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.
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.
Schnepper GermanSouth German: nickname for a chatterer from an agent derivative of Middle High German snappen ‘to chatter’.... [
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Schnitzer GermanFrom Upper German
schnitz, referring to someone who cuts wood, ultimately from Middle High German
snitzære "woodcutter, carver, crossbow maker".
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.... [
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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.
Schopff GermanGerman (
Schöff): in most cases an occupational name from Middle High German
scheffe ‘lay assessor at a court, juror’ (modern German
Schöffe)
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... [
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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".
Schwarzschild GermanDerives from Old High German
swarz meaning "black" and Middle Dutch
schilt meaning "shield". A famous bearer of this surname is physicist and astronomer Karl Schwarzschild. (1873-1916)
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"... [
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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".
Scioli ItalianPossibly derived from
Scio, a shortened form of the medieval given name
Desio (from Latin
Desigus or
Desijo, associated with literary Italian
desio "desire"), or perhaps from medieval Tuscan
Ciolo... [
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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... [
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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" and
dita "fingers", either literally referring to someone with six fingers, or metaphorically to someone who was very dextrous, or perhaps ironically to a clumsy person.
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).
Selmer GermanTeutonic name meaning "hall master" for a steward or keeper of a large home or settlement.
Selva Catalan, ItalianFrom any of various places in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, or northern Italy named Selva, as for instance the Catalan district La Selva, from
selva "wood", Latin
silva.
Selz GermanThe Selz is a river in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and a left hand tributary of the Rhine. It flows through the largest German wine region, Rheinhessen or Rhenish Hesse. Also, Seltz (German: Selz) is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace-Champagne-Ardenne-Lorraine region in north-eastern France.... [
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Semenza ItalianFrom semenza ‘seeds’ possibly used for a seed merchant.
Senatore Italianstatus name from
senatore "senator" (from Latin
senator) or a nickname for a stately or perhaps pompous man.
Sénécal Frenchstatus name for a seneschal an official in a large household who was responsible for overseeing day-to-day domestic arrangements from Old French seneschal (of ancient Germanic origin composed of the elements
sini "old" and
scalc "servant")... [
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Sénéchal FrenchVariant of
Sénécal, a status name for a seneschal an official in a large household who was responsible for overseeing day-to-day domestic arrangements from Old French seneschal (of ancient Germanic origin composed of the elements
sini "old" and
scalc "servant").
Seng German1. Topographic name for someone who lived by land cleared by fire, from Middle High German sengen ‘to singe or burn’. ... [
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Senjean FrenchProbably from St John (saint-jean) from Christianization of Basques and misspelled
Senn GermanDerived from the Middle High German word
senne meaning "dairy farmer".
Sensenbach GermanA topographic name formed with an unexplained first element + Middle High German bach ‘creek’. Pretty common in Iowa and Pennsylvania.
Sensi ItalianDerived from Italian "senso" meaning "sense, feeling". Historically, the surname could have been given to someone who was known for their wisdom or intelligence, or to someone who had a keen sense of perception or intuition... [
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Sereno Italian1 Italian: from the personal name Sereno (from Latin serenus, serena ‘clear’, ‘calm’).... [
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Serrao ItalianProbably from a dialectical term meaning "closed, shut".
Serratore ItalianMeans either "sawyer", from Italian
serrare, "to saw", or "locksmith", from Italian
serratura, "lock".
Sette ItalianMeans "seven". Probably a nickname for the seventh child of a family, though it could derive from a place name containing the element.
Setzer German, JewishDerived from either Middle High German "setzen", used to refer to market inspectors and tax officials, or Yiddish "setser", a typesetter.
Sewina German, PolishThe first available record of the Sewina family name is around 1620 in the province of Silesia, a mixed cultural region between Germany and Poland. Once part of the Prussian Empire and Germany. After World War Two, the area is now part of Poland... [
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Seydoux French, French (Swiss), OccitanDerived from the Germanic names
Sedulius,
Sedulfus or
Segedolfus. Another theory suggests Occitan roots; it might be an occupational name for someone who worked with silk, derived from Occitan
sedós meaning "silky, soft"... [
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Seyfried GermanDerived from the given name
Siegfried. The American actress Amanda Seyfried (1985-) is a well-known bearer of this name.
Sferrazza ItalianPossibly derived from
sferra meaning "old horseshoe, rusty knife or sword, piece of junk" or figuratively "good-for-nothing, worthless man", an occupational name for a scrap-metal merchant, or a nickname based on the latter sense... [
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Sforza ItalianDerived from the Italian verb
sforzare meaning "to force, strain"; also compare the related word
forza "force, strength". This was the surname of a dynasty of Milanese dukes, which held power in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Shatner German (Anglicized), Jewish (Anglicized)Anglicized form of
Schattner. A notable bearer was Canadian actor William Shatner (1931-), who is known for his roles as Captain James T. Kirk in 'Star Trek', T.J. Hooker in 'T.J. Hooker', Denny Crane in 'Boston Legal', and the Priceline Negotiator in Priceline.com commercials.