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.
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."
Gottstein GermanTopographic name from a field name meaning literally "God's rock" derived from the elements
got "god" and
stein "stone"... [
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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.
Gourmand French, WalloonFrom French
gourmandise meaning "gluttony, greedy eating". Perhaps a nickname for someone who eats a lot.
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.
Grämlich GermanNickname for an irascible person, derived from Middle High German
gramelich,
gremlich meaning "angry".
Grammer German, EnglishVariant of
Krämer or a habitational name for someone possibly from German places called
Gram or
Grammen. It can also be an English occupational name for a scholar or an astrologer, derived from Old French
gramaire meaning "grammarian, scholar, astrologer"... [
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Granarolo Italian (Rare)Possibly a habitational name related to Italian
granaio "granary, barn; region that produces grain", ultimately from Latin
granum "grain, seed".
Granata ItalianGranata is an Italian word for a shade of red (maroon), and the Latin name of the city of Granada.
Granato ItalianOccupational name for a jeweler or lapidary, from
granato "garnet".
Grand French, RomanshDerived from Old French
grand, grant and Romansh
grand "tall; large".
Grange English, FrenchTopographic name for someone who lived by a granary, from Middle English, Old French
grange (Latin
granica "granary, barn", from
granum "grain"). In some cases, the surname has arisen from places named with this word, for example in Dorset and West Yorkshire in England, and in Ardèche and Jura in France... [
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Granier FrenchFrench for a grain merchant (from Latin
granarius), a topographic name for someone who lived by a granary (from Latin
granarium) or a metonymic role name for someone who monitors or owned one.
Grano Italian, Spanishfrom
grano "grain" (from Latin
granum) probably applied as a metonymic occupational name for a farmer or grain merchant.
Grass English, GermanTopographic name for someone who owned or lived by a meadow, or a metonymic occupational name for someone who made or sold hay, from Middle English
gras, Middle High German
gras "grass, pasture, grazing".
Grässli RomanshDerived from Romansh
grass "fat" in combination with the diminutive suffix
-li.
Gratz GermanFrom a short form of a Germanic personal name reflected by Old High German gratag 'greedy'
Grau German, JewishNickname for someone with gray hair or a gray beard, from German
grau "gray".
Graue GermanHabitational name from a place so named near Hannover.
Graupman GermanOccupational name for someone who produced or dealt with grits and legumes, from early modern German
graupe "pot barley" (bohemian krupa) and
man "man".
Grave FrenchTopographic name for someone who lived on a patch of gravelly soil, from Old French
grave "gravel" (of Celtic origin).
Grave GermanEither from the northern form of
Graf, but more commonly a topographic name from Middle Low German
grave "ditch", "moat", "channel", or a habitational name from any of several places in northern Germany named with this word.
Gravelotte FrenchDerived from a commune (town) in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France, near Metz.
Graves FrenchTopographic or habitational name derived from Old French
grave "gravel".
Grebenstein GermanMeans "stone from the cliff or ridge" from German
greben, (cliff or ridge) and
stein (stone).... [
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Greenberger German, JewishAnglicized form of the German surname
Grünberger, which is formed from the words
grün "green",
Berg "mountain", and the habitational suffix -er. This name indicated a person who lived on or near a forest-covered mountain.
Greenburgh German, JewishThe surname Greenburgh is anglicized for the German Jewish surname Greenberg which translates into English as green mountain.
Greif GermanMeans "Griffin" in German. From the mythological creature.
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")... [
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Grell GermanNickname for an irritable or irascible person, from Middle High German, Middle Low German
grellen "to be angry".
Grell GermanHabitational name from a place named Grelle.
Grenier FrenchOccupational name for a grain merchant (from Latin granarius), or a topographic name for someone who lived by a granary (from Latin granarium) or a metonymic occupational name for someone who supervised or owned one.
Gretzinger GermanHabitational name for someone from any of three places named Grötzingen (Old High German Grezzingun) in Baden-Württemberg.
Griebe GermanOccupational name for a butcher or fat dealer from Middle High German
griebe griube "rendered bacon pieces crackling".
Gries Upper GermanTopographic name for someone who lived in a sandy place from Middle High German
griez meaning “sand pebble” or a shortened form of German
Griese.
Grieser Upper Germantopographic name for someone living on a sandy site, from Middle High German griez ‘sand’ + -er suffix denoting an inhabitant.
Griessler GermanTopographic name for someone who lived or farmed in an area of sand.
Griffo ItalianFrom
grifo "gryphon" (Latin
gryphus, Greek
gryps, of Assyrian origin), hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the mythical beast.
Griffon FrenchFrom a diminutive of Old French
griffe "claw", hence a nickname for a grasping or vicious person, or perhaps for someone with a deformed or otherwise remarkable hand.
Grignon FrenchFrom French 'grignard' meaning "angry" and "contemptuous", and Old French (of Germanic origin) 'grignier' "to grit the teeth" or "curl the lips".
Grill GermanFrom a nickname for a cheerful person, from Middle High German grille "cricket" (Old High German grillo, from Late Latin grillus, Greek gryllos). The insect is widely supposed to be of a cheerful disposition, no doubt because of its habit of infesting hearths and warm places... [
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Grindstaff German (Anglicized)Americanized form of German
Frenzhof or
Grenzhof, a place near Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg or
Granzow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany.
Grindy German (Modern), FrenchI have seen elsewhere explanations about this name being German or French in origin. Sorry, I do not have the sources to hand
Griner German (Anglicized), JewishAmericanised form of German
Greiner. It could also denote a person who came from various German places called
Grüna or
Grünau. In Jewish, it is a topographic name for someone who lived in a green of leafy area, derived from Yiddish
grin meaning "green" or Middle High German
gruene meaning "greenery".
Grisel French, French (Swiss)Derived from the Old French adjective
grisel, a variant of
gris meaning "grey". It was a nickname for a person with grey hair a grey complexion or who habitually wore grey.
Grob GermanA nickname for a strong, heavy man, or for a lout, from Middle High German
g(e)rop "coarse".
Groll GermanDerived from
grollen, 'to be angry', often used as a nickname for an angry or sulky individual.
Grosch GermanEither a metonymic occupational name for a moneyer or possibly a nickname for an avaricious person from Middle High German Middle Low German
grosche "groschen" a medieval thick silver coin its name ultimately derived from medieval Latin
denarius grossus literally "thick coin".
Grove GermanHabitational name from any of several places named
Grove or
Groven in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, derived from Middle Low Germany
grove "hole, pit, ditch, channel"... [
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Grube GermanName for someone who lived in a depression or hollow, from Middle High German
gruobe "pit", "hollow". See also
Gruber.
Grullon Dominican, Mexican, FrenchPossibly from a derivative of Spanish
grulla "crane (bird)" presumably applied as a nickname for tall thin person; in Mexico however
grulla denotes a crafty person
Grumbach German (Swiss), AlsatianFrom the name of various places in Switzerland and Germany, for example the municipality of
Grumbach in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Grün German, Jewishfrom Middle High German
gruoni "green fresh raw" hence a nickname for someone who habitually dressed in green a topographic name for someone who lived in a green and leafy place or a habitational name for someone from a place called with this word such as
Gruna Grunau in Silesia... [
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Grünbaum German, Jewishfrom Middle High German
gruoni "green" and
boum "tree" probably a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by the sign of a tree in leaf... [
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Grundel German, SwedishA German/swedish name. Meaning unknown, possibly means "bottom". A person bearing this surname is Heinz Grundel, a former footballer. ... [
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Grünfeld German, JewishHabitational name from any of several places in northern and central Germany named
Grünfeld named with elements meaning "green open country" derived from the elements
gruoni "green" and
feld "field"... [
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Grunwald German, German (Swiss), JewishGerman and Swiss German (Grünwald): habitational name from any of various places named Grün(e)wald, from Middle High German gruene ‘green’ + walt ‘wood’, ‘forest’. ... [
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Guadagnino ItalianIt came from Italian word
guadagno which means "earnings" and has a diminutive suffix
ino which is also an occupation suffix.
Guàrdia Catalan, Spanish, ItalianCatalan, Spanish, and Italian from Catalan
guàrdia, Spanish and Italian
guardia ‘guard’, ‘watch’, a topographic name for someone who lived by a watch place, an occupational name for a member of the town guard, or a habitational name from any of the numerous places named (La) Guardia.
Guardia Italian, SpanishFrom Spanish and Italian
guardia "guard watch" a topographic name for someone who lived by a watch place by a watchtower or a habitational name from any of numerous places called
La Guardia named with the same word; or a metonymic occupational name for someone who kept watch or for a member of the town guard... [
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Guarracino ItalianNothing is known of this family name other then they grew up in Manhattan, New York, other states and cities too but most can from boats and had to be quertied at Ellis Island, New York
Guasti ItalianMeaning uncertain, may denote someone from the town of Guasto. Alternately, it may be an occupational name from
gastaldo "chamberlain", from Latin
gastaldus "manager, bailiff, steward", or be a nickname from
guasto "broken, crippled".
Gucciardo ItalianFrom the personal name Gucciardo, a revival of French Guichard, of Germanic origin, probably composed of the elements wig 'battle' or wisa 'experience' + hard 'strong', 'brave', 'hardy'.
Guengerich German (Americanized)Potentially from German “junge” and “reich,” meaning “rich at a young age.” Anglicized by immigrants as either Guengerich or Gingrich.
Guenther GermanGerman: from a Germanic personal name composed of
gund ‘battle’ +
hari,
heri ‘army’.
Guéroult FrenchOld French form of an uncertain Ancient Germanic given name, possibly composed of Old Germanic
warōną "to watch, protect, guard",
gredaz "desire, hunger" or
gernaz "eager, willing", or Old High German
ger "spear" combined with either
wolf "wolf" or
walt "power, authority".
Guertin FrenchA French surname that evolved from the Old Germanic given name
Warin meaning "to guard" or "protection". This surname was often given as an occupational name for a guard, or someone who served as a protector in their community.
Guet FrenchFrench - From Old French
guet "lookout, watchman".
Guilbeau FrenchPossibly from Ancient Germanic
wil, meaning "will, power", and Latin
bellus, meaning "beautiful".
Guiles FrenchOf uncertain origin; it could be a variant of French Guill or of English Guile or Giles .
Guin FrenchFrom the given name Guin the French form of
Wino a short form of names with the element
win "friend".
Guitry FrenchDerived from the given name
Witeric. A famous bearer of this name was Sacha Guitry (1885-1957), a French actor, playwright, screenwriter and director.
Gülden GermanVariant of
Gulden, a metonymic occupational name for a craftsman who gilded objects, or a habitational name referring to a house name such as In den silvren Gulden ("In the Silver Guilder"), De Gulden Hoeve ("The Gilded Farmhouse") or De Gulden Zwaan ("The Gilded Swan").
Gulden Dutch, GermanMeans "golden, gilded" or "guilder, florin (coin)", possibly an occupational name for a goldsmith, or a habitational name derived from a house.
Gullette FrenchComes from Guillemme or William of Normandy. Reference 1066: The Battle of Hastings.
Guntli RomanshDerived from Romansh
cunt "count" in combination with the diminutive suffix
-li.
Gunzenhauser German, JewishHabitational name for someone from either of two places named Gunzenhausen, one in Württemberg and the other in Bavaria.
Gurney English, French, NormanOriginated from the region Normandy in France, is also a biospheric name from Gournay-en-Bray, a commune in France. It is also a fictional character's maiden name, Jacqueline "Jackie" Bouvier from the animated sitcom show,
The Simpsons.
Gust GermanGerman: from a short form of the personal name
Jodocus, which is either a Latinized form of a Breton name,
Iodoc, borne by a 7th-century Breton saint (compare
Jost and
Joyce) or from a reduced form of the personal name
Augustus.... [
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Gutherz German, JewishNickname for a kindly or righteous person. Derived from Middle High German
guot meaning "good" and
herz meaning "heart".
Gütlin German, YiddishDiminutive of GUTE and GUTA, recorded in Frankfurt, Germany throughout the 14th century.
Gutting GermanOf uncertain origin. Probably from a Germanic personal name formed with
god "good" or
god,
got "god".
Gutwald f GermanGutwald is a surname of German origin, which can be derived from the German words ‘Gut’ meaning ‘good’ and ‘Wald’ meaning ‘woods’, thus creating the meaning ‘good woods’. The surname is also derived from the German personal name 'Gottwald', which was derived from the Old High German 'Gottwalt' meaning ‘rule of God’ or ‘God’s power’.
Guy English, FrenchFrom a French form of the Germanic personal name
Wido, which is of uncertain origin. This name was popular among the Normans in the forms
Wi,
Why as well as in the rest of France in the form
Guy.
Habelt Germanfrom a pet form of the Germanic personal name Habo, a short form of various compound names formed with had(u) ‘battle’, ‘strife’
Haberland GermanTopographic name from Middle High German
haber(e) "oats" and
land "land", or a habitational name from any of various places so called.
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.
Habermann German, JewishOccupational name for a grower or seller of oats, composed of the elements
Haber and the agent suffix
-mann.
Habermehl Germanmetonymic occupational name for a producer or seller of oatmeal from Middle High German
habaro "oats" and
melo "flour".
Habsburg GermanThis surname may have been used by someone whose descendants originated from the House of Habsburg, which was one of the most important royal houses in Europe. It is assumed that the surname is derived from High German
Habichtsburg meaning "hawk castle," but some historians and linguists believe that it may actually be derived from Middle High German
hab/hap meaning "ford", as there is a river with a ford nearby.
Hafer German, JewishMetonymic occupational name for a grower of or dealer in oats, from German
Hafer "oats". Compare
Haber. As a Jewish surname, it is in many cases ornamental.