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.
Scheuer German, JewishDerived from Middle High German
schiure meaning "barn, granary", denoting somebody who lived in a barn of some sort.
Scheunemann GermanIt literally means someone who either lives near (or in, if poor &/or homeless) a barn or works within its general vicinity.
Schiazza ItalianFrom
chiazza "stain, blot", perhaps given to someone with a prominent birthmark. Might also from a regional dialect, meaning "piazza, town square".
Schick GermanA nickname given to a person who's smart, stylish, and well-dressed.
Schiff German, JewishFrom Middle High German
Schif "ship", indicating the bearer was either a sailor, or lived in a house distinguished by a ship sign.
Schild German, DutchOccupational name for a maker or painter of shields, from Middle High German, Middle Dutch
schilt "shield".
Schildhauer GermanFirst appeared during the Middle Ages in Central Europe/Germany. The name means "Shield-Maker" and suggests correlation to Blacksmiths or or other forms of metalwork in the time period.
Schiller GermanNickname for someone with a squint, from an agent derivative of Middle High German schilhen, schiln 'to squint'.
Schilling German, Dutch, JewishMeans "shilling (coin)", possibly a nickname for a serf who had paid his rent or fee to his lord for his freedom. It could also be a habitational name derived from
Schillingen, a municipality in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany... [
more]
Schimmelpfennig GermanFrom Middle High German
schimel "mildew, mould" and
pfennic "penny", a nickname for someone who was miserly or stingy with their money, hence it growing mouldy in its purse.
Schink Upper GermanNickname for someone with long or otherwise remarkable legs, from Middle High German
schinke "thigh, leg". Compare
Schenkel.
Schinker GermanUnknown, though I would very much like to know. Possible Hungarian influence as well as German.
Schlanser RomanshDerived from the place name
Schlans, a former municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Schlatter Upper GermanTopographic name from Middle High German
slâte "reedy place", or a habitational name from any of several places named Schlatt, from the same word.
Schleicher GermanCould derive from the word
schleifen meaning "to grind" but most likely is derived from the word
schleicher "to sneak, creeper".
Schleiger GermanOccupational name for a maker or seller of scarves and veils from Middle Low German
sleiger sleier "(head)scarf".
Schlemmer GermanDerived from a Middle High German word meaning "feast" and thus used as a nickname for a "gourmet".
Schlep GermanProbably a nickname or occupational name for a laborer or carrier, especially in a mine, from Middle Low German slepen, Middle High German slepen 'to drag or carry (a load)' (modern German schleppen, schleifen).
Schliwka GermanA notable person bearing the surname was athlete Gunther Schliwka.
Schlossberg GermanOrnamental name composed of German Schloss ‘castle’ + Berg ‘mountain’, ‘hill’.
Schmal GermanDerived from the Middle High German and Middle Low German word
smal meaning "small, slight, thin". It was originally used as a nickname.
Schmeichel GermanNickname for a flatterer, derived from Middle High German
smeichen literally meaning "to flatter". Famous bearers of this surname include Peter Schmeichel (1963-) and his son Kasper Schmeichel (1986-), both of whom are Danish soccer goalkeepers.
Schmelzer Germanoccupational name for a smelter from an agent derivative of Middle High German
smelzen German
schmelzen "to smelt metal" or "make glass".
Schmidlapp GermanDerived from Middle High German smit "smith, metalworker" and
lap(pe) meaning "cloth, patch, rag".
Schmidlkofer German, German (Austrian)Occupational name for a farmer who was also a blacksmith, derived from a diminutive of Middle High German
smit meaning "smith" and the suffix
-kofer (a variant of
-hofer).
Schmidtberger GermanA distinguishing name for someone named
Berger who worked as a blacksmith, or a habitational name for someone from any of several places called Schmidtberg in Bavaria and Switzerland.
Schmuck German, German (Austrian)From Middle High German smuc meaning "jewel", "finery", hence a metonymic occupational name for a jeweler, or a nickname for someone who wore a prominent jewel or ornament.North German: nickname from Middle Low German smuck meaning "neat", "dainty".
Schnapp GermanDerived from Middle High German
snappen meaning "to chatter", or Middle Low German
snappen meaning "to grab". This was originally a nickname for a chatterer or a greedy person.
Schnee German, Popular CultureA German surname meaning "snow". One fictional bearer of this surname is Weiss Schnee, a main character from the popular web series RWBY.
Schock GermanGerman origin. Means "shock" in German, as in surprise.
Schoen German, JewishFrom German
schön, Middle High German
schoene "fine, beautiful; refined, friendly, nice", a nickname for a handsome or pleasant man. As a Jewish name, it’s usually ornamental.
Schoendienst GermanOccupational name meaning "beautiful service", from Middle High German
schoen "beautiful" and
dienst "service, duty". A famous bearer was the American baseball player Albert "Red" Schoendienst (1923-2018).
Schoenwetter GermanGerman (Schönwetter): nickname for someone with a happy disposition, from Middle High German schœn ‘beautiful’, ‘fine’, ‘nice’ + wetter ‘weather’.
Scholman Jewish, German (Americanized)Some characteristic forenames: Jewish
Chaim,
Hyman,
Ari,
Avi,
Batya,
Chana,
Ephraim,
Gershon,
Isidor,
Mandel.... [
more]
Schömer GermanNickname for an offensive person, from Middle High German
schemen "to insult."
Schönenberger GermanHabitational name for someone from any of several places in Germany and Switzerland named Schönenberg.
Schopenhauer GermanDerived from German
schöpfen meaning "to scoop, ladle" and
hauen meaning "to chop", referring to a maker of wooden and metal scoops and buckets. This name was borne by the German pessimist philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), the author of the 1818 book
The World as Will and Representation among other works.
Schorr GermanIn the south a topographic name from Middle High German schor(re) 'steep rock', 'rocky shore'.
Schorsch GermanPossibly from the given name
George, pronounced SHORSH in South-Western Germany. As a Jewish name, it may come from the surname
Shor.
Schotte GermanFrom
schotte, an ethnic name for a Scottish person or somebody of such descent.
Schottlander German, JewishFrom German
Schottland "Scotland" and, in some cases, denoted an immigrant from Scotland or Ireland. As a Jewish surname, it is most often an ornamental name.
Schottler GermanOccupational name for a wood turner, Middle Low German scoteler (an agent derivative of scotel ‘wooden bowl’).
Schram German, English, YiddishDerived from German
Schramme (Middle High German
schram(me)) and Yiddish
shram, all of which mean "scar".
Schramm GermanGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic nickname for a person with a scar, from Middle High German schram(me), German Schramme, Yiddish shram ‘scar’.
Schreiner GermanOccupational surname for a joiner (maker of wooden furniture), ultimately from Middle High German
schrīnære.
Schrepfer German (Swiss), GermanDerived from from Middle High German
schrepfer "barber-surgeon's assistant", ultimately from the verb
schrepfen "to bleed someone".
Schrock GermanSome think that the last name Schrock comes from the German word which meant something along the lines of "Jump" or "Leaps" and was probably a nickname to someone who was a great jumper, or someone who was easily startled.
Schueler GermanThe surname Schueler was first found in southern Germany, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history.
Schuh German, JewishOccupational name for a maker or repairer of shoes, derived from Middle High German
schuoch meaning "shoe". In some cases, it may have denoted a person to a house distinguished by the sign of a shoe.
Schuknecht GermanOccupational name for a shoemaker’s assistant, from Middle High German schuoch meaning "shoe" + knecht meaning "journeyman", "assistant".
Schuller GermanPossibly a habitational name from Schüller in the Eifel.
Schumer Jewish, German (Rare)Possibly taken from Middle Low German
schumer meaning "good for nothing, vagabond". Notable bearers are American comedian Amy Schumer (b. 1981) and American politician Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer (b... [
more]
Schurr GermanFrom a nickname meaning "quarrel" in German, given to a hot-tempered person.
Schürrle GermanVariant of
Schurr. A famous bearer is the retired German soccer player André Schürrle (1990-).
Schütte GermanFrom
schutter "marksman, shooter", an occupational name for an archer. Compare
Schutz.
Schutz GermanOccupational surname for an archer or a watchman, from Middle High German
schützen "to guard, protect". Also a habitational name from Schutz, a place near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
Schwaab GermanThe surname of German VfB Stuttgart footballer Daniel Schwaab, born in Waldkirch, Germany.
Schwab German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): regional name for someone from Swabia (German Schwaben), from Middle High German Swap, German Schwabe ‘Swabian’. The region takes its name from a Germanic tribe recorded from the 1st century BC in the Latin form Suebi or Suevi, of uncertain origin; it was an independent duchy from the 10th century until 1313, when the territory was broken up.
Schwanbeck GermanHabitational name from any of several places so named, for example near Lübeck and near Anklam.
Schwandt GermanTopographic name for someone who lived in a forest clearing, from Middle High German
swant (from
swenden "to thin out", "make disappear", causative from
swinden "to disappear" modern German
schwinden.
Schwandt GermanHabitational name from any of the various places called
Schwand or
Schwanden, all in southern Germany, named with this element, from Middle High German
swant (from
swenden "to thin out", "make disappear", causative from
swinden "to disappear" modern German
schwinden.
Schwank GermanEither a nickname for a thin person, (derived from Middle High German
swanc meaning "little, slender, thin"), a pretty person (from Middle Low German
swank "fine, dainty") or a fun, loving person (from Middle High German
swanc and Middle Low German
swank "funny idea, joke, jest, foolery").
Schwanke GermanFrom a short form of the German given name
Swaneke, a pet form of
Swane, ultimately derived from a Germanic compound name formed with
swan meaning "swan" as the first element (see
Schwenke 2).
Schwarzbach GermanHabitational name from any of several places so named literally "dark stream", derived from the elements
swarz "black" and
bah "stream".
Schweigert GermanDerives from an agent derivative of the German "schweigen", to be silent, and the nickname would have been given to a silent, quiet, taciturn person.
Schwein GermanMetonymic occupational name for a swineherd from Middle High German
swīn "hog".
Schweinsteiger GermanOccupational name for a pig farmer, an overseer of pigs or a nickname for someone who rode a pig, derived from Middle High German
swīn meaning "hog, swine" and
stīger meaning "foreman, mine inspector"... [
more]
Schweitz GermanEthnic name for a Swiss, from German Schweitz meaning "Swiss".
Schwenk GermanVariant spelling of
Schwanke, or apparently a nickname referring to a person's gait, derived from Middle High German
swenken meaning "to swing back and forth, to sling" (see
Schwenke 1).
Schwerdtfeger Germanoccupational name for an armorer or specifically for a servant whose job was to polish swords Middle High German Middle Low German
swertfeger (from
swert "sword" and an agent derivative of
fegen "to polish or clean").
Schwertner GermanEither a habitational name for someone from Schwerta in Silesia or an occupational name for a sword maker.
Schwimer German, JewishOccupational name meaning "swimmer" in German. As a Jewish name, it may be ornamental.
Schwing GermanOccupational name for someone whose job was to swingle flax, i.e. to beat the flax with a swingle in order to remove the woody parts of the plant prior to spinning, from Middle German swingen meaning "to swing" or swing meaning "swingle".
Scimia ItalianFrom an archaic form of Italian
scimmia "monkey", from Ancient Greek
σιμός (
simos) "snub-nosed". Has figurative meanings of "drunk" and "imitator, mimic, aper".
Sciortino ItalianOccupational name from a diminutive of
sciorta,
sciurta "city guard, watchman, policeman" (Arabic
̣shuṛtī).
Scognamiglio ItalianLiterally "millet thresher", probably from the Neapolitan verb
scugnà ("to thresh") and
miglio ("millet"), denoting cereal threshers.
Scorfano ItalianWas in the Disney + Original Movie, Luca. "Alberto Scorfano"
Scornavacche ItalianPossibly deriving from Italian words
scorno meaning shame, and
vacca meaning cow. Sicilian variant of
Scornavacca.
Scorrano ItalianDenotes someone from Scorrano, Italy. Coincides with
scorrano "to run, to flow".
Scorsese ItalianFrom a nickname that indicated a person who came from Scotland, derived from Italian
scozzese literally meaning "Scotsman, Scottish". This spelling arose from a transcription error of the surname
Scozzese... [
more]
Scotto ItalianEither an ethnic name for someone from
Scotland or Ireland from medieval Italian
scotto or
scoto meaning "
Scot", making it a cognate of
Scott, or from a diminutive of given names ending in
sco such as
Francesco (via its diminutive
Francescotto) or
Maresco (via
Marescotto).
Sebert German, FrenchFrom a German personal name composed of the elements sigi meaning "victory" + berht meaning "bright", "famous".
Secchi ItalianProbably related to Italian
secco "thin, dry". May alternately derive from
secare "to cut", Sardinian
seghi "sixteen",
segete "harvest, harvest fodder", or a shortened form of
seneche "old, aged".
Sedda ItalianFrom a place name in Sardinia, meaning "top of a mountain". May alternately derive from Sardinian
sedda "saddle", indicating the bearer's occupation.
Sedita ItalianFrom Italian
sei "six" +
dita, plural of
dito "finger", hence a nickname either for someone having six fingers or metaphorically for someone who was very dextrous.
See English, GermanTopographic name for someone who lived by the sea-shore or beside a lake, from Middle English see meaning "sea", "lake" (Old English sǣ), Middle High German sē. Alternatively, the English name may denote someone who lived by a watercourse, from an Old English sēoh meaning "watercourse", "drain".
Seedorf Germanhabitational name from any of the numerous places so named from
See "lake" and
Dorf "village".
Seel GermanOccupational name for a person who makes or sells ropes.
Seese GermanComes from a Germanic personal name, Sigizo, from a compound name formed with sigi ‘victory’ as the first element.
Segale English, ItalianRespelling of
SEGAL. A famous bearer is Mario A. Segale, the inspiration for Nintendo's video game character Mario
Seib GermanShort form of
SEIBOLD. Ultimately derived from names composed of the Germanic name element
sigi "victory".
Seid GermanFrom the Germanic given name
Sito, a short form of a compound name formed with
sigi "victory".
Seide German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German side, German Seide ‘silk’ (from Late Latin seta, originally denoting animal hair), hence a metonymic occupational name for a manufacturer or seller of silk.
Seidenberg German, JewishDerived from several places with the same name. As an ornamental name, it is derived from German
seide meaning "silk" and
berg meaning "mountain".
Seider GermanOriginating in the region of Saxony. Name of a silk merchant, from the German word for silk: seide
Seif German, JewishMetonymic occupational name for a soap maker, from Middle High German seife, German Seife 'soap'.
Seiler GermanGerman and Jewish occupational surname for a rope maker.
Seim Upper GermanGerman: metonymic occupational name for a beekeeper, from Middle High German seim ‘honey’.
Seinfeld German, JewishFrom the German word
sein "to be" and the word of German Jewish origin
feld which means "field". It was a name given to areas of land that had been cleared of forest.
Seligman German, JewishDerived from the given name
Selig with the German suffix
-man meaning "man" and it's originally a patronymic. The surname Seligman is originated in the Rhineland.
Sellmeyer GermanOccupational name for the steward of a hall or manor house from Middle High German
sal "hall residence" and
meier "steward" (see
Meyer 1).