Swiss Submitted Surnames

Swiss names are used in the country of Switzerland in central Europe.
usage
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Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Vigna Italian
Meaning "vineyard", referring to someone who lived near one.
Vignau French
Vignau may derive from the French words "vigne" or "vignal", meaning "vineyard", and refers to the owner. ... [more]
Vigneron French
Means "vintner" in French from vin "wine" (from Latin vinum).
Vignola Italian
habitational name from any of various minor places so named from vignola "small vineyard".
Vilbig German
Unknown.
Villani Italian
Derives from Latin villa "village, farm, settlement", related to Italian villano "peasant" or "rude, bad-mannered".
Villanova Italian, Spanish
Habitational name from any of numerous places so called from Latin villa nova "new settlement" (see Villa) from the elements villa "town" and nova "new"... [more]
Villard French
French cognate of Vilar. A topographic name denoting an inhabitant of a hamlet; or a habitational name from (Le) Villard the name of several places in various parts of France... [more]
Villard German
Altered form of German Hilgard, from the female personal name Hildegard, composed of the Germanic elements hild "strife, battle" and gard "fortress, stronghold".
Villasurda German
Villasurda is a Germanic name dating back to the time of the Vikings. It, roughly translated from a Norse word, means, "the one who is fat."
Villein French
"Used in medieval England and France. Villein is another term used for the serfs in the lowest classes of the feudal system."
Villwock German
Of uncertain and much debated origin.... [more]
Vinagro Italian
Cognate to Vinagre, meaning "bitter wine, vinegar". Possibly given to foundlings.
Vincente English, Italian
English variant of Vincent 1, otherwise from the given name Vincente
Vincenz Romansh
Derived from the given name Vincentius.
Vincenzi Italian
Patronymic form of Vincenzo.
Vincenzo Italian
From the given name Vincenzo
Vinciguerra Italian
Derived from medieval Italian name Vinciguerra.
Violet English, French
Derived from the given name Violet (English) or a variant of Violette (French).
Violette French
Perhaps a topographic name from a diminutive of viol "path", itself a derivative of vie "way". It is more likely, however, that this name is from the secondary surname Laviolette "the violet (flower)", which was common among soldiers in French Canada.
Viotto Italian
The name is derived from the Latin word "vita", meaning "life"
Viray Occitan, French, Catalan
Southern French (Occitan) and Catalan variant of Occitan Verai and Veray, nickname from Occitan verai ‘honest’... [more]
Virile Italian
It comes fron the Italian adjective virile that means 'manly, masculine' ultimately from Latin vir
Virtuoso English (American), Spanish, Italian
This Italian surname could possibly be connected to those whose ancestors were involved in playing a musical instrument or somehow connected to the musical instrument industry.
Viscardi Italian
patronymic or plural form of Viscardo a variant of the personal name Guiscardo itself from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements wisa "wise" and hard "hardy strong"... [more]
Visconti Italian
Derived from visconte, itself from the Medieval vice comes, a title of rank meaning "deputy of a count". The Visconti of Milan are a noble Italian family. They rose to power in Milan during the Middle Ages where they ruled from 1277 to 1447, initially as Lords then as Dukes, and several collateral branches still exist... [more]
Viscuso Italian
From Sicilian viscusu "tough, tenacious, vicious".
Vista Italian
Probably from a short form of a medieval personal name such as Bellavista, an omen or well-wishing name literally meaning ‘fine view’.
Vital Romansh
Derived from the given name Vitalis.
Vitaliano Italian
From the given name Vitaliano
Vittorio Italian
From the given name Vittorio.
Vivenzio Italian
From the given name Vivenzio.
Viviano Italian
From the given name Viviano.
Vivier French
Derived from Latin vivarium, ultimately from Latin vivus "alive". This name is locational relating to living near a fish pond.
Voelker German
My maiden name Surname.
Vögele Upper German, German (Swiss)
Swabian and Swiss German diminutive of Vogel.
Vögeli German (Swiss)
Swiss German diminutive of Vogel.
Vogelmann German
occupational name for a birdcatcher from Middle High German Middle Low German fogal "bird" and mann "man".
Vogelsang German
Means "bird song" in German. From the German words vogel (bird) and sang (song).
Voges German
North German: possibly a patronymic from Vogt.... [more]
Vogler German
Occupational name for a birdcatcher.
Voisin French
From Old French voisin "neighbor" (Anglo-Norman French veisin) . The application is uncertain; it may either be a nickname for a "good neighbor", or for someone who used this word as a frequent term of address, or it might be a topographic name for someone who lived on a neighboring property... [more]
Volker German, Dutch
From the given name Volker.
Volkmann German
Probably denoted for a speaker or a people's person, derived from German volk "people" and mann "man". Alfred Wilhelm Volkmann (1801-1877) was a German physiologist, anatomist, and philosopher... [more]
Volkmuth German
Volk: People... [more]
Volksmärchen German
A German surname meaning "folk tale".
Vollbrecht German
From a German personal name composed of the elements folk ‘people’ + berht ‘bright’, ‘famous’. In the U.S. this name is often Americanized as Fulbright and Fullbright.
Völler German
German cognate of Fuller and a variant of Voll 2. A notable bearer is the retired German soccer player Rudi Völler (1960-).
Vollmar German, Germanic, Low German
This name is a variant form of Volkmar and the Low German form of Waldemar. It is of Germanic and Slavic origin and comes from the following roots: (VOLKMAR) and (VOLODIMĚRŬ).
Volmar German, Germanic, Low German
Variant Of Vollmar.
Volpe Italian
Italian cognate of Fox.
Von Aachen German
Means "from Aachen", a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, ultimately derived from Latin acquae "water, water sources", referring to the sacred springs associated with the Celtic god Grannus.
Von Allmen German (Swiss)
Means "of Allmen."
Von Arx German (Swiss)
Means "from Arx."
Von Der Lehr German
"from the Lehr" Meadow or Clearing
Von Esmarch German
Means "from Esmarch" in German, Esmarch being an unknown meaning. Friedrich von Esmarch (1823-1908) was a German surgeon who developed the Esmarch bandage and founded the Deutscher Samariter-Verein, the predecessor of the Deutscher Samariter-Bund.
Von Hammersmark Popular Culture, German (?)
Means "from Hammersmark" in German. Bridget von Hammersmark is a fictional character in Quentin Tarantino's film 'Inglourious Basterds' from 2009.
Von Langenbeck German
Means "from a long stream" in German, from Low German lange "long" and beke "stream". Bernhard Rudolf Konrad von Langenbeck (1810-1887) was a German surgeon known as the developer of Langenbeck's amputation and founder of Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery.
Vonmoos Romansh
Derived from German von "of" and Moos "moss". The name itself is a calque of Romansh da Palü which was Germanized after the Reformation.
von Stauffenberg German
From the name of the former castle Burg Stauffenberg in Swabia, southwestern Germany.
Von Sydow Swedish, German
von Sydow is a German and Swedish noble family from Pomerania, an area in modern day Poland and Germany. Some members of the family immigrated to Sweden in 1724. The name literary means "from Sydow"... [more]
Von Westphalen German
Denoted a person from Westphalia, a region of northwestern Germany, borrowed from Medieval Latin Westphalia, derived from Middle Low German Westvâlen "west field".
Vorwald German
Topographic name for someone who lived "in front of (Middle High German vor) a forest (Middle High German wald)".
Vosberg German
Means "foxhole" or "fox hill", from vos "fox" and berg "hill, mountain".
Vossler German
Possibly related to Voss.
Vought German
The surname Vought originates in the Latin form "vocatus" or "advocatus," and referred to someone who appeared in court on another's behalf. As a surname, Vought is an occupational hereditary surname for a "bailiff" or "overseer of a nobleman's estate".
Vuitton French
Derived from the Old High German word "witu" and the Old English pre 7th century "widu" or "wudu", meaning a wood, and therefore occupational for one living by such a place.
Vuolo Italian
Southern variant of Volo, likely after the place name Bolo from Sicily.
Wachs German, Jewish
Occupational name for someone who dealt with beeswax from Middle High German wahs German wachs "wax".
Wachsmann German, Jewish
Occupational name for a gatherer or seller of beeswax from Middle Low German was "wax" and man "man".
Wachter German, Dutch
Means "guard, sentinel", an occupational name for a watchman.
Wachtmann German
Occupational name for a watchman.
Wacker German
From a nickname for a bold or energetic person, from Middle High German wacker meaning ‘fresh’, ‘lively’, ‘brave’, or ‘valiant’.
Wackerman English (American), German
From the Americanized spelling of German Wackermann, a variant of Wacker, with the addition of Middle High German man, meaning ‘man’.
Wagar German
Variant of Wager.
Wagenknecht German
occupational name from Middle High German wagenknëht "hauler's assistant" from wagan "wagon" and kneht "servant".
Wagenmann German
Occupational name from Middle High German wagenman ‘hauler’, ‘wagoner’.
Wager German
An occupational name for an official in charge of the city scales.
Waggoner German
German name; variant of Wagner
Wagmann German
Possibly derived from Swabian Wegman, meaning "herb".
Wahl German, Jewish
From Middle High German Walhe, Walch "foreigner from a Romance country", hence a nickname for someone from Italy or France, etc. This surname is also established in Sweden.
Wahlberg German, Swedish, Norwegian (Rare)
Composed of German wal "field, meadow" or Swedish vall "grassy bank" and berg "mountain, hill".
Waidelich German
A variant of the surname Weidlich.
Walch German
From the personal name Walcho.
Wald German, English
Topographic name for someone who lived in or near a forest (Old High German wald, northern Middle English wald).
Waldmann German
topographic name for someone who lived in a forest or alternatively an occupational name for a forest warden from Middle High German waltman literally "forest man" derived from the elements wald "forest" and man "man"
Waldorf German
Habitational name from any of at least three places so called, derived from Old High German wald "forest" and dorf "village, settlement"... [more]
Waldstein German, Jewish
Habitational surname for a person from a place in Bohemia called Waldstein, which is derived from Middle High German walt "forest" + stein "stone".
Wallbaum German, Jewish
Either a topographic name from Low German walbom "walnut tree" derived from wal "walnut" and boum "tree"... [more]
Wallee German
Of French origin, denoting a person who lives in or is from a valley.
Wallenstein German, Jewish
Variant of Waldstein a habitational name from Wallenstein (originally Waldenstein "forest rock" Czech Valdštejn) in Bohemia... [more]
Walliser German
Denoting somebody from Valais (German form Wallis), a canton in Switzerland, or someone who immigrated from Valais, ultimately from Latin vallis "valley, vale".
Waltrip German
Derived from the name of the father of the original bearer, indicating the "son of Waldrap." The Germanic personal name Waldrap, is a short form of Walraven, a name used mostly among nobles, knights, and patricians.
Walz German
Variant of Waltz.
Wanamaker German (Anglicized), Dutch (Anglicized)
Americanized form of Wannemacher. A famous bearer is the British-American actress Zöe Wanamaker (1949-), as well as her father, actor and director Sam Wanamaker (1919-1993).
Wannemacher German, Dutch
Occupational name for a maker or seller of baskets, particularly winnowing baskets or fans, derived from Middle High German wanne literally meaning "winnowing basket" and macher meaning "maker"... [more]
Warmbier German
Metonymic occupational name for a brewer, derived from Middle Low German warm meaning "warm" and ber meaning "beer".
Warnecke German
North German from a pet form of the personal name Warner, Low German form of Werner.
Warneke German
German variant spelling of Warnecke.
Warnke German
German variant of Warnecke.
Warns German, Dutch
Patronymic form of the Germanic given name Warn (see Warin). Alternatively, a habitational name from various Frisian places likely named using the same or similar elements.
Warthen German
German: from a short form of the personal name Wartold, from Old High German wart ‘guardian’.
Wäscher German
Occupational surname for a washer, from Middle High German waschen, weschen "to wash".
Wasser German, Jewish
Topographic name from Middle High German wazzer "water".
Wassermann German
German cognate of Waterman 2. occupational name for a water-carrier or a topographic name from Middle High German wazzar "water" and man "man"... [more]
Waterhouse German
Old German and Dutch locational name meaning “a house by water.”
Watteau French
Possibly from French gâteau “cake”, denoting a baker.
Wax German, Jewish, English
German and Jewish variant and English cognitive of Wachs, from Middle English wax "wax" (from Old English weax).
Waxman English, German (Americanized), Jewish (Americanized)
Occupational name for a seller or gatherer of beeswax from wax "wax" plus Middle English man "man". According to the Oxford English Dictionary wax-man is an obsolete term for an officer of a trade guild who collected contributions from members for wax candles to be used in processions... [more]
Wechter German
Variant spelling of German Wächter
Weg Dutch, Jewish, German
Means "way, road, path".
Weghorst Dutch, German
Habitational name from a location near Hanover, possibly derived from weg "way, road" and horst "thicket, grove, heap, elevated land" or "nest of a bird of prey, eyrie".
Wehlburg German (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Possibly derived from German Wehl "pool of water (esp. behind a dyke)" (cognate to Dutch weil "vortex, maelstrom; dyke breach pool") and burg "fortress, citadel".
Wehmann German
From Middle Low German wede, "wood forest" combined with man, "man"
Weichmann German
From the given name Wigman. Derived from ancient Germanic wig "battle fight" and man "man".
Weide German
Either a topographic name for someone who lived by a conspicuous willow or by a group of willow trees from Middle High German wide "willow"... [more]
Weidmann German
Name meaning, "hunter".
Weigel German
Derived from the given name Wigand.
Weiher German
Meaning:... [more]
Weil German, Jewish
South German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of various places so named in Baden, Bavaria, and Württemberg, from Latin villa ‘country house’, ‘estate’ (later used of a group of houses forming a settlement).
Weiler German, Jewish
Habitational name from any of several places so named in southern Germany. Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Weil.
Weimar German
Habitational name from any of several places called Weimar in Hesse and Thuringia.... [more]
Wein German, Yiddish, Hungarian
Means "grape, vine, wine" in German and Yiddish (װײַנ). According to Nelly Weiss, Wein-style family names originated from signboards (house sign, house shield) in Jewish communities. Wein may also be related the German verb weinen meaning "to cry"... [more]
Weinbach German, Jewish
From the name of a commune in Hesse, Germany.
Weinberg German, Jewish
Weinberg means "Vineyard" in german.
Weinbrenner German
Occupational name for a distiller of brandy, literally 'wine burner'.
Weinel German
From the name Wino.
Weingartner German
Derived from German weingärtner meaning "wine maker, vintner", which itself is derived from German weingarten meaning "vineyard". The latter is a composite word consisting of German wein "wine" combined with German garten "garden"... [more]
Weinheimer German
German: habitational name for someone from any of the places named Weinheim, for example in Baden and Hessen.
Weininger German (Swiss), Jewish
Denoted a person from Weiningen, a municipality in the Canton of Zürich, Switzerland. It is also a Jewish ornamental name derived from German wein meaning "wine" and the suffix -inger.
Weinkauf German
From "wein kaufen" meaning "buy wine" or "wine-buyer"
Weinland German
Topographic name for someone who lived in a wine-producing area from Middle High German win "wine" and land "land" or a habitational name from a place so named.
Weinmann German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational name for a viticulturalist or wine merchant, Middle High German winman, German Weinmann.
Weinreich German
from the name "Winrich"... [more]
Weinstock German, Jewish
English variant of the German surname Wenstock, an occupational name for a producer or seller of wine, from German Weinstock "grapevine" (also compare Wein).... [more]
Weintraub German, Jewish
This surname translates into English as “grape”.
Weintraub German, Jewish
from Middle High German wintrub "grape" derived from wein "wine" and traub "grape" hence either a metonymic occupational name for a vintner or a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by a sign depicting a bunch of grapes.
Weis German
Variant of Weiss.
Weise German
Means "wise, prudent" in German. Notable bearers include Christian Weise (1642-1708), a German writer.
Weisenburger German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from any of numerous places named Weissenburg "white fortress".
Weiser German
Variant of Weise.
Weisfeld German, Jewish
topographic name from a field name composed of Middle High German wiz "white" and feld "open country". Cognate of Whitfield.
Weishaupt German
Nickname for someone with white hair from Middle High German wiz "white" and houbit "head". German cognate of Whitehead.
Weishuhn German
Derived from Middle High German wiz meaning "white" and huon meaning "hen, fowl", hence a metonymic occupational name for a poultry farmer or dealer, or perhaps in some instances a nickname.
Weisman German, German (Austrian), Jewish
A German surname meaning "white man"
Weißmüller German
from Middle High German wiz "white" and mulin "miller" an occupational name for a miller who produced white flour which was produced as early as the 14th century.
Weissmuller German
Translates to "White Miller".
Weixel German
German: variant spelling of Weichsel, a topographic name for someone who lived near a sour cherry tree (St. Luce cherry), from Middle High German wīhsel (modern German Weichsel(n), pronounced ‘Weiksel’.
Welfing German
Name given to our family by our relative, a German king.
Welker German
Variant of Walker.
Welle German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a spring or stream, Middle Low German welle.
Weller English, German
Either from the Olde English term for a person who extracted salt from seawater, or from the English and German "well(e)," meaning "someone who lived by a spring or stream."... [more]
Wellspeak French (Anglicized)
Anglicized version of Beauparlant.
Welsch German
From Middle High German welsch, walsch "person from a Romance country (especially Italy), foreigner", hence an ethnic name or in some cases perhaps a nickname for someone who had trading or other connections with the Romance countries.
Welti German (Swiss)
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Walter.
Weltraum German
A German surname meaning "outer space".
Welty German (Swiss)
From a Swiss German diminutive of the German given name Walther. A literary bearer was the American writer Eudora Welty (1909-2001).
Wend German
Variant of Wendt.
Wendelin German
From the given name Wendelin.
Wendt German, Danish
Ethnic 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... [more]
Wenger German, German (Swiss)
The surname Wenger is derived from the Middle High German word "wenger," "meaning "wagoner" or "cartwright."" It was an occupational name given to someone who worked as a wagon maker or driver. Another possible origin is that is derived from the German word, wenge, "meaning field of meadow"
Wenig German
From the German word “wenig”, meaning little.
Wentz German (Rare)
Originally a pet form of the given names Werner and Wenceslaw. Meaning "guard" or "army".
Wentzel German
Variant spelling of Wetzel.
Wenz German
Variant of Wentz
Wenzel German
Variant of Wentzel or from the given name Wenzel
Wepener South African, German
South African, German decent/history
Werb German
Name for an artisan or craftsman, from Middle High German werc(h), meaning "work, craft".
Werdum German
Werdum is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Wertheimer German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from Wertheim.
Wertz German
From a pet form of the personal name Werner.
Weseloh German
German habitational name from a place so named near Hannover.
Wesner German
Habitational name for someone from any of several places named Wessen.
Westendorf German
A habitational surname that means 'West Village' in German.
Wester German
From 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.
Westernmeir German
Of German decent.
Westinghausen German
The original meaning of Westinghouse, meaning ‘westwing house’.
Wettläufer German
Derived from Middle High German wetteloufer meaning "runner", probably a nickname for a fast runner or someone who rushed around.
Wettstein German (Rare)
North German: variant of Wetzstein, from Middle Low German wetsten "whetstone".
Wetzstein German
Either 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... [more]
Whynot German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Weinacht.
Wick English, German
English: 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... [more]
Widemann German
Derived from the given name Widiman, composed of Old High German witu "wood" or wit "wide" and man "man".
Widman German
Altered spelling of German Widmann.
Widmann German
Variant of Wiedmann ‘huntsman’ and Wideman.
Widrig Romansh
Derived from the given name Fridericus.
Wiebe German
From a short form of any of various Germanic personal names beginning with wig ‘battle’, ‘war.’
Wiedemann German
Variation of Wideman.
Wiederspahn German
Carpenter 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.
Wiedmann German
North German variant of Widemann.
Wiegel German
From a pet form of any of the various Germanic personal names beginning with the element wig 'battle', 'war'.
Wieland German, Germanic Mythology
Derived from the given name Wieland.
Wielandt German
From the given name Wieland.
Wien German, Jewish
Habitational name from the city of Vienna (German Wien Yiddish Vin)... [more]
Wiens German
Patronymic from a short form of an ancient Germanic compound personal name beginning with wini "friend".
Wiese German
Derived from the Old German word wisa, which means meadow.
Wiesel German, Jewish
Means "weasel" in German.
Wiesenthal German
Habitational name from any of various places called Wiesent(h)al.
Wiesner German
German: 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’.
Wilbert English, German
From the given name Wilbert.
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