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.
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, JewishMeans "starling (bird)" in German, probably denoting a talkative or perhaps a voracious person. Alternatively, an Anglicized form of
Stern 2.
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 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.
Steger GermanMeans "head miner" or "overman" from the German verb
steigen meaning "to climb" or in this case "to lead a climb".
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".
Steinhaus German, Jewishtopographic name for someone living in a stone-built house from Middle High German
stein "stone" and
hus "house" or a habitational name from any of the many places called Steinhaus for example near Fulda and near Wels in Austria... [
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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 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 German, German (Austrian)Means "founder" in Middle High German, from
stiften "to bring about, endow, donate", a name for a tenant farmer on previously unoccupied land, or a habitational name from the related word
Stift meaning "endowed monastery, secular convent, church foundation".
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.
Stockhardt GermanNickname for a stiff person, from
Stock "stick, staff, trunk" and
hart "hard".
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.
Stolz GermanThe surname "Stolz" means "Proud" or "pride" in German.
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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Strayer GermanAmericanized form of German Ströher: habitational name for "someone from any of the places called Ströh in Westphalia and Lower Saxony".
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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Suadicani Danish (Rare), German (Rare)A portmanteau of the Latin words
suadeo and
canis meaning "persuade" and "dog" respectively.
Suadeo can also be used to mean "weapon", which explains the family's crest, which displays an armored gauntlet wielding a sword and a dog climbing a set of stairs... [
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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".
Swinehart English, GermanMeans "swine herder", from Middle High German
swīn "hog, swine" and
hertære "herder".
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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Taccola ItalianNickname of a diminutive from Italian meaning "jackdaw".
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).
Takahara ItalianTakahara means "Treasure" in Italian. It was created as a family name only two generations ago.
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.
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)".