied as a personal name for someone born or baptized on that day of the week... [
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Gironda ItalianPossibly from a variant of Italian ghironda ‘barrel-organ’.
Giscard FrenchVariant spelling of
Guiscard. A famous bearer was the French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1926-2020).
Gish GermanFrom a shortened form of the Germanic personal name
Gisulf, literally "hostage wolf". It was borne by American actress Lillian Gish (?1893-1993), original name Lillian de Guiche.
Giudice ItalianOccupational name for an officer of justice, Italian
giudice " judge" (Latin
iudex, from
ius "law" +
dicere "to say"). In some cases it may have been applied as a nickname for a solemn and authoritative person thought to behave like a judge.
Giugno ItalianDerived from Italian
giugno meaning "June", perhaps indicating a person who was baptized in that month.
Glandt GermanNickname from Middle High Geman glander meaning "gleam", "sparkle", "shine", for someone with such a temperament.
Glock GermanMeant "person who lives by a church bell-tower or in a house with the sign of a bell", "bell-ringer" or "town crier" (German
Glocke "bell"). It was borne by Sir William Glock (1908-2000), a British music administrator.
Gloff GermanGerman and Swiss German: from the Germanic personal name Egilolf, composed of the elements agi(l) ‘edge’, ‘point’ (of a sword) + wolf ‘wolf’, cognate with Old English Ecgwulf. This was the name of several Lombard kings (ancestors of the Bavarian ducal line of the Agilolfinger), who introduced the name to Italy.
Gmelin GermanGerman nickname for an unhurried person from Middle High German
gmēle, based on the adjective
gemach meaning "comfortable calm".
Gober English, FrenchThe surname Gober was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Norman influence of English history dominated after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed.
Gödel GermanFrom an Old German personal name, Godilo, Godila.German (Gödel): from a pet form of a compound personal name beginning with the element god ‘good’ or god, got ‘god’.Variant of Godl or Gödl, South German variants of Gote, from Middle High German got(t)e, gö(t)te ‘godfather’.
Godet FrenchFrom Old French
godet, meaning "glass, tumbler", used as a nickname for a maker or seller.
Goebbels German, HistoryOriginally an occupational name for a brewer. Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945.
Goeman GermanPatronym from a Germanic name: good or god + man.
Goethe GermanFrom a short form of the personal name Godo, formed with the Germanic element god, got 'god', or from Middle High German göte 'godfather'.
Goettems German, BrazilianBrazilian adaptation of the German surname Goedems; altered for easier comprehension by the Portuguese-speaking population of Brazil. All members of the Goettems family in Brazil are descendants of Johann Goedems, born in Oberlöstern, Saarland, on September 17, 1798.
Goetzinger GermanOriginally denoted a person who came from an place called
Götzing,
Götzingen or
Goetzingen.... [
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Goglia ItalianNickname or a metonymic occupational name for a person who used leaves from a kind of plant to bind grafts, derived from the Italian dialectal
goglia.
Gognon French, OccitanNickname for an aggressive or belligerent man, from Old French
Gagnon ‘ mastiff’, ‘guard dog’. Possibly from Occitan ganhon ‘young pig’, applied as an offensive nickname. See also
Gonyeau.
Gohrband German (Rare)Contained in a Latin land deed granted to a German for a castle-keep dated February 21, 1308. It is believed to be the first written record and original spelling of the name, generally understood to mean in German, "he who lives by the marsh"... [
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Gola ItalianTopographic name from
gola "mountain hollow, cavity".
Goldwater German (Anglicized), Jewish (Anglicized)This name is an Anglicized form of the German or Ashkenazic ornamental surname 'Goldwasser', or 'Goldvasser'. The name derives from the German or Yiddish gold', gold, with 'wasser', water, and is one of the very many such compound ornamental names formed with 'gold', such as 'Goldbaum', golden tree, 'Goldbert', golden hill, 'Goldkind', golden child, 'Goldrosen', golden roses, and 'Goldstern', golden star.
Gombert French, GermanFrench and German: from
Gundbert, a Germanic personal name composed of the elements gund ‘battle’ + berht ‘bright’, ‘famous’... [
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Gonella ItalianMeans "short skirt," in Italian, as in a piece of armor.
Gonze FrenchMy family surname originated in southern French-speaking Belgium. There is a tiny village called Gonzeville in northern France near the Belgian border which you can find on Wikipedia. Many surnames from French speaking Belgium have 5 or 6 letters and end in -ze, such as Gonze and Meeze... [
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Goos German, Flemish, DutchEither a metonymic occupational name for a breeder or keeper of geese, from Middle Low German
gōs and Middle Dutch
goes "goose", or a short form of an Old German personal name containing
Gote "Goth" or
got "god", particularly
Goswin or
Gozewijn (a compound name with the second element
wini "friend").
Gorga ItalianTopographic name from Sicilian gorga, Catalan gorg(a) ‘place where water collects’, ‘mill pond’, ‘gorge’.
Görlitz GermanThe name of a small town in Saxony. Derived from old Sorbian word "Zgorelc" meaning "settlement on a burned-out forest."
Götz GermanOriginally a hypocorism of
Gottfried, which is derived from an Old High German given name. Variants include the surnames
Getz and
Goetz, as well as the given name
Götz.
Goudier GermanGermanic patronym from "godhari" meaning "army of God".
Goulet French (Quebec), FrenchOf uncertain origin and meaning. Theories include a derivation from Old French
goule "mouth" (combined with a diminutive suffix), in which case this name would have been a nickname for a glutton.
Goupil Frenchnickname for someone with red hair or for a cunning person from Old French
goupil "fox" Late Latin
vulpiculus a diminutive of classical Latin
vulpes a distant cognate of
Wolf . This was replaced as a vocabulary word during the Middle Ages by
Renard originally a personal name.
Gourmaud FrenchA famous bearer is a journalist well known from the educational TV,
Jamy Gourmaud
Gousset FrenchIt is derived from the Old French word
gousset, which means "purse" or "wallet". It is likely that this surname was originally given to someone who was a purse maker or a merchant who dealt in small items.
Grabe GermanTopographic name for someone who lived by a dike or ditch, or habitational name from either of two places in Thuringia named with this word: Grabe and Graba.
Grable GermanMeans "digger of ditches or graves" (from a derivative of Middle High German
graben "ditch"). A famous bearer was US actress, dancer and singer Betty Grable (1916-1973).
Graceffa ItalianMeaning uncertain, possibly from a southern Italian place name in the comune of Aragona in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy.