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.
Redenbach GermanToponymic name possibly derived from Middle High German
reden "to speak, to talk" and
bach "stream". It could also be a variant of
Wittenbach.
Redenbacher German (Americanized)Habitational name for someone from any of several places in Bavaria and Austria called
Rettenbach, derived from German
bach "stream" and an uncertain first element; possibly Old Germanic
retten "swamp, moor",
reudan "to clear (land), clearing", or
roden "to redden, become red".
Redner GermanGerman: possibly a variant of
Redmer, or an occupational name for a spokesman, Middle High German rednære.
Reese Low German, Dutch, GermanVariant of
Riese or
Reus, from
risi meaning "giant". Alternatively, could be a patronymic form of the Germanic given name
Razo, derived from
rēdaz "counsel, advise", or a habitational name from places called Rees or Reese in Rhineland and Lower Saxony.
Regalia ItalianMeans "regalia; royal rights and privileges, regality" in Italian.
Regel Germanfrom Middle High German
regel "(monastic) rule" (from Latin
regula), perhaps a metonymic occupational name for someone who worked in a monastery.
Régis FrenchOccupational name for a local dignitary, from a derivative of Old French
régir "to rule or manage".
Rehder GermanOccupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a wheelmaker or wheelwright.
Reichel GermanDerived from the Germanic root
ric meaning "power".
Reichenberg German, JewishHabitational name from various places named
Reichenberg in several different areas of Germany. As an ornamental name, it is composed of German
reich(en) meaning "rich" and
berg meaning "mountain, hill".
Reichstein GermanHabitational name from places named Reichstein (in Saxony) or Reichenstein (in Rhineland, Schleswig-Holstein, and Württemberg).
Reifinger German1 German: perhaps a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Reiting in Bavaria and Austria, or from a Germanic personal name, a variant of Rediger .... [
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Reille French, OccitanTopographic name derived from Old Occitan
relha meaning "plowshare", or a habitational name from any of several places named
Reille or
La Reille in southern France. A notable bearer was Honoré Charles Reille (1775-1860), a Marshal of France during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.
Reimann GermanFrom a pet form of a Germanic personal name formed with a first element from ragin 'advice', 'counsel' or ric 'power(ful)', 'rich'.
Reimer GermanFrom a Germanic personal name, a reduced form of Reinmar, composed of the elements
ragin "counsel" +
mari,
meri "fame".
Reinbold GermanFrom a Germanic personal name composed of the elements
ragin "counsel" +
bald "bold", "brave."
Reinert GermanNorth German: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements ragin ‘counsel’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’, for example Reinhard ( see Reinhardt ).
Reinking GermanReinking is a German-derived surname meaning "one who is neat and tidy"
Reise German, JewishGerman (Westphalia) topographic name, from Middle Low German
ris,
res ‘swamp’. ... [
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Reisenauer GermanProbably denoted a person from a minor place called
Reisenau, or a topographic name for someone living by an overgrown water meadow, derived from Middle High German
ris meaning "undergrowth" and
owe meaning "water meadow".
Reiser German, Upper GermanHabitational name for someone from Reis or Reissen in Bavaria (see
Reis). An occupational name from Middle High German
reisære ‘warrior’, ‘traveler’... [
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Reisner GermanA habitational name for someone from a place called Reisen (for example in Bavaria), Reissen in Thuringia, or Reussen on the Saale river. A variant of
Reiser Also from an agent derivative of Middle High German, Middle Low German
rise ‘veil’; perhaps an occupational name for someone who made veils.
Reller German (Swiss)Occupational name for a miller, derived from the Swiss German dialect term
relle meaning "grist mill".
Remini ItalianFamous bearer: Actress and Scientology critic Leah Remini.
Rempe German (Americanized, Modern)The roots of the German surname Rempe lie in the former duchy of Silesia, now part of Poland. The name means, simply, "son of Rempel," and was a popular first name in Silesia during the Middle Ages.
Rendelmann GermanA habitational name for someone from Rendel near Frankfurt (Hesse).
Rengel German (Swiss)From a pet form of a Germanic personal name formed with
rang "curved", "bending"; "slender".
Repass German (Swiss)An Americanization of the Swiss
Rippas. The first recorded person with this surname was from Ziefen, Switzerland.
Requa GermanVariant of
Ricward, from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements
ric ‘power(ful)’ +
ward ‘guardian’.
Reschke GermanDerived from the Middle High German word "rasch" meaning "quick," or "hot-headed". As such, it may have originated as a nickname for a quick or rash person.
Restivo ItalianDerived from Sicilian
restivu meaning "uncommunicative, reserved, shy; wayward, contrary" or "stammering, stuttering", as well as "difficult, obstinate" in reference to farm animals.
Rétif FrenchDerived from French
rétif "restive; rebellious".
Reus GermanTopographic name from Middle High German
riuse "fish trap", or from a regional term
reuse meaning "small stream, channel".
Reuss GermanOccupational name for a cobbler, from Middle High German
riuze.
Reusser Swiss, German, Upper GermanIn Switzerland, an occupational name for a fisherman or maker of fish traps, from an agent derivative of Middle High German
riuse "fish trap, weir basket". A nickname from an agent noun based on Middle High German
riusen "to moan or complain"... [
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Reveille FrenchDerived from Old French
reveille "lively, vivid; alert".
Revelle FrenchVariant of
Revell, derived from the Old French word
revel meaning pride, rebellion, etc.
Reznor GermanMay be a variant of the German surname
Reisner, a habitational name for someone from a place called Reisen (for example in Bavaria), Reissen in Thuringia, or Reussen on the Saale river.
Rheims FrenchFrom the city of Reims in France, also known as Rheims in English.
Rhein GermanFrom the German name for the River Rhine, denoting somebody whom lived within close proximity to the river. The river name itself comes from a Celtic word meaning 'to flow' (Welsh
redan, 'run, flow').
Rhine German, French, English, IrishA habitational name for an individual whom lived within close proximity of the River Rhine (see
Rhein). The river name is derived from a Celtic word meaning 'to flow' (Welsh
redan, 'flow').... [
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Rhoton German, FrenchRhoton is a German and French surname from the 1800s. Some people believe that it is derived from the French word for red, but the origin is overall unknown. The name represents strength and power.
Ribéry FrenchIndicated a person from La Ribeyre, a town in the Auvergne region of France, which translates to "the riverbank". The former French soccer player Franck Ribéry (1983-) is a famous bearer of this name.
Riccio ItalianFrom Italian
riccio meaning "curly". This was originally a nickname for someone with curly hair.
Richers English, GermanFrom a Germanic personal name composed of the elements
ric ‘power(ful)’ +
hari,
heri ‘army’. The name was introduced into England by the Normans in the form
Richier, but was largely absorbed by the much more common
Richard... [
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Richoux FrenchFrench: from the ancient Germanic personal name Ricwulf a compound of rīc ‘power(ful)’ + wulf ‘wolf’. Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press
Rickels GermanPatronymic form of Rickel or possibly Richel. May have been derived from any of a number of Old German personal names including Richild (or the feminine form Richeldis) or Richold.
Ricken GermanFrom a short form of any of the Germanic personal names composed with
rīc "power(ful)".
Ridinger GermanA habitational name for someone from a place named Riding or Rieding. It is also possibly an altered spelling of
Reitinger, a topographic name from
Reit(e), which means ‘clearing’ (Old High German
riuti).
Riedel GermanDerived from a given name containing the Middle Low German name element
riden "to ride".
Riedel GermanDerived from Middle High German
riet "damp, mossy area".
Riedemann GermanEither a habitational name derived from places named Ried or Riede, or a topographic name derived from Low German
Riede "rivulet".
Riegel GermanFrom Middle High German
rigel "bar, crossbeam, mountain incline", hence a topographic name or a habitational name from any of numerous places named with this word in Baden, Brandenburg, and Silesia; in some instances it may have been a metonymic occupational name for a maker of crossbars, locks, etc.
Riel FrenchFrench variant of
Riehl. Most notable bearer is Canadian Métis political leader Louis Riel, best known for his Red River Rebellion.
Riesenberg GermanTopographic name for someone who lived by a big mountain, from Middle High German
rise meaning "giant" and
berg meaning "mountain".
Riesenberg GermanTopographic name for someone who lived by a big mountain, derived from Middle High German
rise meaning "giant" and
berg meaning "mountain".
Rieth German"reed" -- a tall, slender-leaved plant of the grass family that grows in water or on marshy ground.
Rigolet FrenchMeans "creek" in French. From (American) French
rigole (“rivulet”), from Old French
regol.
Rind GermanProbably a metonymic occupational name for a cattle dealer or butcher, from Middle High German rint meaning "cow".
Ringgold GermanComes from
Germanic ring "ring" or "assembly" and wald "rule"
Rinomato ItalianDerived from Italian
rinomato meaning "renowned", "famous", and "well-known". A known bearer is the Canadian television host Sandra Rinomato.
Rispoli ItalianA patronymic from a derivative of the given name
Rispo, which is probably of Germanic origin. Alternatively, it could be a variant of
Ruspoli, which is of unknown origin.
Ritschel German, HistoryDerived from Old High German
hruod "fame". This was the maiden name of Magda Goebbels who was the wife of Paul Joseph Goebbels. Her husband was Nazi Germany's propaganda minister between the years 1933 and 1945... [
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Ritt GermanEither a topographic name from Old High German
ritta meaning "reeds" or a habitational name from a place near Kassel, Germany. Alternately it may also be a variant of
Ried.
Ritterman GermanFrom Middle High German
riter meaning "rider, knight" and
man literally meaning "man".
Ritz GermanFrom a short form of the personal name
Rizo, itself derived in part from
Richard and in part from
Heinrich (see
Henry).
Rivabella ItalianDerived from the Italian word
riva meaning "bank (shore, riverbank, lakebank)" (from Latin
ripa) and
bella meaning "beautiful"... [
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Rivard FrenchGeographical name for someone who lived on a river bank.
Rivett English, FrenchEnglish (East Anglia): metonymic occupational name for a metalworker, from Middle English, Old French
rivet ‘small nail or bolt’ (from Old French
river ‘to fix or secure’, of unknown origin).... [
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Rix Germangiven to a person who resided near a hill, stream, church, or tree
Roascio Italian (Rare)Derived from
Roascio, the name of a municipality in the province of Cuneo in the Piedmont region of Italy. The meaning of the municipality's name is uncertain, but since it is located in Piedmont and known as
Roass in the Piedmontese language, the etymological origin of the name is most likely Piedmontese... [
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Roasio ItalianThis surname originates from the Piedmont region of Italy. It is most likely derived from
Roasio, which is the name of a municipality in that same region. The meaning of the municipality's name is uncertain, but since it is located in Piedmont and known as
Roaso in the Piedmontese language, the etymological origin of the name is most likely Piedmontese... [
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Robineau Frenchderived from the Old French word
robine, which was the word that was used for the communication channel of a salted fountain or barrel pond... [
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Robinet FrenchDerived from the medieval French masculine given name
Robinet, which was a diminutive (as the
-et suffix indicates) of the given name
Robin.... [
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Rochelle French, Englishhabitational name from
La Rochelle the name of several places in various parts of France especially that in Manche from a diminutive of Old French
roche "rock cliff promontory"... [
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Rocher FrenchFrom French
roche, meaning "rock'. It indicates a person who worked at a quarry.
Rockefeller GermanMeans "from Rockenfeld." Some famous bearers include founder of the Standard Oil Company and philanthropist John Davison Rockefeller (1839-1937), and 41st Vice President of the U.S.A. Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (1908-1979).
Rockett FrenchFrom the French "la roche," or "of the rock." Some family histories trace this back to French Hugenots (sp) who immigrated to England in the 1500's from the Normandy region of France.
Rockhold German (Americanized)Possibly an Americanized form of German
Rocholl or
Rochholt, derived from a Germanic personal name composed of Old Germanic
ruoche "care, prudence" and
wald "rule, power".
Rockman GermanPossibly a habitational name for someone from Rockau in Thuringia.
Rodia ItalianHabitational name from Rodia, a locality in Messina, Sicily.
Rodino ItalianPossibly from the medieval Latin name Rodinus, or Germanic Hrodhari, from
hroþi "fame, glory" and
Hari "battle".