Swiss Submitted Surnames

Swiss names are used in the country of Switzerland in central Europe.
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Olivieri Italian
From the given name Oliviero.
Oliviero Italian
From the given name Oliviero.
Olivo Italian, Spanish
Topographic name from olivo "olive tree" or occupational name for someone who sold olives. Or from the given name Olivo given to someone born on Palm Sunday.
Ollivier French
From a variant of the given names Olivier and Oliver.
Oms German
Some characteristic forenames: German Matthias, Otto.... [more]
Onesto Italian
From the given name Onesto.
Onfroy French
From the given name Onfroy, a form of Humphrey.
Onidi Italian
Denoting someone from Onida, a former village.
Onnis Italian
From the toponym Fonni.
Onofrio Italian
From the given name Onofrio.
Onorati Italian
From the given name Onorato.
Onorato Italian
From the given name Onorato
Onorio Italian
From the given name Onorio.
Onstad Norwegian, German
Habitational name from the name of any of seven farmsteads mainly in the southeast most of them with names formed from any of various Old Norse personal names plus stathir "farmstead" as for example Augunarstathir from the personal name Auðun (from Auth "wealth" plus un "friend")... [more]
Opel German
Derived from the given name Albert.
Opp German
Generally considered a (very) contracted form of given names that contained the Old High German element od "fortune; wealth" (or a variant thereof) and a second element that began with or contained the letter B, for example Audobald.
Oppedisano Italian
Italian: habitational name for someone from Oppido Mamertino in Reggio Calabria, so named from Latin oppidum ‘fortified place’, ‘stronghold’. The original settlement was destroyed by an earthquake in 1783 ; it was rebuilt on a site further south.
Orange French, English
Habitational name from various places named "Orange".
Orange English, French
Nickname for someone associated with the color orange.
Orazio Italian
From the given name Orazio.
Oreste Italian
From the given name Oreste
Orfanelli Italian
Means "little orphans" in Italian, ultimately from Ancient Greek ὀρφᾰνός "without parents; bereft". Given to children raised in an orphanage.
Oriente Italian
From the given name Oriente
Orleans French
From Orléans, a city in France sieged by the English in 1429. Orléans is derived from Aurelianum, meaning "of Aurelius" in Latin.
Orowitz Jewish, German
The name comes from a famous Rabbinical dynasty.... [more]
Orru Italian
From Sardinian orrù "bramble", itself from Latin rubus "bramble, blackberry bush".
Orsi Italian
Patronymic 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
Orsino Italian
From the given name Orsino.
Orso Italian
From Italian meaning "bear".
Ortman German
The 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... [more]
Ortolano Italian, Spanish
occupational 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... [more]
Ortone Italian
Italian form of Horton.
Ortonio Italian, Spanish
Variant of Ortone. Italian and Spanish form of Hortonius.
Oscari Italian
Derived from the given name Oscar.
Ossola Italian
Habitational name from the Ossola valley in Piedmont, Italy.
Österreicher German, German (Austrian)
Means "One from Austria", "the Austrian".
Osterreicher German
I 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... [more]
Ostiguy Basque, French
Worn 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 German
from 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.
Osvaldo Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
From the given name Osvaldo.
Ottaviano Italian
From the given name Ottaviano.
Ottavio Italian
From the given name Ottavio.
Otte German
Otte 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.
Ottmar German
From the given name Ottmar.
Ottone Italian
From the given name Ottone.
Ours French
Nickname from French meaning "bear".
Ouy French
Some 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... [more]
Oven Slovene, German
Derived from Oven "ram, male sheep".
Overath German
From 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.
Pacal German
South German: pet form of Pach .
Pacetti Italian
Variant of Pacetto, a pet form of the personal name Pace.
Pach German
Pach 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... [more]
Paciello Italian
Italian surname for "Little peacemaker"; a diminutive for the Italian word "paciere", meaning Peacemaker.
Pacifico Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Jewish (Sephardic)
Means "peaceful" in Italian, taken from the Late Latin given name Pacificus. As a Jewish surname, it is a translation of Shelomo (see Solomon), derived from Hebrew שָׁלוֹם (shalom) "peace".
Pacino Italian
Diminutive form of Pace. The American actor Al Pacino (1940-) is a well-known bearer of this surname.
Pacione Italian
From an augmentative of the personal name Pace.
Packard English, Norman, Medieval English, German (Anglicized)
English from Middle English pa(c)k ‘pack’, ‘bundle’ + the Anglo-Norman French pejorative suffix -ard, hence a derogatory occupational name for a peddler. ... [more]
Padrutt Romansh
Derived from the given name Padrutt.
Paganini Italian
Patronymic form of a diminutive of Pagano.
Paganino Italian (Rare)
From the given name Paganino, or a diminutive of Pagano.
Page German
Metonymic occupational name for a horse dealer, from Middle Low German page "horse".
Pagliaro Italian
Derived from Italian paglia "straw" or pagliaro "haystack, straw-rick", an occupational name for someone who gathered or used straw, or a topographic name for someone who lived near a barn or straw-loft.
Pagliarulo Italian
Southern Italian diminutive of Pagliaro.
Painter English, Medieval French, German
English: 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... [more]
Palazzola Italian
Feminine form of Palazzolo.
Palermo Italian
From the name of the capital city in Sicily.
Palladio Italian
Andrea 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... [more]
Pallas German, Polish (Germanized)
Nickname for a small man, from Slavic palac 'thumb'.
Pallavicini Italian
Near the pales; and they carry a palisade in their Arms.
Pallino Italian
Possibly from Italian palla "ball".
Pallmann German
The 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".
Pallotta Italian
From Italian palla "ball".
Palma Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Portuguese, Italian
Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Portuguese, and southern Italian: habitational name from any of various places named or named with Palma, from Latin palma ‘palm’. ... [more]
Palmberg Dutch (Rare), German (Rare)
Derived from any of the various places in Germany named Palmberg.
Palmero Italian
The 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... [more]
Palmieri Italian
Derived from Italian palmiere meaning "pilgrim".
Palmtag German
Means "Palm Sunday" in German.
Pamphile French, Haitian Creole
From the given name Pamphile.
Pampinella Italian
Uncertain etymology. Possibly derived from Italian pampino "vine leaf" and the diminutive suffix -ella, or perhaps related to pimpinella "pimpernel (plant)" (genus Lysimachia), which derives from Latin bipennella via Catalan pampinella
Pampo Italian
1 Italian: from a short form of Alampo, from the Greek personal name Eulampios, adjectival derivative of eulampēs ‘most splendid’.... [more]
Panarese Italian
habitational 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 Italian
From old Italian panaro meaning "bread basket" or "wooden basket, hamper", an occupational name for a baker, or perhaps a basket maker. Alternatively, could be a habitational name from the Panaro river.
Panciera Italian
from 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.
Pancione Italian
Means "fat person, paunch, big belly" in Italian.
Pancrazio Italian
From the given name Pancrazio.
Pandimiglio Italian
Probably means "millet bread" in Italian, from pane "bread" and miglio "millet".
Pandolfi Italian
Patronymic or plural form of the given name Pandolfo, from Langobardic Pandulf... [more]
Pandolfo Italian, Italian (Tuscan)
From the given name Pandolfo. Variant of Pandolfi.
Pane Italian, Corsican
Means "bread" in Italian, a metonymic occupational name for a baker, or a a nickname or given name (medieval Panis, Panellus) figuratively meaning "good as bread, good thing".
Panebianco Italian
Means "white bread", from Italian pane "bread" and bianco "white", an occupational name for a baker who worked with high quality breads, or in some cases perhaps a nickname for someone of good character.
Panella Italian
From the name of a kind of fritter or pancake made with chickpea powder. Could be an occupational name for a baker, or perhaps a nickname for someone with a yellowish complexion. Alternatively, can be a diminutive form of Pane.
Panepinto Italian
Derived from the word "pane" meaning "bread" in Italian and "pinto" meaning "painted", "flecked", or possibly "bad". The name is generally given to a baker.
Panetta Italian
Diminutive form of Italian pane "bread", probably an occupational name for a baker.
Panettiere Italian
Means "baker" in Italian.
Panfilo Italian
From the given name Panfilo.
Panichi Italian
Probably from panico, a type of millet grown in Italy. Alternately, it could be from the Latin name Panicus "of Pan, panic".
Panier Romansh
Derived from the place name Panix (present-day Pigniu) in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Panozzo Italian
Venice, 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... [more]
Pantaleo Italian
From the given name Pantaleo.
Panzer German
Metonymic occupational name for an armorer from Middle High German panzier "mailcoat" (Old French pancier "armor for the stomach, body armor" from Late Latin).
Panzeri Italian
Either 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.
Panzica Italian
From Sicilian panzicu "pot-bellied, paunch".
Paolini Italian
From the given name Paolino.
Paolino Italian
From the given name Paolino.
Paolo Italian
From the given name Paolo.
Paolucci Italian
Deriving from Paoluccio, itself a diminutive of Paolo.
Papa French
From French meaning "dad, father". Likely given to someone seen as a father figure.
Papa Tagalog, Italian, Albanian, Romanian, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese
Means "pope, priest" in various languages.
Papaccio Italian
Possibly from the Latin given name Papacius, or from the Greek surname Papakis... [more]
Papier French, German, Jewish
Means "paper" in French and German, denoting a paper maker or merchant, both derived from Old French papier.
Papin French
Either 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... [more]
Pappalardo Italian
Means "glutton, hypocrite" in Italian, originally a nickname for a gluttonous person or someone who pretended to observe religious fasts while eating meat in secret.
Paquette French
From the personal name Paquet, a pet form of Pascal.
Paquin French
Originated 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 French
From 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 Italian
from 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
Paramore French (Rare)
origin is unknown but the meaning of the name is lover used in France and England
Paratore Italian
Derived 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... [more]
Pardon French
A nickname for someone who had received the royal clemency.
Parduhn German
Variant 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).
Parenteau French (Rare), French (Quebec)
Diminutive of Parent. In France, this name is predominantly found in the Poitou-Charentes region.
Parete Italian
Denoted from a person who lived near a wall.
Parigi Italian
Habitational name for someone who lives in places called "Parigi" (Paris).
Pariseau French
Derived from a pet form of 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.
Parli Romansh
Derived from the given name Bartholomäus.
Parmentier French, Belgian
An occupational surname for a maker of "facings" and "trimmings".
Parolo Italian
Derived from a variant of Italian paiolo "cauldron, copper pot", an occupational name for someone who made or sold such vessels.
Parquier French
From 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.
Parr German
Variant of Pfarr.
Parrot French
Form of Pierone.... [more]
Parsley Medieval French, English, Norman, French
Derived from Old French passelewe "cross the water."... [more]
Partenheimer German
Habitational name for someone from Partenheim in Rheinhessen.
Pasch German
Topographic 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 French
Derived 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.
Pasquale Italian
From the given name Pasquale.
Pasqualetti Italian
Derived from the given name Pasquale.
Pasquali Italian
From the given name Pasquale.
Pasqualini Italian
Derived from Pasqualino, a diminutive of the given name Pasquale.
Pasqualino Italian
From the given name Pasqualino.
Pasquariella Italian
Derived from the given name Pasquale.
Pasquier French
Meaning uncertain. Possibly "keeper of the oven."
Passafiume Italian
From Italian passa fiume meaning "(one who) crosses the river", an occupational name for a ferryman.
Passe French
Possibly a nickname from passe 'sparrow
Passett Romansh
Romanshized form of Passet.
Passi Italian, Medieval Italian
The 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.... [more]
Pasta Italian
From Italian pasta meaning "dough, paste". Occupational name for a baker or cook.
Pasteur French
French 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'.
Pastorelli Italian
An occupational name meaning "shepherd."
Pastorius German (Latinized)
Derived from Latin pastor "shepherd", a Latinized form of German surname Schäfer. This surname is no longer found in Germany. Jaco Pastorius (1951-1987), full name John Francis Anthony Pastorius III, was the most influential American jazz bassist, composer, and producer... [more]
Pater Dutch, German, English, Polish
From 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 Italian
From any of several locations called Paterno or Paterna in Italy, which can derive from Latin patere "open", or from the Roman cognomen Paternus "paternal, fatherly".
Paternò Italian
From the name of a municipality in Catania, Sicily, of uncertain etymology. It could derive from latinized Ancient Greek Paetram Aitnaion meaning "fortress of the Etnaeans", from Latin-Byzantine paternum praedium (or Paternòn) meaning "landed property inherited from the father", or perhaps from Latin Praeter Aetna "in front of Mount Etna".
Paternostro Italian
Italianized form of Paternoster.
Pathé French
Meaning, "Dweller near an important path or footway."
Patino Italian
From a word meaning "father".
Patta Italian
Possibly from patta "draw, settlement", perhaps a nickname given to a negotiator. The same term can also mean "heat, warmth of the hearth".
Pauley English, German
English: from a medieval pet form of Paul.... [more]
Paulick German
German (of Slavic origin) spelling of Pavlík, a Slavic derivative of Paul.
Paulin Romansh
Derived from the given name Paulin.
Paulus German, Dutch
From the given name Paulus and variant of Paul.
Pauselli Italian
Etymology uncertain. Possibly a nickname derived from Italian pausa "stop, pause, rest" combined with a diminutive suffix.
Paustenbach German
Family name associated with the town Paustenbach, Germany
Pavese Italian
Means "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.... [more]
Payen French, French (Caribbean)
From the old French given names Pagen Paien from Latin paganus "pagan"... [more]
Paysen German, Frisian
Patronymic from the personal name Pay, the Frisian form of Paul.
Payson German, Frisian
German and Frisian variant spelling of Paysen, a patronymic from the personal name Paul.
Pazzi Italian
From Italian pazzo "crazy, insane, mad".
Pecchia Italian
Nickname, probably for an industrious person, from pecchia "bee".
Pêcheur French
French for "fisher."
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, Jewish
From 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"... [more]
Pecorella Italian
Diminutive of Pecora "sheep", often in the sense of "lamb".
Pedemonte Italian
Variant of Piemonte, Means "at the foot of the mountains"... [more]
Pedretti Italian, Italian (Swiss), Romansh
Italian patronymic form of Pedretto, itself derived from the given name Peter.
Pedroli Italian (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from a diminutive form of the given name Peter.
Pedrussio Romansh
Derived from a diminutive form of the given name Peter.
Peer Romansh
Romansh form of Bayer.
Peia Italian
Village in Italy
Peik German
From Middle Low German pek ‘sharp, pointed tool or weapon’.
Peikert German
Probably an occupational name for a drummer.
Pelagatti Italian
Probably derives from an old expression meaning "cheat, scoundrel", literally a combination of pela "to skin" and gatti "cats".
Peles English, Welsh, Italian
Some characteristic forenames: Italian Angelo, Livio, Primo, Santo.... [more]
Pelissier French
From 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.
Pelkey French (Anglicized)
Anglicized version of French surnames Peltier and Pelltier.
Pelle Danish, German
From the personal name Pelle, a vernacular form of Peter.
Pelle German
From 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.
Pelle Italian
Means "skin, hide; leather" in Italian, an occupational name for a tanner, or a nickname for someone with notable skin.
Pellegrin French
Unknown. Possibly a variant of Pellegrino. This surname was given to the Chilean named Raúl Alejandro Pellegrin Friedmann (1958-1988; nicknamed José Miguel).
Pellerin French
From Old French pellerin pelegrin "pilgrim" (from Latin peregrinus "traveler") applied as a nickname for a person who had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land or to a famous holy site elsewhere... [more]
Pellicano Italian, Sicilian
nickname 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).
Pelliccia Italian
From Italian pelliccia "fur (of an animal)".
Pelosi Italian
Patronymic or plural form of Peloso.
Peloso Italian
Nickname for a man with long or unkempt hair and beard, from peloso "hairy", "shaggy".
Peltier French
Variant of Pelletier (from Old French pellet, a diminutive of pel "skin, hide").
Peltz German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from Middle High German bellez, (modern German pelz) "fur", "animal skin".
Peluso m Italian
Peluso is a surname derived from the Italian word "peloso", meaning 'hairy' or 'furry,'
Pelz German, Jewish
Variant of Peltz.