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.
Hagen German, Dutch, Danishfrom the ancient Germanic personal name
Hagen a short form of various compound names formed with
hag "enclosure protected place" as the first element... [
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Hahm GermanMetonymic occupational name for a sealer of weights and measures, from Middle High German hāme ‘(standard) measure’.
Hahner GermanOccupational name for a poultry farmer, from an agent derivative of Middle High German
hane "rooster".
Hahner GermanHabitational name for someone from any of several places called Hahn or Hag.
Halberstadt GermanHabitational name from any of various places so named, notably the city near Magdeburg and Halberstadt near Königstein in Saxony.
Hamberg German, Danish, JewishGerman, Danish, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) habitational name from any of several places named Hamberg. Jewish (Ashkenazic) variant of
Hamburg.
Hamberger German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) habitational name for someone from any of various places named Hamberg. Jewish (Ashkenazic) variant of
Hamburger.
Hamburg German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) habitational name from the great city and port at the mouth of the river Elbe, named with the Germanic elements
ham ‘water meadow’ +
burg ‘fortress’, ‘fortified town’.
Hamel Frenchtopographic name for someone who lived and worked at an outlying farm dependent on the main village Old French
hamel (a diminutive from an ancient Germanic element cognate with Old English
ham "homestead"); or a habitational name from (Le) Hamel the name of several places in the northern part of France named with this word.
Hamel German, JewishHabitational name from the town of Hamelin, which sits on the Hamel river.
Hamer English, GermanFrom the town of Hamer in Lancashire from the old english word
Hamor combining "Rock" and "Crag". It is also used in Germany and other places in Europe, possibly meaning a maker of Hammers.
Hammer German, English, JewishFrom Middle High German
hamer, Yiddish
hamer, a metonymic occupational name for a maker or user of hammers, for example in a forge, or nickname for a forceful person.
Handschuh GermanOccupational name for a maker or seller of gloves or perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore gloves from Middle High German
hantschuoch "glove" literally "hand shoe" from the elements
hant "hand" and
schuh "shoe".
Harbach GermanHabitational name from any of several places named Harbach.
Harcourt FrenchThis name is of locational origin either from the town and ancient chateau of Harcourt near Brionne in Normandy.
Hardekop German (Rare)Derived from Middle High German
hart "hard" and
kopf "head". As a surname, it was given to a hard-headed, stubborn person.
Harlacher GermanHabitational name for someone from Ober- or Unter-Harlachen, near Überlingen.
Harless English, GermanEnglish: probably a variant spelling of
Arliss, a nickname from Middle English
earles ‘earless’, probably denoting someone who was deaf rather than one literally without ears.
Harpe GermanDerived from a short form of the given name
Harprecht.
Hartung GermanGerman, Dutch, and Danish: from a Germanic personal name, a derivative (originally a patronymic) of compound names beginning with hart ‘hardy’, ‘strong’.
Hassdenteufel GermanA German Satzname, from the expression "Hass den Teufel" meaning "hate the devil".
Hasselbach GermanHabitational name from any of the places in various parts of Germany called Hasselbach.
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-).
Haste English, FrenchDerived from Old French
haste meaning "(roasting) spit" (ultimately from Latin
hasta "spear, lance, pike"), an occupational name for a seller of roast meat or a servant who turned the spit to cook meat.
Hattendorf German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from places called Hattendorf, near Alsfeld and near Hannover. The element
hatt,
had means ‘bog’
Haueis GermanDerived from Middle High German
houwen "to beat" and
isen "iron". This surname denoted a smith.
Hauptmann GermanDerived from German
hauptmann, a word used for a German military rank meaning "Captain".
Haus GermanTopographic and occupational name for someone who lived and worked in a great house, from Middle High German, Middle Low German
hus "house" (see
House).
Hausch GermanFrom the Germanic personal name
Huso, a short form of a compound name composed with
hus ‘house’, ‘dwelling’ as the first element.
Hauschild GermanPossibly from German
haus "house" or
hauen "to chop, to hack" combined with
schild "shield".
Hauser German, JewishFrom Middle High German
hus "house", German
haus, + the suffix -
er, denoting someone who gives shelter or protection.
Hausknecht Germanoccupational name from Middle High German
hus "house" and
kneht "boy servant" also "town-hall, messenger".
Hauswirth GermanFrom Middle High German
haus 'house' and
wirt 'owner' or 'master'.
Haydn GermanMeaning "heathen". Famous bearer is Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809).
Hazard English, FrenchNickname for an inveterate gambler, a crafty person, or a brave or foolhardy man prepared to run risks, from Middle English
hasard via Old French
hasart "dice game, game of chance", later used metaphorically of other uncertain enterprises... [
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Hebel German1 German: metonymic occupational name for a baker, from Middle High German hebel ‘yeast’.... [
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Heber GermanOccupational name for a carrier (someone who loaded or transported goods), from an agent derivative of Middle High German
heben "to lift".
Hecht GermanMeans "pike (fish)" in German, generally a nickname for a rapacious and greedy person. In some instances it may have been a metonymic occupational name for a fisher, and in others it may be a habitational name from a house distinguished by a sign depicting this fish.
Heckenlaible German (Rare)Probably derived from Middle High German
hecke "hedge" and a diminutive form of
loube "arbour, bower".
Hedrick German (Americanized)This name has a very obscure origin. With the name being of German origin but with notably more people living in England. It means, "Combatant ruler/Ruler of the heathland
Hefler GermanDerived from the Old German and German word hof, which means settlement, farm or court.
Heid German, JewishTopographic name from Middle High German heide, German Heide ‘heath’, ‘moor’. Compare Heath.... [
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Heidenreich GermanFrom the medieval personal name Heidenrich, ostensibly composed of the elements heiden 'heathen', 'infidel' (see Heiden 2) + ric 'power', 'rule', but probably in fact a variant by folk etymology of Heidrich.
Heider GermanCombination of German
Heide "heath, headland" and the suffix
-er denoting an inhabitant. The surname can be either topographic for someone living on or near a heath, or habitational for someone from any place named with the element
Heide.
Heil GermanMost recognisably known for meaning ‘Salvation’, it was also one used as an indication of a doctor or healer.
Heiland GermanSouth German: from Middle High German
heilant ‘savior’, ‘Christ’, presumably either a name given to someone who had played the part of Christ in a mystery play or an occupational name for a healer, from Middle High German
heilen ‘to heal’, ‘save’.
Heimburg GermanGerman for "home". Originates in the German village of Heimburg (not to be confused with
Hamburg) and the nearby castle of the same name.
Heimburger German, JewishStatus name for a village head, derived from Middle High German
heim meaning "homestead, settlement" and
bürge meaning "guardian". It could also be a habitational name for someone from numerous places called
Heimburg or
Heimberg in Germany.
Heimlich GermanNickname for a secretive person from Middle High German heimelich German heimlich "confidential secret".
Heinbokel German(Hein) is a short form of the name
Heinrich, (the German form of the name Henry) & Bokel is a place name in Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein & North Rhine-Westphalia.
Heisenberg GermanMade up of German words
heis and
berg, ultimately meaning “hot mountain.” This was the name of theoretical physicist Werner Heisenberg and the alias of Walter White in Breaking Bad.
Heitmeyer GermanGerman: distinguishing nickname for a farmer whose land included heathland, from Middle Low German heide ‘heath’, ‘wasteland’ +
Meyer 1.
Helber GermanOccupational name for a thresher, from Middle High German helwe 'chaff' + the agent suffix -er; alternatively, it could be a habitational name from a place called Helba near Meiningen.
Helbling German (Swiss)Meaning "half penny" or a cheap /stingy man Know surname in Germany andSwitzerland. Helblings were French Huguenot
Held German, Jewish, DutchMeans "hero" in German, ultimately derived from Middle High German
helt. This name was bestowed upon a person either in its literal meaning or else in an ironic sense.
Helder Dutch, German, Upper German, English1. Dutch and German: from a Germanic personal name
Halidher, composed of the elements
haliò “hero” +
hari,
heri “army”, or from another personal name,
Hildher, composed of the elements
hild “strife”, “battle” + the same second element... [
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Helfer GermanMetonymic occupational name for an assistant of some kind, or nickname for a helpful person, from Middle High German hëlfære, German Helfer 'helper', 'assistant'.
Helle GermanTopographic name probably derived from Old High German
helle "hell", denoting a place with a steep hollow or a wild area.
Hellenbrand GermanDerived from germanic: hildtja = battle, brandt = sword, or prandt = burning wood/torch. Other view: Hilda is the Nordic Queen of the Underworld, Goddes of Death, so Sword/Torch of Hilda.... [
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Heller GermanNickname from the small medieval coin known as the
häller or
heller, named for the city it was first minted (in 1208) at,
Hall am Kocher (currently called
Schwäbisch Hall).
Hellmich GermanDerived from a personal name composed of the Germanic elements
helm "helmet" and
wig "battle".
Helm English, Dutch, Germanfrom Old English
helm "protection covering" (in later northern English dialects "cattle shelter barn"). The name may be topographic for someone who lived by or worked at a barn or habitational from a place so named such as
Helme in
Meltham (Yorkshire)... [
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Hence German, English, WelshAn American spelling variant of
Hentz derived from a German nickname for
Hans or
Heinrich or from an English habitation name found in Staffordshire or Shropshire and meaning "road or path" in Welsh.
Hendrickson GermanDerivative of the Old German personnel “Heimric” meaning “home rule”.
Hengst German, Dutchmetonymic occupational name for someone who worked with or bred horses or a nickname for a brave strong man from Middle High German and Middle Dutch
hengest "stallion" also "gelding" derived from Old Germanic
hangist "stallion"... [
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Henker GermanOccupational name for an Executioner, from the German word "Henker" meaning Hangman.
Henley English, Irish, German (Anglicized)English: habitational name from any of the various places so called. Most, for example those in Oxfordshire, Suffolk, and Warwickshire, are named with Old English
héan (the weak dative case of
heah ‘high’, originally used after a preposition and article) + Old English
leah ‘wood’, ‘clearing’... [
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Hennard FrenchFrom the ancient Germanic personal name
Haginhard composed of the elements
hag "enclosure protected place" and
hard "strong hardy".
Herbarth German, NormanReferences Old Norse Deity "Odin" being one of the "Son's of Odin". Remember that the Geats became the Ostrogoths through the Denmark pass--referenced in Beowulf. Or, it means "Warrior of the Bearded One", perhaps a King... [
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Herbolsheimer GermanHabitational name for someone from either of two places called Herbolzheim, in Baden and Bavaria.
Herbst German, JewishNickname from Middle High German
herbest "harvest". The modern German word
herbst has come to mean "fall" the time of year when the harvest takes place... [
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Herbster GermanOccupational name for a grape picker or vintner from Middle High German
herbest "(grape) harvest".
Herder GermanAn occupational surname in reference to herding animals. The anglicized pronounciation is "Her-der", but is Germanically pronounced, "Herr-der".
Hergenöther GermanHabitational name for someone from Hergenroth near Limburg or from Hergenrode near Darmstadt, both in Hessen.
Hermès FrenchEither a topographic name for someone who lived in a deserted spot or on a patch of waste land from Occitan
erm "desert waste" (from Greek
erēmia) and the topographic suffix -
ès, or from the given name
Hermès.
Herner GermanDenoted someone hailing from the city
Herne in Germany.
Herold English, Dutch, GermanFrom the given name
Herold. This was the surname of David Herold, one of the conspirators in the Abraham Lincoln assassination plot.
Herring German, English, Dutch, ScottishOccupational name for a fisherman, someone who caught or sold herring, or perhaps someone known for eating herring. It could have also been a nickname from the medieval phrase "to like neither herring nor barrel", meaning something of little value.
Herrman GermanHerrman is of ancient German origin. It is derived from a Germanic personal name made up of the elements
heri meaning "army," and
man meaning "man." Herrman was first found in Prussia, where the name emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region.
Herschbach GermanFrom the name of two municipalities in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. A notable bearer is the American chemist Dudley R. Herschbach (1932-).
Hertig GermanHertig is associated with the popular German personal name
Hartwig, meaning "hard-battle."
Hertzel GermanThe ancestral home of the Hertzel family is in the German province of Bavaria. Hertzel is a German nickname surname. Such names came from eke-names, or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute... [
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Herzfeld GermanDerived from the same name of a municipality in Bitburg-Prüm, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Herzl German, JewishVariant of
Hertz. It was notably borne by the Austro-Hungarian Jewish journalist, writer and political activist Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), who is considered the founder of the modern Zionist movement.
Hessler GermanTopographic surname derived from Middle High German place name Hasel or Hesel (Meaning "Hazel)
Heuer GermanThe name comes from the German word "Heu" meaning "hay."
Heuermann GermanOccupational name for (a freshly hired hand, a day laborer) from Middle High German
huren "to hire" and
man "man".
Heuser GermanDeriving from one of several places named Hausen.
Hexenjäger GermanHexenjäger is a German last name meaning hunter of witches or witch Hunter.
Heyer German, DutchOccupational name for a grower or reaper of grass for hay, from Middle High German
höu "grass, hay" and the agent suffix
-er. Could also be a variant spelling of
Heier.
Heynckes GermanFrom a diminutive of the given name
Heinrich. A famous bearer is retired German soccer player and coach Jupp Heynckes (1945-).
Hick GermanFrom
Hiko, a pet form of any of the Germanic personal names formed with
hild "strife", "battle" as the first element.
Highbaugh GermanThe altered spelling of Heibach. A habitational name from a place so named in the Rhineland, near Lindlar.
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'.
Hilgersen GermanMeans "son of
Hilger”. From a Germanic personal name composed of the elements hild 'strife', 'battle' + gar, ger 'spear' and sen 'son'. Most common in Northern Germany.
Hillegas GermanGerman: Variant of Hillegass from a variant of the Germanic personal name Hildegaud, composed of hild ‘strife’, ‘battle’ + got, of uncertain meaning (perhaps the same word as Goth).