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.
Shrout GermanThis surname is related to the German surname Schroder which means cut as in a wood cutter etc.
Siddi ItalianFrom the name of a municipality in Sardinia, possibly deriving from Vulgar Latin
casilli "huts, farmhouses".
Siddu ItalianFrom Sardinian
siddu "seal, brand", or the related
siddai/re "to seal, to tighten", from which come the phrases 'siddai is dentis' "to grit one's teeth" and 'siddàu siast ingùnis' "may you be sealed there", the latter of which would have been affectionately said to a child that wouldn't stay still.
Sieber GermanThe roots of the German surname Sieber can be traced to the Old Germanic word "Siebmacher," meaning "sieve maker." The surname is occupational in origin, and was most likely originally borne by someone who held this position
Siebern GermanGerman. People known with this name are: Emelia Siebern, Hannah Siebern, Caleb Siebern.
Sieck GermanThe name is originally spelled "Siecke". Eric Siecke came from Norway and settled in Holstein, Germany in the year 1307. The final "e" was dropped by most of the family, though one branch still retains it... [
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Siegfried GermanFrom a Germanic personal name composed of the elements
sigi "victory" and
fridu "peace". The German surname has also occasionally been adopted by Ashkenazic Jews.
Sies German, DutchFrom the ancient Germanic name
Sigizo formed with the element
sigi "victory" (from proto Germanic
segiz).
Signore Italianfrom the medieval personal name Signore (from Latin
senior "senior elder" genitive
senioris). from
signore ‘lord’ hence a derisive nickname for a peasant who gave himself airs and graces or an occupational name for someone in the service of a great lord... [
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Silber German, JewishFrom Middle High German
silber, German
Silber "silver"; a metonymic occupational name for a silversmith, or often, in the case of the Jewish surname, an ornamental name.
Silberstein German, JewishFrom Middle High German
silber "silver" and
stein "stone"; a habitational name from a place so named in Bavaria, or a topographic name.... [
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Silhouette French (Rare)Famous bearers include Étienne de Silhouette (1709–67), French author and politician. He was a French Ancien Régime Controller-General of Finances under Louis XV.
Silvestrini ItalianMeans "Little Tree" or "Little Woods." Derived from the given name SILVESTER.
Simbeck GermanOriginates from the German prefix
sim meaning "of the head" and the German word
becka meaning "bull". When combined in this order, the meaning was "bull-headed", meaning stubborn and obstinant.
Simonin FrenchFrom the given name
Simon. Possibly brought by the Russian migrants who came to France.
Sinatra ItalianComes from a personal name in Sicily and souther Calabria. The name was apparently in origin a nickname from Latin senator member of the Roman senate, Latin senatus, a derivative of senex ‘old’... [
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Siracusa Italian, SicilianFrom the name of the city of
Syracuse in Sicily, Italy (
siracusa in Italian and
sarausa in Sicilian).
Sirtori ItalianPerhaps a habitational name from a comune (municipality) in Northern Italy.
Skelton English, German, Norwegian (Rare)Habitational name from places in Cumbria and Yorkshire, England, originally named with the same elements as
Shelton, but with a later change of ‘s’ to ‘sk’ under Scandinavian influence.
Sodano Italian, Siciliannickname or ethnic name from Arabic
sawdān "black Negro". nickname from Old Sicilian
sudanu "sultan".
Soderini ItalianPossibly related to French
soudoyer "to bribe", referring to paid mercenaries. Alternately, an elaborate form of
Sodero.
Sodero ItalianProbably related to the Greek name
Soter, from Ancient Greek
σωτήρ (
sōtḗr) meaning "saviour".
Solari ItalianHabitational name from any of various places called "Solaro" or "Solara", from
solaro 'site', 'plot', 'meadow', literally "land exposed to the sun".
Soldano Italian, Sicilianfrom
soldano "sultan" (earlier
sultano from Arabic
sulṭān "ruler") used as a nickname for someone who behaved in an outlandish or autocratic manner.
Soldner GermanGerman surname meaning mercenary. German spelling has umlaut over the O, but American spelling is Soldner or Soeldner.
Soldo Italian, CroatianNickname from
soldo "penny cent" also "military pay wage" (from Latin
solidus "solid" the name of a gold Roman coin). From a short form of a compound personal name ending with -soldo such as
Ansoldo... [
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Solebello ItalianMeans, "beautiful sun". Derived from "bello", meaning beautiful, and "sole", meaning sun.
Solié FrenchNotable bearers include French cellist Jean-Pierre Solié, who was originally named Jean-Pierre Soulier, possibly making it a variant of
Soulier.
Solinas ItalianMeaning uncertain; could be related to Latin
solum, from which comes Italian
suolo "earth, ground, soil" and
suola "sole (of the foot or shoe)", or from Italian
salina "salt pan, salt marsh".
Sonnenberg German, JewishFrom various place names derived from Middle High German
sunne meaning "sun" and
berg meaning "mountain, hill".
Soprano ItalianFor
soprano "higher, situated above", a topographic name for someone who lived at the top end of a place on a hillside.
Sorbo Italian, Norwegianthe surname of Kevin Sorbo (from Hercules, from God's Not Dead movie or two) comes from the word for the "sorb apple" the fruit of the true service tree
Sorbus domestica, or from the location-name made up of
saurr "mire mud" +
bœ´r ‘farm settlement’.
Sorella ItalianMeans "sister". Nickname for someone known for behaving in a sisterly manner, or perhaps like a nun.
Sottile ItalianSouthern Italian: nickname from sottile ‘delicate’, ‘refined’, also ‘lean’, ‘thin’ (from Latin subtilis ‘small’, ‘slender’).
Soulier FrenchMetonymic occupational name for a shoemaker, from Old French
soulier ‘shoe’, ‘sandal’.... [
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Sovereign FrenchTranslation of the French surname
Souverain which is derived from Old French
souverain meaning "high place".
Soyer FrenchFrench surname (Alexis Benoist Soyer is a famous bearer).
Spadafora ItalianVariant form of
Spatafora. Spadafora is the younger out of the two surnames and yet the most common of the two, which might partly be because it is a little bit more italianized... [
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Spagna ItalianFrom Italian
spagna "Spain" for a Spaniard or someone who had connections to Spain. Also from the female given name of the same meaning, Italian cognitive of
Spain.
Spah German (?), English (American)Spah (sometimes spelt Späh) is last name found most commonly in the US that is believed to be of German origin. Unsure of the meaning.
Spallone ItalianFrom
spalla "shoulder, back", indicating someone who carried things on their shoulders. The modern translation is "smuggler". Alternately, may be an elaboration of
Spalla.
Spangler GermanSpangler is an occupational surname for "metal worker" having derived from the German word
spange, meaning a clasp or buckle of the sort such a craftsman might have designed.
Spatafora ItalianThis surname originates from the Italian island of Sicily, where it was first borne by a noble family of Byzantine origin, which had settled on the island in the 11th century AD. Their surname was derived from the Greek noun σπάθη
(spathe) "blade, sword" (akin to Latin
spatha "broad sword with a double edge") combined with Greek φορεω
(phoreo) "to carry, to bear", which gives the surname the meaning of "he who carries the sword" or "sword-bearer"... [
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Späth GermanDerived from Middle High German
spæte "late".
Spaugh GermanWas originally "Spach," was changed when first introduced into America
Speca ItalianFrom a variant of
spiga "spike, ear (of grain)"
Speck GermanVariant of
Specker as well as a locational surname from one of various places called Speck, Specke and Specken in northern Germany and Spöck in southern Germany, as well as an occupational surname derived from German
Speck "bacon" denoting a butcher who sepcialized in the production of bacon, as well as a derisive nickname for a corpulent person.
Speer German, Dutch, Englishfrom Middle High German Middle Dutch
sper "spear" hence a nickname for a tall thin person or else for a skilled user of the hunting spear... [
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Speicher Germanoccupational name for someone in charge of a granary. From middle high German
spicher meaning "grain store".
Spengler GermanOccupational surname literally meaning “metal worker” or “tin knocker”.
Sperber German, JewishFrom a nickname for a small but belligerent person from Middle High German
sperwære "sparrow hawk" (Old High German
sparwāri a compound of
sparw "sparrow" and āri "eagle").
Speroni ItalianEither a Plural form of
sperone "spur" an occupation for a spurrier or from the given name
Gaspare.
Spezia ItalianMeans "spice, drug" in Italian. It was used to denote someone who worked as a spicer or apothecary.
Spiegel German, JewishMetonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German
spiegel, German
Spiegel "mirror" (via Old High German from Latin
speculum, a derivative of
specere "to look").
Spiegler German, JewishOccupational name for a maker or seller of mirrors, from Middle High German
spiegel, German
Spiegel "mirror" and the agent suffix
-er.
Spielberg Jewish, GermanFrom Old High German
spiegel "lookout point" or German
Spiel "game, play" and
berg "mountain". Locational surname after a town in Austria. A famous bearer is American director Steven Spielberg (1946-present).
Spieler German, JewishOccupational Name For A Tumbler Or Jester German Spieler ‘Player’ Middle High German Spilære An Agent Derivative Of Spiln ‘To Play To Jest To Sport’.
Spies GermanWhile it translates to the plural of "spy" in English, Spies is a semi-common name found throughout Germany and the surrounding nations. This surname is also popular throughout states with a high German population.
Spina ItalianMeans "thorn" in Italian, originally a topographic name for someone who lived by a thorn bush or a habitational name from any of various locations called Spina.
Spindler English, German, JewishOccupational name for a spindle maker, from an agent derivative of Middle English
spindle, Middle High German
spindel, German
Spindel, Yiddish
shpindl "spindle, distaff".
Spinelli ItalianVariant of
Spina, of uncertain etymology: could be related to several place names in Italy, to given names such as
Crispino, or to the crown of thorns placed on the head of Jesus.
Spinola ItalianItalian (Liguria) diminutive of
Spina. Italian topographic name for someone living by Monte Spinola in the province of Pavia.
Spinosa ItalianMost likely from Italian
spinosa meaning "prickly, thorny, spiny, ticklish, touchy".
Splendente ItalianFrom Italian
splendente "bright, shining", supposedly given to an infants abandoned at orphanages on sunny days.
Splinter Low German, GermanFrom Low German splinter ‘splinter’; probably a metonymic occupational name for a woodworker.
Spohr GermanOccupational name for a maker of spurs, from Middle High German spor ‘spur’, or a topographic name, from Middle High German spor ‘spoor’, ‘animal tracks’.... [
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Spring GermanFrom Middle High German
sprinc, Middle Low German
sprink "spring, well", hence a topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or well, or habitational name from Springe near Hannover.
Springborn GermanDerived from Middle Low German
sprinkborn meaning "spring, well", hence either a nickname for someone who lived by a spring or a water well, or from various place names in Germany.
Springer German, English, Dutch, JewishNickname for a lively person or for a traveling entertainer. It can also refer to a descendant of
Ludwig der Springer (AKA
Louis the Springer), a medieval Franconian count who, according to legend, escaped from a second or third-story prison cell by jumping into a river after being arrested for trying to seize County Saxony in Germany.
Stadtmueller GermanFrom Middle High German stet meaning "place", "town" + müller meaning "miller", hence an occupational name for a miller who ground the grain for a town.
Stahl German, DanishMetonymic occupational name for a smith or armorer, from Middle High German
stahel "steel, armor".
Stahler GermanOccupational name for a foundry worker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German stal 'steel'.
Stahling German (Rare)Denoted a person who worked with steel. Derived from the name "Stähling", which was derived from "Stalin."
Stallman GermanVariant of Staller. German: topographic name for someone who lived in a muddy place, from the dialect word stal. English: habitational name from Stalmine in Lancashire, named probably with Old English stæll 'creek', 'pool' + Old Norse mynni 'mouth'.
Stallone Italianfrom
stallone "stallion" applied either as a nickname for someone thought to resemble a stallion or as a metonymic occupational name for someone who bred horses. from an augmentative of
stalla "stable stall" used as a topographic name and as a habitational name from any of the minor places called with this word.... [
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Stampone ItalianMeaning uncertain. Possibly from Italian
stampare "to print, to stamp", or from Tuscan
stampo "tree stump".
Stang German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) from Middle High German
stang, German
Stange ‘pole’, ‘shaft’, hence a nickname for a tall, thin person, a metonymic occupational name for a maker of wooden shafts for spears and the like, or a metonymic occupational name for a soldier.
Stantz GermanPossibly an altered spelling of German
Stanz, a habitation name from places called Stans or Stanz in Austria and Switzerland (see also
Stentz).
Star German, Dutch, Jewish, EnglishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): nickname from German Star, Middle High German
star, ‘starling’, probably denoting a talkative or perhaps a voracious person.... [
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Starkey English, GermanFrom a diminutive of
Stark. This surname is borne by the English musician Sir Richard Starkey (1940-), also known as Ringo Starr.
State GermanNickname from Middle High German stæt(e) meaning "firm", "steadfast", "constant".
Staub German (Swiss), German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational nickname for a miller, from Middle High German
stoup, German
Staub ‘dust’. The Jewish surname may also be ornamental.
St Aubin FrenchEither a habitational name from any of several places in France called
Saint-Aubin (from the dedication of their churches to Saint
Albinus), or else a nickname with
Saint as an (ironic) prefix to the personal name or surname
Aubin.
Stauch GermanFrom Middle High German
stuche, a term used to denote both a type of wide sleeve and a headcovering. Also a habitational name from a place called Staucha, near Dresden.
Stauffer GermanThis surname refers either to various towns named Stauffen or else it might be derived from Middle High German
stouf "high rock/cliff/crag".
Steger GermanMeans "head miner" or "overman" from the German verb "steigen" meaning "to climb" or in this case "to lead a climb".
Steger GermanFrom a derivative of Middle High German
stec "steep path or track, narrow bridge". The name was likely given to someone living close to a path or small bridge.
Stehr GermanFrom Middle High German
ster ‘ram’, hence probably a nickname for a lusty person, or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a shepherd.
Steifvater Germanfrom Middle Low German stēfvader 'stepfather' hence a relationship name.
Steiger GermanOccupational name from Middle High German stiger 'foreman', 'mine inspector'
Steinbach German, JewishGerman habitational name from any of the many places named Steinbach, named with Middle High German
stein ‘stone’ +
bach ‘stream’, ‘creek’. ... [
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Steinbeck GermanDenotes a person hailing from one of the many places in Germany called Steinbeck or Steinbach, from Middle High German
stein "stone" and
bach "stream, creek". In some cases it is a South German occupational name for a mason... [
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Steinberg GermanFrom stony mountain. From "stein" meaning stone, and "berg" meaning mountain.
Steinbock GermanFrom German
'stein' meaning "stone" and
'der bock' meaning "goat".
Steinbrecher Germanoccupational name for someone who worked in a stone quarry from Middle High German
stein "stone" and an agent derivative of
brechen "to break".
Steinbrenner Germanoccupational name for a lime burner from Middle High German
stein "stone" (in this case limestone) and an agent derivative of
brennen "to burn".
Steingräber Germanoccupational name for a quarry worker from Middle High German
stein "stone" and agent derivative of Middle High German
graben "to dig".
Steinkamp GermanNorth German topographic name for someone living by a field with a prominent rocky outcrop or boulder in it, and derived from Middle Low German
sten meaning "rock, stone" and
kamp meaning "enclosed field".
Steinmeier GermanDistinguishing name for a tenant farmer (Meyer) whose farm was on stony ground or was distinguished by a conspicuous rock formation (Middle High German stein 'rock').
Steinmetz German, JewishOccupational name from Middle High German
steinmetze, German
steinmetz "stonemason", "worker in stone".
Steinwedel GermanFrom the German word "stein" and "wedel" which mean "stone frond", which was a name given to someone who lived near a stone wall covered in plants.
Stella ItalianItalian for "star". Either possibly derived from the given name
Stella, or from several places in Italy containing the word
stella.
Stellato ItalianStellato, which is the modern Italian word for "starry", as in "starry sky", translates to "by the stars" from the Latin word Stella. As so many Italians were navigators on ships and navigated "by the stars," and since so many surnames were derived from occupations... [
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Stellrecht GermanOccupational name for a cartwright, from Middle High German
stel "framework" and
reht (from Old High German
wurht-) "maker". Compare English
-wright.
Stelter Germannickname for a disabled person; from Middle Low German stelte, stilt "wooden leg"
Stelzner GermanVariant of Stelzer, probably an occupational name for a stilt-maker. Also, a habitational name for anyone from any of the places named Stelzen.
Sternhagen Germantopographic name from Middle High German
ster "ram" (and -n- either the plural ending or a folk etymological insert by association with Middle High German
stern "star") and
hagen "enclosed field or pasture".
Steurer GermanOccupational name for someone who collects taxes from Middle High German
stiurære "court assistant, tax collector".
Sticca ItalianPossibly from a dialectical word meaning "long shovel".
Stiefel GermanEither from
stiefel "boot", which could mean a boot maker or from middle low german
stief which means "stiff", a nickname for a stubborn person
Stieglitz GermanMeaning goldfinch, Stiglitz was borrowed into German from a Slavic language, probably Old Czech stehlec. Several possible origins: of the surname can be: ... [
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Stifter GermanUnknown History of Stifter. Stifter means Founder in German
Stlouis FrenchHabitational name from any of several places named with a religious dedication to a St. Louis.
St Mary English, FrenchThis name is probably used in reference to Mary, Mother of Jesus or one of the many places called St Mary.