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.
Wendt German, DanishEthnic name for a Wend, Middle High German
wind(e). The Wends (also known as Sorbians) once occupied a large area of northeastern Germany (extending as far west as Lüneburg, with an area called Wendland), and many German place names and surnames are of Wendish origin... [
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Wenig GermanFrom the German word “wenig”, meaning little.
Werb GermanName for an artisan or craftsman, from Middle High German
werc(h), meaning "work, craft".
Werdum GermanWerdum is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Weseloh GermanGerman habitational name from a place so named near Hannover.
Wesner GermanHabitational name for someone from any of several places named Wessen.
Wester GermanFrom Middle High German
wëster ‘westerly’, hence a topographic name for someone who lived to the west of a settlement, or a regional name for one who had migrated from further west.
Wettläufer GermanDerived from Middle High German
wetteloufer meaning "runner", probably a nickname for a fast runner or someone who rushed around.
Wetzstein GermanEither a metonymic occupational name for a knife grinder from Middle High German wetzstein "whetstone", A habitational name from a lost place called Wetzstein near Emmendingen, or a topographic name from a field name for example Wezstein near Esslingen... [
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Wick English, GermanEnglish: topographic name for someone who lived in an outlying settlement dependent on a larger village, Old English wic (Latin vicus), or a habitational name from a place named with this word, of which there are examples in Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Worcestershire... [
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Widemann GermanDerived from the given name
Widiman, composed of Old High German
witu "wood" or
wit "wide" and
man "man".
Wiebe GermanFrom a short form of any of various Germanic personal names beginning with
wig ‘battle’, ‘war.’
Wiederspahn GermanCarpenter or roofer who applied wooden shingles from Wied, Wieden, or Wieda. Associated with the German-speaking minority that lived along the Volga River in Russia from 1764 to 1941.
Wiegel GermanFrom a pet form of any of the various Germanic personal names beginning with the element wig 'battle', 'war'.
Wiese GermanDerived from the Old German word wisa, which means meadow.
Wiesenthal GermanHabitational name from any of various places called Wiesent(h)al.
Wiesner GermanGerman: habitational name for someone from a place called
Wiesen, or topographic name for someone who lived by a meadow, a derivative of Middle High German wise ‘meadow’.
Wildfong GermanAn Americanized form of German
Wildfang. A nickname from Middle High German
Wiltvanc "Wildman Stranger", denoting a person who was not a member of the community.
Willert GermanGerman cognate and variant of
Willard. From a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements
willo "will, desire" and
hard "hardy, brave, strong".
Wills GermanPatronymic from any of the Germanic personal names beginning with
wil "will, desire".
Wimmer GermanOccupational last name, meaning "wine maker," using a derivation of the element
Wein (meaning "wine") and likely another derivation from
-macher (meaning "maker"). It's possible as well that it is derived from
Weimann.
Wind English, German, DanishNickname for a swift runner, from Middle English
wind "wind", Middle High German
wint "wind", also "greyhound".
Winegar GermanThis German surname may belong to one whose ancestors worked in the food industry or in the production of vinegar. In German the letter “W” is pronounced as the letter “V” in English.
Winehouse Jewish, GermanAnglicized variant of German and Yiddish 'Weinhaus'. From German
wein, 'vine, grapevine' and
haus 'house, building, home', likely indicating a house with a vineyard. ... [
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Winkel German, Jewish, Dutch, BelgianGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name for someone who lived on a corner of land in the country or a street corner in a town or city, from Middle High German winkel, German Winkel ‘corner’... [
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Winkelmann German, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic): topographic name for someone who lived on a corner or kept a corner shop (see
Winkel), with the addition of Middle High German man, German Mann ‘man’... [
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Winninger GermanProbably denoted a person from the municipality of
Winningen in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in western Germany.
Winterberg GermanHabitational name from any of several places named with Middle High German
winter "winter" and
berg "mountain".
Witt GermanEither from the given name
Wittigo or from Middle Low German
witte "white", a nickname for a pale person or someone with white hair.
Witter GermanFrom a Germanic personal name, composed of the elements
widu "wood" and
hari "army".
Wittgenstein German, JewishDenoted one who came from the
Wittgenstein castle in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, derived from Old High German
witt meaning "white" and
stein meaning "stone"... [
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Wittman GermanWittman was first found in the Palatinate in the Rhineland valley. The surname Wittman was given to someone who lived in the area that was referred to as widem which was originally derived from the German word denoting church property.
Witz German, JewishFrom the medieval personal name
Witzo, a short form of any of several Germanic compound names beginning with wig ‘battle’... [
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Witzel GermanThe German surname is of patronymic origin, deriving from the name of the father of the original bearer.
Witzig GermanGerman: nickname from Middle High German witzic ‘clever’, ‘prudent’, ‘knowing’.
Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorffvoralternwarengewissenhaftschaferswesenchafew German (Rare)Full name Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorffvoralternwarengewissenhaftschaferswesenchafewarenwholgepflegeundsorgfaltigkeitbeschutzenvonangereifenduchihrraubgiriigfeindewelchevorralternzwolftausendjahresvorandieerscheinenbanderersteerdeemmeshedrraumschiffgebrauchlichtalsseinursprungvonkraftgestartseinlangefahrthinzwischensternartigraumaufdersuchenachdiesternwelshegehabtbewohnbarplanetenkreisedrehensichundwohinderneurassevanverstandigmenshlichkeittkonntevortpflanzenundsicherfreunanlebenslamdlichfreudeundruhemitnichteinfurchtvorangreifenvonandererintlligentgeschopfsvonhinzwischensternartigraum... [
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Wolfhard German, JewishThis name derives from the Old High German name “Wolfhard”, composed of two elements: the “*-wulfaz” (wolf) plus “*harduz / *hardu-” (hard, strong, brave, valiant, powerful one). In turn the name means “the one who is strong like a wolf”.
Wolford GermanMeans where the wolves cross the river/stream. Wolf meaning the animal and Ford meaning crossing a body of shallow water.... [
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Wolk German, AmericanSurname derived from a northern German short form of the given name Walter.
Wolken GermanSurname derived from a diminutive of the given name Wolter, a Low German form of Walter.... [
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Wollmann GermanOccupational name for a wool worker or wool trader Middle High German Middle Low German
wollman derived from German
wolle "wool" and
man "man".
Wollschläger GermanOccupational name for someone who prepared wool for spinning by washing and combing or carding it, from Middle High German wolle(n)slaher, -sleger, Middle Low German wullensleger (literally ‘wool beater’).
Woolever GermanMorphed from the German surname Wohleber which means well-liver
Wriedt German, DutchNickname from Middle Low German wrēt, wrede meaning "fierce", "evil", "angry".
Wulfhart GermanCould mean "brave wolf" from the German elements "wulf" (variant of "wolf") and "hard" (meaning "brave, hardy").
Wunderlich GermanA nickname for an eccentric or moody person, derived from the word
wunderlich meaning "whimsical" in German.
Wünsche GermanProbably denoted a person from Wendland, a region in Germany on the borders of the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from Wendling, a municipality in the Grieskirchen District, Upper Austria, Austria.
Würdemann GermanFrom the German "Würde"-honour or dignity, and "Mann"-man or person. "Man of Honour" or "Person of Dignity".
Wurdemann German (Rare)This is a German surname, also spelled WÜRDEMANN (original) and often rendered as WUERDEMANN in English. It come from the German "würde", "dignity" or "honor" and "mann", meaning "man" or "person".... [
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Wurnig GermanGerman origin from the place name am Virgen originally meaning a person from the town of Virgen in Tyrol. Construed as a family name in 1501.
Wurster GermanDerived from German
Wurst (Middle High German
wurst) "sausage" and thus either denoted a butcher who specialized in the production of sausages, or was used as a nickname for a plump person or someone who was particularly fond of sausages.
Württemberg GermanWürttemberg is an historical German territory. Together with Baden and Hohenzollern, two other historical territories, it now forms the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg.
Wurtz GermanA metonymic occupational name for a greengrocer or grower or seller of herbs, from Middle High German
würz, meaning ‘herb’.
Wuttke GermanOriginally denoted a person from
Wutike, a district near the town of Neuruppin in Brandenburg, Germany.
Xavier English, FrenchDerived from the Basque place name
Etxaberri meaning "the new house". This was the surname of the Jesuit priest Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552). He was a missionary to India, Japan, China, and other areas in East Asia, and he is the patron saint of the Orient and missionaries.
Xompero ItalianMeaning uncertain, possibly from Cimbrian
somerousch "pack horse", indicating the bearer's strength or occupation. Alternately, may mean "son of
Piero".
Yaeger GermanYaeger is a relatively uncommon American surname, most likely a transcription of the common German surname "Jaeger/Jäger" (hunter). The spelling was changed to become phonetic because standard English does not utilize the umlaut.
Yager GermanAmericanized form of JÄGER, meaning "hunter."
Yantorno ItalianDerived from the word
torno which in Italian means "around".
Zabel GermanThe surname has multiple meanings. It may come from a Slavic given name, or the High German word
zabel, meaning "board game" - given, perhaps, as a nickname to those who played many board games.
Zabka GermanFrom Polish
zaba meaning "frog", of Slavic origin.
Zachow GermanMeaning unknown. A notable bearer of this name is Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, a organist, musician, and composer who lived from 1663 to 1712. Zachow, Wisconsin is an unincorporated community named after a local landowner, William Zachow.
Zackert English, GermanAn Americanization of the German surnames Zacher and Zachert. It comes from a vernacular form of the personal name Zacharias.
Zager Germanhabitational name from ZAGER, a place near Wollin
Zago ItalianProbably from Venetian
zago "alter boy", or someone preparing to become a priest. Alternately, may derive from a toponym, such as Massanzago, Lorenzago, Cazzago, Vanzago, or Sozzago.
Zahn GermanZahn was a nickname given to a person with a peculiar tooth or a strange or defective set of teeth. It comes from the Middle High German
Zan(t), which means "tooth".
Zähne GermanThe German surname Zähne is derived from the Middle High German word "zan," which means "tooth." It is believed that the surname takes its origin from a nickname, most likely bestowed on the original bearer due to either a prominent tooth or a missing tooth.
Zahner GermanName given to people who lived in Zahna, near Wittenberg.
Zalas Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Galician, Portuguese, Aragonese, Asturian, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, BulgarianVariant of
Salas.
Zalla Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Galician, Portuguese, Aragonese, Asturian, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, BulgarianVariant of
Sala.
Zallas Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Galician, Portuguese, Aragonese, Asturian, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, BulgarianVariant of
Salas.
Zangara ItalianSouthern Italian: from a feminine form of Zangaro ( see Zangari ).
Zani ItalianComes from the personal name Z(u)an(n)i, a northeastern (Venetian) form of Gianni (from Giovanni, Italian equivalent of John). Zani or Zanni is a comic figure in the Commedia del’Arte, and the surname may be a nickname derived from this use, which is also the origin of the English word zany.
Zanini ItalianThe surname Zanini or Zanin was given to the descendants of Giovanni (John). It originates from the diminutive of the Venetian variant of Zani, being Zanino.
Zanni ItalianFrom the first name
Gianni, which derives from
Giovanni, which is the Italian version of
John, which means "the grace/mercy of the Lord." ... [
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Zanussi Friulian, ItalianZanussi is best known as the surname of an influential Italian inventor from Brugnera in Friulia. The name likely comes from
zanuso meaning ‘sedge’ in Italian.
Zaun GermanFrom a topographical name from Middle High German
zun "fence, hedge" the German cognitive to Anglo-Saxon
tun.
Zazzara ItalianAncient and very noble Lazio family, with residence in the city of Viterbo, known as Zazzara or Zazzera, of clear and ancestral virtue, which has spread over the centuries in various regions of Italy.
Zedda ItalianPossibly from Sardinian
zedda "cellar" or
cedda "herd of animals", indicating someone who was an innkeeper or shepherd.
Zehner German(chiefly Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, and Württemberg): occupational name for an official responsible for collecting, on behalf of the lord of the manor, tithes of agricultural produce owed as rent.... [
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Zehren German (Swiss)From a prepositional phrase from Middle High German ze hērren, an occupational name for someone was in service of a lord.
Zeimet German, LuxembourgishWestern German and Luxembourgeois: probably a variant spelling of Zeimert, a variant of Zeumer, an occupational name for a harness maker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zoum ‘bridle’.
Zelle German, DutchTopographic name from Middle High German
zelle "(hermit's) cell" and habitational name from a place called Zelle.
Zeller German, Dutch, English, JewishOriginally denoted someone from Celle, Germany or someone living near a hermit's cell from German
zelle "cell". It is also occupational for someone employed at a
zelle, for example a small workshop.
Zenner Upper GermanSouth German: unflattering nickname for a surly, snarling person, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zannen 'to growl or howl' or 'to bare one's teeth'.
Zerbo ItalianProbably, comes from the Greek word "zerbos", meaning 'left-handed' and 'treacherous'
Ziani Italian (Rare, Archaic)Habitual surname denoting someone from Ziano, a locality in Italy. Unrelated to the Maghrebi surname of the same spelling.
Zickuhr GermanZickuhr is a German surname that means "zigzag." Although, some person believe that Zickuhr means "cuckoo clock."
Ziegenhagen GermanDerived from Middle High German
zige "goat" and
hag "enclosure, hedge, pasture". Could be an occupational name for someone who kept goats, or be derived from any of several places with the name.
Zielsdorf GermanHabitational name from an unidentified place, perhaps Ziersdorf in Lower Austria.
Zinger GermanThe surname Zinger was first found in Saxony, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. ... In Old German the name meant "lively" and "spritely," or more literally, "a biting, sharp taste."
Zinn GermanFrom the German for word for tin "tin." The name indicated someone who worked with the metal. A famous bearer is Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German botanist. Carl Linnaeus named the flower
Zinnia in his honor.
Zoch GermanDerived from Middle High German
zoche meaning "cudgel, club".
Zola ItalianItalian: habitational name from any of various minor places named with Zol(l)a, from a dialect term for a mound or bank of earth, as for example Zola Predosa (Bologna) or Zolla in Monrupino (Trieste)... [
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Zoldan Italianfrom the name place Zoldo. Zoldan indicates also the name of a little valley North from Venice.