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.
Mai GermanDerived from German
der Mai meaning "May", perhaps indicating a person who was baptized in that month.
Maimeri ItalianSurname of italian painter and entrepreneur Giovanni (Gianni) Maimeri.
Maine FrenchFrench topographic name from Old French
maine ‘dwelling’, ‘residence’, ‘abode’, or a habitational name from any of numerous places so named.
Maisel Yiddish, German, FrenchPredominantly seems to be a matronymic surname from the Yiddish feminine name
Mayzl. Although it is believed that it derived from the Hebrew name
Meïser, which means “representative of God”... [
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Maison French, WalloonDerived from Old French
maison "residence", this name used to be given to someone who lived by an important house.
Maitre Frenchoccupational name for one who was the head of a craft or trade guild, from Old French maistre ‘master’ (Latin magister).
Malandra ItalianPossibly related to Italian
malandrino "dishonest, mischievous; rascal".
Malatesta ItalianMeans "bad head" in Italian, a nickname for a stubborn or perhaps malicious person. It could have also indicated the bearer had a misshapen head. ... [
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Malebranche French (Rare)Means "bad branch" in French, denoting a person who is on the bad side of a family tree. It could also possibly be a variant of
Malherbe. Nicolas Malebranche was a French Oratorian Catholic priest and rationalist philosopher.
Malfait FrenchDerived from French
mal fait, which literally means "poorly done, badly done". In the context of the surname, it refers to the first bearer being "malformed" or "deformed" (as it was in the eyes of people from older times), which means that he either was physically disabled or able-bodied but with a physical trait that deviated from the norm.
Malfatto ItalianMeans "badly made, shoddy; deformed" in Italian, possibly originating with the nickname Malefactus "ugly, injured". Cognate to French
Malfait.
Malfoy FrenchMalfoy is a French name roughly translating to "bad faith"
Malin French, FlemishFrom the masculine given name
Madalin, a short form of names composed of the Germanic element
mahal "council, assembly, meeting" such as
Madalbert.
Maller GermanAn occupational name given to a painter of stained glass.
Mallet Anglo-Norman, Medieval English, French, CatalanOriginated in Norman France and spread to England following the Norman conquest of 1066. The surname comes from the given name
Malle, an Old English diminutive of
Mary or from the given name
Malo, a popular form of the name of Saint
Maclovius, a 6th-century Welsh monk who the church of Saint Maclou in Rouen is named for.... [
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Mallow GermanVariant spelling of
Malow, a habitational name from Malow in Mecklenburg.
Malo ItalianPossibly from Italian
mano "hand", a nickname for a skillful person, or a short form of a given name such as
Romano.
Maloret FrenchThis surname comes from the French and means 'unfortunate' or 'luckless'.
Malpass English, Scottish, FrenchHabitational name from any of various places named Malpas, because of the difficulty of the terrain, from Old French
mal pas "bad passage" (Latin
malus passus). It is a common French minor place name, and places in Cheshire, Cornwall, Gwent, and elsewhere in England were given this name by Norman settlers... [
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Malta Italian, Spanish, Portuguesehabitational or ethnic name for someone from the Mediterranean island of Malta (from Latin
Melita Greek
Melitē).
Maltese Italianhabitational or ethnic name for someone from the island of Malta.
Malvestio ItalianFrom Venetian
malvestio "poorly-dressed, shabby", given to foundlings turned into an orphanage with shabby clothes.
Mameli ItalianPossibly from latin surname Mamelius. A famous bearer was Goffredo Mameli, author of the italian national anthem.
Manacorda ItalianPossibly means "bad heart", from Latin
malus "bad" and
cordis "heart".
Managniello ItalianThe name likely comes from the Italian word mangano, meaning "mangle" or "machine for pressing," referring to tools used in fabric and textile production, which were common in medieval Italy. The suffix "-ello" is a diminutive, which could imply that the name originally referred to a person who worked with or operated one of these machines, such as a cloth presser or laundry worker... [
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Manai ItalianFrom Sardinian
mannai "grandfather, grandmother".
Mancio FrenchMancio derives from the surname Venâncio and Amâncio, being an unusual French variation.
Mandato Italianmandato is the past tense of send in italian-such as "i sent a letter or message"
Manera ItalianEither a habitational name from any of two places called
Manera in the Italian provinces of Cuneo and Como, a nickname and perhaps a metonymic occupational name (from the dialect word
manèra meaning "executioner's axe, cleaver" or from Italian
manero "well-behaved, skilled"), or derived from the given name
Mainiero (ultimately from Frankish
Maginhari, composed of the Ancient Germanic elements
magin "strength, might" and
hari,
heri "army").
Manganaro Italianoccupational name from
manganaro agent noun from
Mangano (see
Mangano) in any of its various senses. Manganaris and Manganaras are also found as Greek surnames.
Mangano Italianoccupational name from
mangano "mangle" (a device consisting of a pair of rollers used to press textiles and clothes) or "calender" (a similar device used in making paper). The term mangano also denoted a bucket elevator (used for raising water from a well) and any of various other devices including a catapult... [
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Mangialaglio ItalianMeans "eats garlic" in Italian, from
mangia "to eat" and
aglio "garlic". Possibly a nickname for someone known for heavily seasoning their food, or for having bad breath.
Mangiaracina ItalianThe Sicilian name for salpa, a kind of fish, from
mangia "to eat" and
racina "grapes".
Mangone Italianhabitational name from Mangone a place in Cosenza province. Or an occupational name for a merchant from Latin
mango (genitive
mangonis) "dealer, slave trader". Or possibly also from an ancient Germanic personal name (see
Mangold ).
Maniscalco ItalianIt means 'blacksmith' in Italian. The variant
Maniscalchi is the plural.
Manocchio ItalianMeaning uncertain, possibly from Italian
mano "hand" and
occhio "eye", an elaboration of the surname
Mano, or an altered form of
malocchio meaning "evil eye".
Mansell Anglo-Norman, FrenchA status name for a particular type of feudal tenant, Anglo-Norman French
mansel, one who occupied a manse (Late Latin
mansa ‘dwelling’), a measure of land sufficient to support one family... [
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Mantel English, German, French, Dutchnickname for someone who wore a cloak in a particularly conspicuous way or with a striking design, from Middle English, Middle High German, Old French, and Middle Dutch
mantel "cloak, coat" (from Late Latin
mantellus)... [
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Manteuffel GermanThe Manteuffel family is the name of an old and influential German Pomeranian noble family. Manteuffel family was first mentioned in 1256, but the family history officially begins with Henricus Manduvel who is first mentioned on 14... [
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Mantey German, PolishHabitational name for someone from a place called Manthei in Schwerin province. This name is also established in Poland.
Manville FrenchA locational surname deriving from any of the various places in France called "Manneville or Magneville", named, from the Old Germanic personal name "Manno" or the Old French adjective "magne", great, with the word "ville", meaning a town or settlement.
Manzoni ItalianOf uncertain origin: could be derived from a nickname given to those who raised and took care of bullock, or from the medieval terms
manso or
mansueto, denoting a gentle person.... [
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Maqueron FrenchOf debated origin and meaning. Theories include a derivation from Picard
maqueron "chin" (in which case this would have been a pejorative nickname for someone with a protruding chin) and a diminutive of
Macquart.
Mar SwissThe surname Mar has roots from Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain. MAR: topographic name for someone living by the sea, from mar ‘sea’ (Latin mare). German: nickname from Middle High German mar(w) ‘tender’, ‘delicate’.
Marable French, EnglishFrom the feminine personal name
Mirabel, equated in medieval records with Latin mirabilis "marvelous", "wonderful" (in the sense "extraordinary").
Marano ItalianHabitational name from any of various places named with the Latin personal name
Marius and the suffix
-anu.
Marcantonio ItalianAncient family, called Marcantonio or Di Marcantonio, of clear and ancestral virtue, flourished in Abruzzo.
Marchant French, English, SpanishVariant of
Marchand, from French
marchand meaning "merchant, mercantile". Though it is of French origin, it was transferred into the Spanish-speaking world, especially Chile, by French invasion of the Iberian Peninsula.
Marchese ItalianFrom the title of rank
marchése "marquis" (in Italy the rank immediately below that of duke), probably applied as a nickname for someone who behaved like a marquis, or an occupational name for a servant in the household of a marquis... [
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Marchesini ItalianDerived from the Latin word “marchese,” which means “marquis.” It is a title of nobility that was used in medieval Italy and referred to the leader of a march or border region. It likely refers to someone who was descended from or associated with a marquis or who held a similar position of authority in a border region.
Marchione ItalianNickname from
marchione ‘marquis’, from medieval Latin
marchio, genitive
marchionis, from Germanic
marka ‘borderland’
Marengo ItalianHabitational name from Marengo in Alessandria Province or Marengo-Talloria in Cuneo. From Maréngo, Marénco, meaning Of The Sea, Maritime (Medieval Latin Marincus from Mare ‘Sea’), which were often used as personal names or nicknames in the Middle Ages.
Marigo ItalianEither from Venetian
marigo "mayor of a rural village", or from the given name
Amerigo.
Marinaro ItalianOccupational name for a sailor from
marinaro (from Late Latin
marinus derived from
mare "sea").
Marinetti ItalianVariant of
Marino. A famous bearer of this surname is Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (1876-1944), considered to be the founder of Futurism.
Mario ItalianThere's a popular character named Mario, and his brother, Luigi. Together; they're the Super Mario Bros. They've been very popular since the 80's and came out with the greatest games throughout the 90's, 00's, 10's, and 20's.
Mark English, German, DutchTopographic name for someone who lived on a boundary between two districts, from Old High German
marka "border, boundary, march". The German term also denotes an area of fenced-off land (see
Marker) and, like the English word, is embodied in various place names which have given rise to habitational names.
Marker GermanStatus name for someone who lived on an area of land that was marked off from the village land or woodland, Middle High German
merkære.
Marlock German (Archaic)Derived from Middle High German and Middle Low German
mar(e), denoting an evil elf, a creature that sits on one's chest at night, and Middle High German
loc "a lock of hair; hair; mane"... [
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Marner English, GermanOccupational name for a sailor from Anglo-Norman French
mariner Middle, High German
marnære "seaman". English variant of
Mariner.
Marois Norman, Picard, Frenchtopographic name from the Old French words "mareis", "maresc", mareis, marois meaning "marsh" ‘marshy ground’.
Marongiu ItalianFrom Sardinian
marongiu "to hoe, hoeing", from
marra "hoe, digging tool".
Marquis French, Englishfor someone who behaved like a marquis or an occupational name for a servant in the household of a marquis, from Old Northern French
marquis... [
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Marsteller GermanOccupational name for a stable boy in or for the supervisor of the stables on a noble estate, from Middle High German mar(c) 'noble horse' stall 'stable' + the agent suffix -er.
Martello ItalianSouthern Italian: nickname for someone with a forceful personality, from Italian
martèllo ‘hammer’ (Late Latin
martellus), or a metonymic occupational name for someone who used a hammer in their work.
Martirano ItalianLikely a habitational surname from a place in Catanzaro province in the Calabria region of Italy.
Martire Italianfrom
martire "martyr" probably a nickname for someone who had played the part of a Christian martyr in a religious play. However there was a Saint Martire and so the surname may be derived from a personal name.
Marugg RomanshDerived from the given name
Maurus, combined with the diminutive suffix
-ugg. Another theory, however, derives this name from Late Latin
maior domus "mayor of a palace" (compare
Meyer 1).
Marx GermanFrom a short form of the given name
Markus. A famous bearer was Karl Marx (1818-1883), a German philosopher known for his work in socioeconomic theory.
Mary FrenchHabitational name from places in Saône-et-Loire, Seine-et-Marne, and Nièvre, named in Latin as Mariacum meaning "estate of Marius".
Mascherano ItalianOccupational name for maker of masks, derived from Italian
mascherare meaning "to mask". The Argentine former soccer player Javier Mascherano (1984-) is a famous bearer of this name.
Maserati ItalianMost notably the Italian luxury car manufacturer Maserati, founded in Bologna, Italy all the way back in December 1914.
Masey English, Scottish, French, NormanEnglish and Scottish (of Norman origin) and French: habitational name from any of various places in northern France which get their names from the Gallo-Roman personal name
Maccius + the locative suffix
-acum.... [
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Massa ItalianA habitational name from any of the various places named Massa (for example, Massa Lubrense or Massa di Somma, both in the Metropolitan City of Naples, or Massa d’Albe in the Province of L'Aquila), which were all named from the medieval Latin word
massa, meaning ‘holding’ or ‘estate’.
Massara Italian, GreekEither a feminine form of
Massaro or from the equivalent occupational or status name in medieval Greek, (
massaras meaning ‘peasant’ or ‘share cropper’) which is from the word
massaria meaning ‘small farm’.
Massaro ItalianRegional or archaic form of Italian
massaio meaning "tenant farmer, share cropper".
Mast German, DutchDerived from Middle High German and Middle Dutch
mast "mast (fodder made of acorns and beechnuts); the process of fattening livestock", an occupational name for a pig farmer or a swineherd. In some cases, however, the German name may also have been derived from Middle High German
mast, mastic "fat, stout".
Mastin French, Flemish, Walloonoccupational name for a household servant or guard from Old French
mastin "watchdog, manservant" (from Latin
mansuetudinus "domestic"). The Old French word had the further sense of a bad-tempered dog and was used as an adjective in the sense of "bad cruel".
Mastrantonio ItalianFrom the Italian title
mastro meaning "master craftsman", combined with the given name
Antonio. A famous bearer is American actress and singer Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (1958-).
Mastromarino ItalianDerived from Italian
mastro meaning "master, skilled" and
marino meaning "mariner, sailor."
Matarese Italianhabitational name for someone from Matera (see
Matera ) from materräisë a local adjectival form of the placename (in standard Italian materano).
Matassa ItalianOccupational name for a producer of silk, from Sicilian
matassa "hank", "skein", also the name of a type of silk (cf.
Metaxas).
Matera ItalianHabitational name from Matera in Basilicata region.
Matheny French (Anglicized)Of French origin. According to Matheny family tradition, this surname comes from the name of a village in France named Mathenay. This may also have been a French Huguenot surname.