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.
Orru ItalianFrom Sardinian
orrù "bramble", itself from Latin
rubus "bramble, blackberry bush".
Orsi ItalianPatronymic or plural form of
Orso. It may also be an Italianized form of Slovenian Uršic, metronymic from the female personal name Urša, short form of Uršula (Latin Ursula), or a patronymic from the male personal name Urh, Slovenian vernacular form of Ulrik, German Udalrich
Ortman GermanThe surname Ortman was first found in Silesia, where the name emerged after the 14th century, where it was related to the name "Ertmar"; this name is also reflected in the place name Erdmannsdorf, found in both Saxony and Silesia... [
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Ortolano Italian, Spanishoccupational name for a cultivator or seller of fruit and vegetables
ortolano "gardener" from a derivative of
orto "vegetable garden" (from Latin
hortus "garden"). The term was also used in the medieval period to denote both a cleric with a fervant devotion to pastoral work and a rough or uncouth person and in some instances may have been applied as a nickname in either sense... [
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Ossola ItalianLikely a habitational name from an area in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province in Northern Italy.
Osterreicher GermanI was told that this surname in native Austria originates as follows. Oster means East, reich means kingdom, with er meaning native of. In old Austria there were six kingdoms, with the East one being the largest with the seat of government there... [
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Ostiguy Basque, FrenchWorn Quebec (Ostéguy variant), the name is visibly Basque and assumes initially a Ostegi form, which could designate a place where the foliage is abundant (osteo = + -egi sheet suffix). Alternatively, place the cold, cold house (Ortz, otz, followed -egi or -tegi).
Ostwald Germanfrom the ancient Germanic personal name Ostold composed of the elements
ōst "east" (see Oest ) and Old High German
walt(an) "to rule". Variant of
Oswald.
Otte GermanOtte was given to someone who lived in Bavaria, where the name came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging medieval society. The name Otte evolved from the Old German personal name Ott, a name of Emperors, made famous by Otto the Great (912-973), Holy Roman emperor.
Ouy FrenchSome derive this name from the French word "gui," meaning mistletoe. Others think it comes through the Celtic name "Kei," from Caius. Others belive the name comes from the French words "guide," a leader, or "guidon," a banner... [
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Overath GermanFrom the name of the town of
Overath in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. A famous bearer is the German former soccer player Wolfgang Overath (1943-).
Overholser German (Swiss)The Oberholtzer family originated in the Swiss village of Oberholtz, south of Zurich, before the 15th century. However, in 1661, one family left Switzerland for the Palatinate in Germany.
Pach GermanPach is an occupational hereditary surname for a baker in Old German. Pach is also a German local name for someone who lived by a stream, which was originally derived from the German word "bach" which means stream... [
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Paciello ItalianItalian surname for "Little peacemaker"; a diminutive for the Italian word "paciere", meaning Peacemaker.
Pacino ItalianDiminutive form of
Pace. The American actor Al Pacino (1940-) is a well-known bearer of this surname.
Page GermanMetonymic occupational name for a horse dealer, from Middle Low German
page "horse".
Pagliaro ItalianOccupational name for someone who gathered or used straw, derived from the Italian word
paglia "straw".
Painter English, Medieval French, GermanEnglish: from Middle English, Old French
peinto(u)r, oblique case of
peintre ‘painter’, hence an occupational name for a painter (normally of colored glass). In the Middle Ages the walls of both great and minor churches were covered with painted decorations, and Reaney and Wilson note that in 1308 Hugh
le Peyntour and Peter the Pavier were employed ‘making and painting the pavement’ at St... [
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Palladio ItalianAndrea Palladio (1508-1580) was an Italian Renaissance architect active in the Venetian Republic. He designed churches and palaces, but he was best known for his country houses and villas. The architectural treatise, The Four Books of Architecture, summarizes his teachings... [
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Pallmann GermanThe name Pallmann originates from the Landsuhl area of Bavaria, Germany (nor in Rhineland-Palatinate). The meaning of the name is unknown. Some Pallmanns came to America and Americanized the spelling, by dropping the second "n", while others retained the "n".
Pallominy ItalianOld surname first used in northern Italy,was derived from the old latin word "palominus", used to refer to a yellowish horse. The lastname Pallominy, originally spelled "Pallomini", was used to denote a heard of those horses in the medieval Italy ( circa 1350 AD), more especifically in the city of Florence and its surroundings.
Palmero ItalianThe Palmero family lived in the territory of Palma, which is in Campania, in the province of Naples. The surname Palma was also a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name Palma, which was common in medieval times... [
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Pampo Italian1 Italian: from a short form of Alampo, from the Greek personal name Eulampios, adjectival derivative of eulampēs ‘most splendid’.... [
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Panarese Italianhabitational name for someone from a place called Panaro (from Latin
panarium "bread basket") for example in Siracusa province Sicily or from Panareo in Salento from an adjectival form of the place names.
Panaro Italianmetonymic occupational name for a baker, from Latin panarium ‘bread basket’.
Panciera Italianfrom panciera denoting the piece of the armor covering the stomach (from
pancia "belly paunch") perhaps used for an armorer or for someone with a large paunch.
Pancorvo ItalianA famous Spanish cave, located in Burgos, where the arabs hid from Spanierds.
Pandimiglio ItalianProbably means "millet bread" in Italian, from
pane "bread" and
miglio "millet".
Panebianco Italiangiven to someone who worked with high quality breads. from italian word
pane "bread" and
bianco "white"
Panepinto ItalianDerived from the word "pane" meaning "bread" in Italian and "pinto" meaning "painted", "flecked", or possibly "bad". The name is generally given to a baker.
Panichi ItalianProbably from
panico, a type of millet grown in Italy. Alternately, it could be from the Latin name Panicus "of Pan, panic".
Panier RomanshDerived from the place name
Panix (present-day
Pigniu) in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Panozzo ItalianVenice, one of the oldest and most beautiful regions of Italy, is the esteemed birthplace of numerous prominent families, and of a family that bears the surname Panozzo. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for them to adopt a second name to identify themselves, as populations grew and travel became more frequent... [
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Panzer GermanMetonymic occupational name for an armorer from Middle High German
panzier "mailcoat" (Old French
pancier "armor for the stomach, body armor" from Late Latin).
Panzeri ItalianEither a nickname from Italian
pancia "belly, paunch", referring to someone with a prominent belly (see
Panza), or an occupational name for someone who manufactured girdles and armour, from
panciere "corset, girdle; paunce (armour covering the belly)", ultimately from the same root.
Papa FrenchFrom French meaning "dad, father". Likely given to someone seen as a father figure.
Papaccio ItalianThe root
papa comes from the Greek language, whose Italian translation is literally "priest", but during centuries this was also a term of respect, and this is due to the active influence of Greek and Byzantine culture in southern Italy and specifically in Naples... [
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Papin FrenchEither from Old French
papin "pap (for kids)" a noun derivative of
paper "to munch or eat" (from Late Latin
pappare in origin a nursery word) as a nickname probably referring to a glutton... [
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Pappalardo ItalianMeans "glutton, hypocrite" in Italian, originally a nickname for a gluttonous person or someone who pretended to observe religious fasts while eating meat in secret.
Paquin FrenchOriginated in east France. This last name signified a freehold that permitted use of a cluster of land or pastures. The name became “he who possesses lands” and "he who is wise."
Paradis FrenchFrom a learned variant of Old French
pareis "Paradise" (from Greek
paradeisos). As a toponym this was applied to verdant places and it is quite common as a place name in Nord and Normandy; the surname therefore can be a topographic or habitational name.
Paradiso Italianfrom
paradiso "Paradise" applied as a topographic name for someone living in a verdant place where flowers grew in abundance or near a pleasure garden or from the same word used as a personal name recorded in the form Paradisus in Lazio in 108
Paratore ItalianDerived from Italian
paratore meaning "decorator, fuller", which refers to a craftsman who fulls coarse cloth. In other words: this surname is the Italian cognate of the English surname
Fuller... [
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Pardon FrenchA nickname for someone who had received the royal clemency.
Parduhn GermanVariant Of Pardon From Middle English Pardun, Pardon "Pardon" A Metonymic occupational name for a pardoner, a person licensed to sell papal pardons or indulgences. German: either a cognate of 1 (also for a sexton), from Old French pardon ‘pardon’, or perhaps a nickname from Middle Low German bardun, Middle High German purdune ‘pipe’ (instrument), ‘tenor’ (voice).
Parigi ItalianHabitational name for someone who lives in places called "Parigi" (Paris).
Parletti Italian (Rare)It is a surname of Italian origin, believed to mean "talkative", although few have this surname. Approximately 11 people bear this surname.
Parmentier FrenchAn occupational surname for a maker of "facings" and "trimmings".
Parolo ItalianItalian surname coming from the given name Gaspare.
Parquier FrenchFrom an Old French word meaning "Keeper of the Park". Made from the element "Parc", meaning park, and the suffix "-ier", which indicates a profession. The surname
Parker is a descendant.
Pasch GermanTopographic name for a field or meadow which was used at Easter as a playground; etymologically two sources seem to be combined: Latin pascuum ‘pasture’ and Middle Low German pāsche(n) ‘Easter’.
Pasqua FrenchDerived from
Pasqua, a nickname for a person born during Easter (which itself is derived from Latin
pascua). Famous beaters include Charles Victor Pasqua (1927-2015), a French businessman and a Gaullist politician.
Passi Italian, Medieval ItalianThe surname Passi was first found in the town of Mugello, with the Passerini family who moved south to Florence in the 10th century. Terranova dei Passerini is a comune in the Province of Lodi in the Italian region Lombardy about 50 kilometres (31 miles) southeast of Milan.... [
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Pasta ItalianFrom Italian
pasta meaning "dough, paste". Occupational name for a baker or cook.
Pasteur FrenchFrench for "shepherd" or "preacher, pastor". Famous bearer Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), French chemist who created the first rabies vaccine, gave his name to the process of 'pasteurization'.
Pater Dutch, German, English, PolishFrom Latin
pater "father", used as a religious title for a priest in Roman Catholicism. Possibly used semi-literally for a man who worked in the church, or figuratively for a solemn or pompous man.
Paterno ItalianItalian surname of unknown origin, most likely comes from Paternò in Sicily. Notable individuals include Joe Paterno (1926 - 2012), head coach at Pennsylvania State University until 2011.
Pathé FrenchMeaning, "Dweller near an important path or footway."
Patta ItalianPossibly from
patta "draw, settlement", perhaps a nickname given to a negotiator. The same term can also mean "heat, warmth of the hearth".
Pavese ItalianMeans "one from Pavia". Pavia is an Italian town located in Lombardy, northern Italy. It can also derive from
pavese, a kind of big, Medieval shield.... [
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Pecchia ItalianNickname, probably for an industrious person, from
pecchia "bee".
Pechman German"Pechman" means "man with bad luck" in many European languages (Polish, German, and Dutch predominantly), though in German, it originally referred to one who prepared, sold, or used pitch.
Pechtold German, Dutch, JewishFrom the Old German given name
Pechtholt, which is composed of the elements
pecht "rotation" and
holdt "hero". As a Dutch-language surname, it is derived from the Middle Dutch given name
Pechte combined with Old High German
walt "power, authority"... [
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Peik GermanFrom Middle Low German
pek ‘sharp, pointed tool or weapon’.
Pelagatti ItalianProbably derives from an old expression meaning "cheat, scoundrel", literally a combination of
pela "to skin" and
gatti "cats".
Pelissier FrenchFrom Old French "Pelicier", (Meaning "Furrier", from an agent derivative of pelice, meaning "Fur cloak", from Late Latin "pellicia", from "pellis", meaning "skin fur". An occupational name of someone likely in the fur and hide trade.
Pelle GermanFrom Middle Low German
pelle "precious purple silk cloth", presumably an occupational name for a maker or seller of such cloth or for a maker of official and church vestments.
Pellicano Italian, Siciliannickname from dialect
pelecanò pelicanò "woodpecker" from modern Greek
pelekanos "green woodpecker" (cognate with
pelekan "pelican"; both come from
pelekys "axe" the pelican because its beak is shaped like an axe the woodpecker because it uses its beak like an axe).
Peloso ItalianNickname for a man with long or unkempt hair and beard, from
peloso "hairy", "shaggy".
Peltz German, JewishOccupational name for a furrier, from Middle High German
bellez, (modern German
pelz) "fur", "animal skin".
Pelzer GermanOccupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative Middle High German
bellez "fur".
Penna ItalianPossibly from Italian
penna "feather, pen", a nickname for a scribe.
Pensa ItalianPossibly from Italian
pensa "think", indicating the bearer was known for being thoughtful or intelligent.
Pense FrenchPense is, quite literally, a French word meaning "to think" or "thought", but is also a surname. Sometimes confused with the surname Pence, which is German.
Pépin FrenchFrom the Old French name
Pepis, itself a form of the given name
Pépin. Alternatively, it may be derived from French
pépin meaning "(fruit) seed", thus making it an occupational name for a gardener or someone who grew fruit-bearing trees.
Peppe ItalianFrom a short form of the personal name
Giuseppe.
Perche FrenchDerived from a former province of the south of Normandy, and extending into Orleanois.
Perdue English, Irish, FrenchEnglish and Irish from Old French
par Dieu ‘by God’, which was adopted in Middle English in a variety of more or less heavily altered forms. The surname represents a nickname from a favorite oath... [
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Perlman GermanOccupational name for a person who makes or sells pearls.
Perna ItalianMeaning uncertain, possibly from the dialectic word
perna "leg", denoting someone with a deformed or missing leg, or a variant of
Perla.
Pernier ItalianA famous bearer is the Italian archaeologist Luigi Pernier (1874 - 1937), who discovered the mysterious Phaistos disc on the Greek island of Crete.