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.
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.... [
more]
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.
Maquet FrenchFrom a derivative of
bac meaning "tub", also meaning "ferry", used as a metonymic occupational name for a maker or for a boatman. Also a habitational name from
Le Baquet, the name of several places in various parts of France.
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
Marano, derived from the Latin given name
Marius combined with the suffix
-ano... [
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Marasco ItalianMeans "morello, morello cherry" in Italian, derived from Latin
amarus "bitter".
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".
Maroni ItalianCan be a nickname derived from Italian
maroni "balls, bollocks", from the Latin given name
Maronius, or from a diminutive of the Germanic-origin name
Ademaro... [
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Marquis English, FrenchFrom the title of nobility, which originally denoted an officer whose duty was to guard the marches or frontiers of the kingdom. A march was originally denoted as a border region at a frontier. The word marquis was derived from Late Latin
marchensis, from Frankish *
marku "boundary, border"... [
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Marschall German, Englishoccupational name for a man in the service of a member of the nobility originally one who looked after the horses derived from Middle High German
marschalc from Latin
mariscalcus, ultimately from Old High German
marah "horse" and
scalc "servant"... [
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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).
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."
Mastrorilli ItalianDerived from Italian
mastro "master; expert craftsman" and a patronymic form of the given name
Iorio.
Matarese Italianhabitational name for someone from Matera (see
Matera ) from materräisë a local adjectival form of the placename (in standard Italian materano).
Matassa ItalianMeans "hank, skein, coil" in Italian and Sicilian, derived from Ancient Greek μέταξα
(metaxa) via Latin
mataxa "raw silk; thick string, thread", an occupational name for a silk merchant (compare
Metaxas)... [
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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.
Matta ItalianProbably derived from a feminine form of
Matto, though other theories include Logudorese Sardinian
matta "belly, paunch, entrails" and southern Sardinian
matta "plant, tree" (compare
Mata).
Mattei ItalianMeans "son of
Matteo". The Mattei family was a powerful noble family in Rome during the Middle Ages.
Matthau GermanDerived from the given name
Matthias. This name was borne by the American actor Walter Matthau (1920-2000).
Matto ItalianMeans "mad, crazy" or "madman" in Italian, regionally used in the sense of "rascal, joker", derived from Latin
mattus "drunk, intoxicated".
Maturin FrenchFrom the French male personal name
Maturin, from Latin
Mātūrīnus, a derivative of
Mātūrus, literally "timely". It was borne by the Irish "Gothic" novelist Charles Maturin (1782-1824).
Mauer German, JewishTopographic name for someone who lived near a wall, from Middle High German
mure "wall".
Maul German, DanishFrom Middle High German meaning "mouth, jaw". Possibly a nickname for someone with a deformed mouth or jaw.
Mautz GermanMeaning "to gripe", or "to complain" in Swabian German.
Maxia ItalianPossibly from the dialectical term
maxia "magic", or
masia "farm, country house".
Mazzocco Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), BrazilianThe surname Mazzocco is believed to have its roots in Italy, specifically from regions such as Lombardy and Veneto. It may have been a nickname for someone who was strong or powerful. The name is derived from the Italian word and last name
Mazza.
Mazzola ItalianFrom a diminutive of Italian
mazza meaning "maul, mallet".
Meaux FrenchHabitational name from a place in Seine-et-Marne, so named from the Gaulish tribal name
Meldi, or from Meaux-la-Montagne in Rhône.
Mecklenburg German, JewishRegional name for someone from this province in northern Germany. Derived from Old Saxon
mikil "big, great" and
burg "castle".
Medici ItalianPatronymic or plural form of
Medico. This was the name of an Italian political dynasty that was in power through the Renaissance period.
Medico ItalianMeans "doctor, physician" in Italian, from Latin
medicus, ultimately from
medeor "to heal, cure, remedy, help".
Mée FrenchFrench habitational name from places called (Le) Mée in Mayenne, Eure-et-Loir, and Seine-et-Marne, derived from Old French
me(i)s ‘farmstead’ (Latin
mansus).
Meester Dutch, Flemish, GermanOccupational name for a teacher, lecturer or a master craftsman, or a nickname for someone who had a bossy demeanor, derived from Dutch
meester meaning "master". A famous bearer of this surname is the American actress, singer and model Leighton Meester (1986-).
Meiler RomanshDerived from the place name
Meils (present-day
Mels in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland).
Melillo ItalianMeans "small apple, crab apple" in Neapolitan, either a topographic name, an occupational name for a grower or seller of apples, or perhaps a nickname for someone with a sour disposition. Alternatively, it could be from the Latin given name
Mellilus, related to the endearment
mellilla "little honey", or be a diminutive form of
Meli.
Melle FrenchOccupational name derived from Old French
melle "buckle, ring".
Melle FrenchHabitational name from the French town Melle in Deux-Sèvres, western France.
Melle GermanTaken from place names like Melle or Mellen in Germany.
Melle ItalianDerived from the place name Melle in Cueno, Piedmont, northern Italy. It could also be derived from the given name
Mello, a short form of diminutives ending with
-mello (like Giacomello, a diminutive of
Giacomo).