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.
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... [
more]
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.... [
more]
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).
Hellmann GermanHabitational name from Middle Low German
helle meaning
precipitous terrain, steep slope" and mann meaning "man".
Hellmich GermanDerived from a personal name composed of the Germanic elements
helm "helmet" and
wig "battle".
Helm English, Dutch, GermanEither from 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)... [
more]
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"... [
more]
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’... [
more]
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... [
more]
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... [
more]
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".
Herfurth GermanEither a metonymic occupational name for a soldier from Middle High German hervart "campaign military expedition" (from Old High German
heri "army" and
vart "journey")... [
more]
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... [
more]
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).
Himmelreich German, Jewishhumorous topographic name from a place so named as being at a high altitude from Middle High German
himel "heaven" and
riche "empire" meaning "kingdom of heaven, heavenly kingdom".
Himmelstein German, Jewishtopographic name for someone living by a feature so named from Middle High German
himel "heaven, sky" and
stein "rock, stone" meaning "stone in the sky, sky stone"
Himmler German, HistoryDerived from German
Himmel "heaven, sky". This was a topographic name for someone living at a high altitude. ... [
more]
Hinkel GermanNickname for a timid, fearful person, from dialect hinkel ‘chicken’
Hinkelbein GermanNickname for someone with a limp, from Middle High German
hinken "to limp, hobble" and
bein "leg, bone".
Hinkelman GermanElaborated variant of Hinkel, with the addition of Middle High German 'man'.
Hintzell German (Rare)Variant from name Hintz which was popular in Saxony and Hessen. Name later used in German Prussia. The name Hintz originates as a short form of the personal name Heinrich.
Hipp GermanFrom the middle high German word
hippe meaning "waffle". Perhaps an occupational name for someone who cooks waffles.
Hirschberg German, JewishDerived from many places named
Hirschberg in the states of Thuringia and North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, or the historic city of
Jelenia Góra in southwestern Poland. It is composed of Middle High German
hirz meaning "deer, stag" and
berg meaning "hill, mountain"... [
more]
Hirschfeld German, Jewish, YiddishOrnamental name composed of German
hirsch or Yiddish
hirsh meaning "deer" and
feld meaning "field". It is also a topographic name for someone who lived in an area of land frequented by deer or where millets grew.
Hochstein GermanTopographic name for someone who lived by a high rock or a castle of that name from Middle High German
hoh "high" and
stein "rock stone castle".
Hock GermanTopographic name for someone living by a hedge, from a dialect variant of
Heck.
Hockton GermanIn relation to Hock a wine producing region and probably being adopted into Britain via Anglo Saxon settlers.
Hodapp German1 South German: probably a nickname for a clumsy person, from Middle High German hōh ‘high’, ‘tall’ + the dialect word dapp ‘fool’.... [
more]
Hoen Dutch, GermanFrom Middle Dutch
hoen "chicken, hen", perhaps a nickname denoting a silly or foolish person, or an occupational name for someone who raised chickens.
Hoen Dutch, GermanFrom the personal name
Huno, a short form of names containing the element
hun "bear cub, offspring".
Hoffa GermanAltered form of
Hofer. This surname was borne by American labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa (1913-1975?).
Hoffer GermanThe name Hoffer is derived from the Old German and German word hof, which means settlement, farm or court.
Hohensee GermanHabitational name from any of several places so named in Pomerania and East Prussia, or perhaps from Hohenseeden near Magdeburg.
Hohenstein GermanHohenstein in German has the meaning of “ High-Stone “, this represents strong and powerful
Hohn GermanDerived from Middle High German
hon "chicken". As a surname, it was given to someone who either bred or traded in chickens.... [
more]
Holbrook English, German (Anglicized)English: habitational name from any of various places, for example in Derbyshire, Dorset, and Suffolk, so called from Old English
hol ‘hollow’, ‘sunken’ +
broc ‘stream’. ... [
more]
Holder German, Jewish, English1. German: topographic name for someone who lived by an elder tree. Middle High German
holder, or from a house named for its sign of an elder tree. In same areas, for example Alsace, the elder tree was believed to be the protector of a house... [
more]
Holl German, DutchTopographic name meaning "hollow" or "hole", from Middle Low German and Middle High German
hol.
Hollier English, FrenchOccupational name for a male brothel keeper, from a dissimilated variant of Old French
horier "pimp", which was the agent noun of
hore "whore, prostitute".
Hollier was probably also used as an abusive nickname in Middle English and Old French.... [
more]
Holstein Germanhabitational name from the province of
Holstein long disputed between Germany and Denmark. This gets its name from
holsten the dative plural originally used after a preposition of
holst from Middle Low German holt-sate "dweller in the woods" (from Middle Low German
holt "wood" and
sate sete "tenant")... [
more]
Holtey GermanOld German name meaning "Wood Island". Holt means wood and ey means island. Family can be traced back to around 650 A.D. and is located in the Ruhr and Essen area of Germany.
Holthaus GermanNorth German: topographic name for someone who lived by a copse (a small group of trees), from Middle Low German holt ‘small wood’ + haus ‘house’.
Holtzclaw German (Anglicized, Modern)Americanized spelling of German
Holzklau, which translates into modern German as "wood thief", but is probably a nickname for someone who gathered wood, from Middle High German holz "wood" + a derivative of kluben "to pick up", "gather", "steal".
Holtzmann Upper German, GermanDerived from the Upper German word "holz," which means "forest." Thus many of the names that evolved from this root work have to do with living in the woods
Holzberg GermanHabitational name from any of various places called Holzberg for example in Hesse and Silesia.
Hölzel GermanThe surname of Austrian singer Johann "Hans" Hölzel (1957-1998), better known by his stage name Falco.
Holzhauer GermanOccupational name for a "lumberjack, woodsman" with the element
holz "forest".
Holzheim GermanThe meaning of Holzheim is " wood home". Holz=wood and heim=home. ... [
more]
Holzinger German, JewishHabitational name for someone from any of various places called Holzing or Holzingen.
Holzklau GermanFrom Middle High German holz ‘wood’ + a derivative of klūben ‘to pick up, gather, steal’. It means "wood thief" but it was probably more likely used as nickname for someone who gathered wood
Honecker GermanErich Honecker was the leader of the GDR from 1971 to 1989.
Honegger SwissArthur Honegger (10 March 1892 – 27 November 1955) was a Swiss composer, and a member of Les Six, a group of composers associated with Jean Cocteau and Erik Satie. His most famous work is "Pacific 231".
Honig German, JewishMetonymic name for a gatherer or seller of honey, from Middle High German
honec,
honic "honey", German
Honig.
Hopf GermanAn occupational name for a brewer or farmer, from German
Hopfen meaning "hops", a plant used in preserving and flavouring beer.
Hoppe German, DutchDerived from
hoppen "to hop", a nickname for an active person. Can also be a variant of
Hopp.
Hörmann GermanThe distinguished surname Hormann is of very ancient German origin. It is derived from a Germanic personal name made up of the elements "heri," meaning "army," and "man," meaning "man."
Hornecker GermanHabitational name denoting someone from any of various places called Horneck.
Horney German (Anglicized)German: Eastphalian or Americanized form of a personal name composed of the Germanic elements hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’ + nit ‘battle fury’, ‘eagerness to fight’, or a habitational name from a place so called in Brandenburg or in the Rhineland... [
more]
Hörschelmann GermanThis denotes familial origin in the former village of Hörschel (annexed to Eisenach in 1994).
Horschwald GermanSurname probably of German origin. Most people with this surname live in Poland today.
Hosner GermanOccupational name for a knitter of hose (garments for the legs), from the plural form of Middle High German hose + the agent suffix -er (see Hose 3).
Hostetler GermanThe name itself comes from the word Hostet or Hochstatt meaning "high place". Thus Hostetler is someone living in a high place or on high ground.
Hottmann Germanprobably either from an ancient Germanic personal name formed with
hut "protection helmet" (compare German
hut "hat")... [
more]
Hotz German (Swiss), German, HungarianOf 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".
Houck GermanNickname from Middle Dutch houck, a marine fish, or from Middle Dutch hoec, houck ‘buck’. variant of Hoek.
Houdin FrenchVariant of
Bodin , a pet form of
Bodo, a short form of any of various ancient Germanic personal names with the element
bod ‘messenger’.... [
more]
Houdini FrenchOriginated as a stage name. He chose it as an homage to the French magician Jean-Eugène Robert-
Houdin.
Howdyshell American, GermanAmericanized (i.e., Anglicized) form of the Swiss German
Haudenschild, which originated as a nickname for a ferocious soldier, literally meaning "hack the shield" from Middle High German
houwen "to chop or hack" (imperative
houw) combined with
den (accusative form of the definite article) and
schilt "shield".