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.
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 1, 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.
Stoehr GermanFrom Middle Low German
store ‘sturgeon’, hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who caught or sold sturgeon, or a nickname for someone with some supposed resemblance to the fish... [
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Stolte GermanDerived from Middle Low German
stolt "proud; stately; magnificent".
Stoltenberg German, NorwegianHabitational name from places so called in Pomerania and Rhineland. A famous bearer is Jens Stoltenberg (b. 1959), Prime Minister of Norway 2000-2001 and 2005-2013.
Stoltzfus GermanStoltzfus is a surname of German origin. It is common among Mennonites and Amish. All American Stoltzfuses are descended from Nicholas Stoltzfus (1719–1774), an Amish man who migrated from Germany to America in 1766.
Storch German, JewishFrom Middle High German
storch "stork", hence a nickname for someone thought to resemble the bird.
Stornelli ItalianMeaning uncertain; may be from
storno "starling", or directly from
stornelli, an Italian lyric or folk song.
Storr GermanNickname for a crude man, from Middle High German storr 'tree stump', 'clod'.
Stoss German, JewishNickname for a quarrelsome person, from Middle High German stoz 'quarrel', 'fight'.
Stradivari ItalianItalian surname of uncertain origin, either from the plural of Lombard
stradivare meaning "toll-man" or from
strada averta meaning "open road" in the Cremonese dialect. A famous bearer was Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), a violin-maker of Cremona.
Strandheim German, JewishFrom a location name meaning "beach home" in German, from Middle High German
strand meaning "beach" and
heim meaning "home". As a Jewish surname it is ornamental.
Strasburg GermanIt is derived from the Old Germanic phrase "an der Strasse," which literally means "on the street." Thus, the original bearer of this name was most likely someone whose residence was located on a street.
Strasse GermanIt derives either from the ancient Roman (Latin) word "straet" meaning a main road, and hence somebody who lived by such a place, or from a German pre-medieval word "stratz" meaning vain.
Strassmann German, JewishTopographic name for someone living on a main street, from Middle High German
strasse, German
Strasse "street, road" and
man "man".
Strauss German, JewishFrom the German word
strauß, meaning "ostrich." In its use as a Jewish surname, it comes from the symbol of the building or family that the bearer occupied or worked for in the Frankfurter Judengasse... [
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Streicher GermanOccupational name for someone who measured grain or inspected cloth
Streisand German, JewishPossibly an ornamental name, literally meaning "scattersand" in German. This surname is borne by the American singer and actress Barbra Streisand (1942-).
Streiter GermanTopographic name from Middle High German struot 'swamp', 'bush', 'thicket' + -er, suffix denoting an inhabitant.
Stricker German, Low German, DutchOccupational name for a rope maker or knitter (of hose, for example), from an agent derivative of Middle High German, Middle Low German stricken ‘to tie’.
Strigl GermanName given in 1056 a.d. Meaning- Keeper of the Royal Horses.
Stroh English, GermanMeans "straw" when translated from German, indicating a thin man, a person with straw-colored hair, or a dealer of straw.
Strubel GermanGerman (also Strübel): from a diminutive of Middle High German strūp (see Strub).... [
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Stults GermanThe Stults surname is derived from the German word "stoltz," which means "proud," and as such, it was most likely originally a nickname, which became a hereditary surname.
Stumm GermanDescriptive nickname for a mute person, from Middle High German, Middle Low German
stum ‘mute’.
Stump GermanFrom Middle Low German
stump ‘tree stump’ (borrowed into Middle English), hence a topographic name for someone who lived by a prominent tree stump, or else a nickname for a short, stocky person.... [
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Sturtz GermanSturtz comes from an alpine village in Germany. It literately means "to stumble".
Stutts GermanVariation of
Stutz. From the webpage: https://venere.it/en/the-meaning-and-history-of-the-last-name-stutz/ ... [
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Subercaseaux French, Spanish (Latin American)The Subercaseaux family is a Chilean family of French descent. They became well known during the 19th century due to their wealth amassed in Norte Chico. They have played a very significant role in Chilean mining, winemaking, politics and arts.
Sudan Arabic, Italian, SpanishEthnic name or regional name for someone from Sudan or who had traded with Sudan. The name of the country is ultimately derived from Arabic سُود (
sud) meaning "black", referring to the darker skin of the inhabitants.
Sugar German (Rare)Sugar is the surname of talented storyteller, writer, and composer Rebecca Rae Sugar (creator of animated series Steven Universe).
Suhr GermanNickname for a bitter or cantankerous person, from Middle Low German sūr meaning "sour".
Sullenberger German (Swiss)Derived from an unknown place called
Sullenberg or from
Schallenberg in Baden, Switzerland. A famous bearer is Sully Sullenberger (1951-), an American retired Air Force fighter pilot and airline captain who is best known for saving all 155 people aboard in the 2009 ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan, after both engines were disabled by a bird strike.
Sully French, Haitian Creolefrom any of the various places called Sully for example in Calvados Loiret Saone-et-Loire and Oise. The first of these is recorded in 1180 as Silleium from the Gallo-Roman personal name
Silius or
Cilius and the Latin locative element
acum... [
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Sulzer Germanoccupational name for someone who made prepared meats from Middle High German
sulzer "butcher charcutier". from a derivative of Middle High German
sulze "brine" hence a topographic name for someone who lived near a spring of salty water or a habitational name for someone from any of the places called Sulz in Germany Austria Alsace and Switzerland.
Summer English, GermanFrom Middle English
sum(m)er, Middle High German
sumer "summer", hence a nickname for someone of a warm or sunny disposition, or for someone associated with the season of summer in some other way.
Sungenis ItalianAn Italian family name originally spelled
San Genisi, referencing to Saint
Genesius of Rome. It is not related to Greek
συγγενής (
sungenḗs) meaning "blood relative"... [
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Sutter German, EnglishEnglish and South German occupational name for a shoemaker or cobbler (rarely a tailor), from Middle English
suter,
souter, Middle High German
suter,
sutære (from Latin
sutor, an agent derivative of
suere ‘to sew’).
Swigert German (Americanized)Americanized form of German Schweigert or Zweigert, an occupational name for a gardener or tender of plants, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zwigen, meaning "to graft" or "to plant".
Swisher GermanAmericanized form of German Schweitzer meaning Swiss.
Tabbert German, FrisianFrom Middle Low German
tabbert, Middle Dutch
tabbaert ‘tabard’, a sleeveless overgarment worn by men in the Middle Ages, (ultimately from French
tabard, from Late Latin
tabardum)... [
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Tagliaferro ItalianFrom the Italian
tagliare "to cut" and
ferro "iron" occupational name for an ironworker or a nickname for a strong or ferocious fighter, one who was adept at cutting through the cuirass of the enemy with his sword (see
Telfer).
Taglialatela ItalianTaglialatela means "the person who cuts the cloth" and is typical in the Naples and Caserta areas of Italy.
Tagliamonte ItalianTagliamonte means "mountain cutter". From the Italian
tagliate (to cut) and
monte (mountain).
Taiber GermanGerman (also Täuber) and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Taube ‘pigeon, dove’. The -er inflection denotes the male bird, but in most cases this is an occupational name for a pigeon breeder, from an agent noun derivative ending in -er(t).
Talbert English, FrenchFrom a continental Germanic personal name composed of the elements
tal "valley" and
berth "bright".
Tallon English, Irish, Norman, FrenchEnglish and Irish (of Norman origin), and French from a Germanic personal name derived from
tal ‘destroy’, either as a short form of a compound name with this first element (compare
Talbot) or as an independent byname... [
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Talloran German (Modern, ?)It is unknown whether Talloran is a real surname or not. However, the surname means "brave" and is given to James Talloran, a fictional character working for the SCP Foundation. The SCP Foundation is a secret organization that studies the paranormal... [
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Talon English, FrenchDerived from Old French
talon "heel", denoting a person with a deformity or a swift person. It could also be a diminutive form of given names
Talbot and
Talleyrand.
Tanguay French, EnglishFrom a personal name, a contraction of
Tanneguy, from Breton
tan meaning 'fire', and
ki meaning 'dog', which was the name of a 6-th century Christian saint associated with Paul Aurelian.
Tannen German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) habitational name from any of several places in Lower Saxony or Baden named with German
Tannen ‘pine’, or from a short form of any of the many compound names formed with this element... [
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Tannenbaum Jewish, GermanGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) topographic name or Jewish ornamental name from German
Tannenbaum ‘fir tree’, ‘pine tree’.
Tanno RomanshOf debated origin and meaning; theories include a derivation from the given name
Donatus.
Tapon FrenchFrom the old French word
tapon, meaning "cork". Hence this surname was first given to corks makers.
Tapp English, GermanDerived from an Old English given name
Tæppa, of uncertain origin and meaning. In German, it is a nickname for a clumsy person or a simpleton, derived from Middle Low German
tappe meaning "oaf".
Taranto ItalianHabitational name from the southern Italian city and provincial capital of this name (from Latin Tarentum from Greek Taras). Variant of
Tarantino and
Di Taranto.
Taron German (Rare)The standardized variant of
Tarruhn which has origins in the Neumark region of Brandenburg, Prussia dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The Taron family was one of many German families who left the Neumark region and moved eastward into present-day Poland and Ukraine... [
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Tarruhn GermanOrigins are found in Neumark, Brandenburg, Prussia.
Tassi ItalianCould be a patronymic form of the given name Tasso, indicate the bearer is from one of several municipalities called Tasso, or be a nickname from Italian
tasso meaning "badger (animal)" or "yew".
Tassoni ItalianProbably derived from Italian
tasso meaning "badger (animal)", though it can also mean "yew (tree)".
Tautou French, OccitanDerived from French
tatou meaning "armadillo". It may have originally been given to a person who resembled an armadillo in some way. A famous bearer is the French actress and model Audrey Tautou (1976-).
Tegaldo ItalianThis surname is the Piedmontese origin. The Tegaldo last name comes from the Latin Teca (= shell beans). Its meaning is
grower of vegetables (bean). Also it is known as
vegetable farming... [
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Telfer Scottish, English, ItalianFrom a personal name based on a byname for a strong man or ferocious warrior, from Old French
taille or
tailler "to cut" +
fer "iron" Latin:
ferrum "iron" (see
Tagliaferro).
Tempesta ItalianOriginally a nickname for a person with a blustery temperament, from Italian
tempesta meaning "storm, tempest" (compare
Tempest).... [
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Temple English, FrenchOccupational name or habitational name for someone who was employed at or lived near one of the houses ("temples") maintained by the Knights Templar, a crusading order so named because they claimed to occupy in Jerusalem the site of the old temple (Middle English, Old French temple, Latin templum)... [
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Templier FrenchFrench cognitive and variant of
Temple given to someone who wa a member of the Templar order.
Templin GermanGerman habitational name from a place so named in Brandenburg, of Slavic origin.
Terracciano ItalianItalian "Fenced In Land" from Italian "Terra" meaning "Land" and "Ciano" meaning "Fenced"
Terrien FrenchTopographic name from an adjectival derivative of
terre "land", denoting someone who lived and worked on the land, i.e. a peasant. It is Americanized frequently as Landers, and occasionally as Farmer.
Tesauro Italianmetonymic occupational name for a treasurer or person in charge of financial administration from Old Italian
tesauro "treasure treasury" (from Latin
thesaurus "hoard"). It may also be from the personal name Tesauro with the same origin.
Tesoro Spanish, Italianfrom
tesoro "treasure" (from Latin
thesaurus "hoard") applied as a metonymic occupational name for a treasurer. In some cases this may be a habitational name from El Tesoro in southern Spain... [
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Tessier FrenchOccupational Name For A Weaver, From Old French Tissier (From Late Latin Texarius, A Derivative Of Texere ‘To Weave’). It Is Also Found In England As A Surname Of Huguenot Origin. Compare
Tacey.
Thal Jewish, GermanOrnamental and topographic name derived from German
Tal "valley".