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.
Benz German
South German: (in Alemannic areas) from a short form of the Germanic personal name Berthold, or to a lesser extent of Bernhard
Beralde French
Possibly from Beraud.
Bérard French
From the given name Bérard.
Berardo Italian
From the given name Berardo.
Béraud French
Derived from the given name Berwald.
Berber German
Possibly a habitational name from a place called Berber near Kevelaer.
Berchel French
French form of Borchelt.
Berentzen German
The surname is derived from the given name Bernd and was formerly written "Bernd sin Sohn" which meant "son of Bernd"... [more]
Beretta Italian
Northern Italian variant spelling of Berretta.
Bergamin Italian
Traced to 1437, Bergamo. A 'bergamini' was known as a person famrmed and sold milk cows
Bergamo Italian
From a Celtic word meaning "mountain".
Bergdorf German
Origin unidentified. Possibly a German habitational name from places in Hamburg and Lower Saxony called Bergedorf, Bargdorf in Lower Saxony, or Bergsdorf in Brandenburg.
Bergen German, Dutch, Flemish, Jewish
Originally denoted a person from any of the various places named Bergen in Germany and the Netherlands. It is also a variant of Berg. Famous bearers include the Americans Candice Bergen (1946-), an actress, and Polly Bergen (1930-2014), an actress, singer and television host.
Bergeron French
Diminutive of French berger meaning "shepherd".
Berghold German
Surname that denoted the owner of a vineyard.
Bergholtz Swedish, German (Rare)
Possibly a variant of German Bergholz which is either a derivative of Berchtold or from a topographic name meaning "birch wood"... [more]
Berghorst German
Topographical name for someone who lived by a wilderness area on a mountain, from Berg 'mountain', 'hill' + Horst 'wilderness' (see Horst).
Bergkamp Dutch, German
From the name of various places in the Netherlands and Germany, derived from Old Dutch and Old High German berg meaning "mountain" and kamp meaning "field". This name is borne by Dutch former soccer player Dennis Bergkamp (1969-).
Bergoglio Italian
From the name of a village in Piedmont, Italy. A notable bearer is Jorge Mario Bergoglio (1936-), better known as Pope Francis, the current head of the Catholic Church.
Bergschneider German
topographic name for someone living by a mountain trail (as in cut into the hillside) from Berg "mountain hill" and Schneit "trail path running on a border" (Old High German sneita).
Berland German
From the name Berland.
Berlin German, English
Habitational name from the city in Germany, the name of which is of uncertain meaning. It is possibly derived from an Old Slavic stem berl- meaning swamp or from a West Slavic word meaning "river lake".
Berlinerblau German, Jewish
Means “Prussian blue” in German. A notable bearer of this surname is Jacques Berlinerblau, a professor of Jewish civilization, and Stefania Berlinerblau, an American anatomist and physician.
Bern German, Scandinavian, German (Swiss)
German and Scandinavian: from the personal name Berno, a pet form of Bernhard. In South German it comes from the habitational name from Bern, Switzerland, notably in the south; in other parts from the personal name Berno.
Bernadotte French, Swedish
Possibly from the name of a historical province in Southern France named Béarn. This was originally a French non-noble surname. French general Jean Baptise Bernadotte (1763-1844) became the king of Sweden as Charles XIV John (Swedish: Karl XIV Johan) in 1818 and founded the current royal house in Sweden, House of Bernadotte.
Bernardeau French
From a diminutive of the given name Bernard.
Bernardini Italian
From the given name Bernardino.
Bernasconi Italian
The surname of BERNASCONI is of Italian origin, a locational name meaning the dweller on or near a small hill. The names of habitation are derived from pre-existing names denoting towns, villages, farmsteads or other named habitations... [more]
Bernath German, English
Derived from the name Bernhard.
Berner German, Low German
German habitational name, in Silesia denoting someone from a place called Berna (of which there are two examples); in southern Germany and Switzerland denoting someone from the Swiss city of Berne. ... [more]
Bernet French
From a pet form of Bernard.
Bernfield German
An Americanized variant of the German surname, "Bergfeld", meaning "mountain field".
Bernier French
From the personal name Bernier composed of the ancient Germanic elements bern "bear" and hari "army"... [more]
Bernini Italian
Bernini was the surname of famous sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680).
Bernitt German (Rare)
Derived from the name of Bernitt, a municipality in the Rostock district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Bernius German (Latinized), Lithuanian
German-Latinized form of Berner.... [more]
Bernoulli French
French patronymic surname that was derived from the first name Bernoul (which was probably derived from Bernold or Bernolf).
Berretta Italian
From berretta, originally meaning ‘hooded cloak’ (Latin birrus), later ‘headdress’, ‘bonnet’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such headgear or a nickname for an habitual wearer.
Berri German (Swiss), Romansh
Derived from Old High German bero "bear".
Berruti Italian
From Late Latin berrutum "cart", indicating someone who drove or made carts.
Berry Romansh
Variant of Berri.
Bertagni Italian
Bertagni has a lineage in Genoa and one in Lucca. Possibly derives from Gothic, Lombard and Germanic names containing the root germanica bertha (bright) or the celtic bert (bearer).
Bertarelli Italian
Probably from a given name containing the Germanic root behrat "bright" or Celtic berta "to carry, to bear".
Bertarini Italian
Alternate form of Bertarelli.
Berterame Italian
Possibly derived from the Germanic given name Bertram.
Berther Romansh
Derived from the given name Berchthari (see Berthar).
Berthiaume French
French: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements berht ‘bright’, ‘famous’ + helm ‘helmet’.
Berthold German
From the given name Berthold.
Bertin French
From the given name Bertin a diminutive of the ancient Germanic personal name Berhto a short form of various compound names formed with berht "bright famous".
Berto Italian, Spanish
From the given name Berto.
Bertocchi Italian
Comes from a pet form of the personal name Berto.
Bertogg Romansh
Variant of Bertsch in combination with the diminutive suffix -ogg.
Bertoldo Italian
From the given name Bertoldo.
Bertoli Italian
Derived from the given name Bertolo, a variant of Bartolo, which is an Italian short form of Bartholomew.
Bertolucci Italian
From a diminutive of Bertoli.
Bertram German
Derived from the German given name Bertram.
Bertucci Italian
Derived from the given name Bertuccio.
Bérubé French
Habitational name from some minor place named with Old French bel ru "beautiful stream", with the subsequent pleonastic addition of bé, variant of bel "beautiful".
Berwald German, Swedish (Rare), Danish (Rare)
Originally derived from the given name Bernwald, composed of Old High German bern, bero "bear" and wald "ruler"... [more]
Besançon French
Habitational name for a person from the eponymous capital city of Doubs in France, ultimately from Latin Vesontiō, derived from Proto-Celtic *ves "mountain". Folk etymology states that it is associated with the place name with Old French bison "wisent".
Besemer German
Occupational name meaning "broom maker".
Beske German
Likely derived from Peschke and Peske, vernacular forms of the given name Petrus.
Bessel German
Of uncertain origin; possibly from the name of a place or river.
Besselman German
Derived from the German surname Bessel + suffix man "man".
Bessette French (Quebec), French (Acadian), French
Bessette appears to be a French Canadian surname of multiple origins.... [more]
Besson French, Provençal, Occitan
Southern French nickname from Occitan besson "twin" (from Latin bis) or from the various places (Le) Besson in southern France.
Beste French, English
Nickname from Middle English beste Old French beste "beast animal" (especially those used for food or work) applied either as a metonymic occupational name for someone who looked after beasts such as a herdsman or as a nickname for someone thought to resemble an animal... [more]
Bethencourt French, English, Portuguese (Rare)
Bettencourt and Bethencourt are originally place-names in Northern France. The place-name element -court (courtyard, courtyard of a farm, farm) is typical of the French provinces, where the Frankish settlements formed an important part of the local population... [more]
Betschla Romansh (Archaic)
Derived from the Germanic name element beraht "bright". The name was replaced by the Italianized form Bezzola in the 18th century.
Bettencourt French, English, Portuguese (Rare)
Bettencourt and Bethencourt are originally place-names in Northern France. The place-name element -court (courtyard, courtyard of a farm, farm) is typical of the French provinces, where the Frankish settlements formed an important part of the local population... [more]
Bettini Italian
Patronymic form of Bettino.
Bettino Italian
From the given name Bettino.
Betz German
Derived from a Thuringian short form of the personal name Bernhard.
Bever German
Nickname from bever ‘beaver’, possibly referring to a hard worker, or from some other fancied resemblance to the animal.
Bevier French (Germanized)
From Old French bevier, meaning "a measure of land". This was probably a nickname for someone who owned or worked such a piece of land. This surname was first found in Austria, where the name Bevier came from humble beginnings but gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging medieval society.
Bevilacqua Italian
From Italian bevi l'acqua "drinks water", a nickname likely applied ironically to an alcoholic.
Bey French, German, Frisian
North German and Frisian: from the Old Frisian personal name Beyo or Boy/Boye (see Boye).... [more]
Beyincé French, Louisiana Creole
Louisiana Creole form of Boyancé.... [more]
Bezzola Romansh
Italianization of Betschla.
Bhaer German
Likely a variant of German Baer, meaning "bear". A notable bearer is character Friedrich Bhaer, Jo's husband in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
Bhole German
1 North German: nickname for a male relative, colleague in a guild or fraternity, or lover, Middle Low German bōle.... [more]
Biancaniello Italian
Possibly derived from a combination of the given names Bianco ("white") and Aniello ("lamb"), or simply a derivative form of Bianco... [more]
Bianchini Italian
Means "little white one"
Biber German
Varient of Bieber.
Bickel German, German (Swiss), Jewish
German: from bickel ‘pickaxe’ or ‘chisel’, hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made pickaxes or worked with a pickaxe or for a stonemason. South German: from a pet form of Burkhart... [more]
Biebrich German
Town of Biebrich Germany
Biedermann German, Jewish
nickname for an honest man from a compound of Middle High German biderbe "honorable" and man "man". Jewish surname adopted because of its honorific meaning from German bieder "honest, upright" and mann "man".
Biehl German
From Middle Low German bil "hatchet", Middle High German biel; given to someone who made or used hatchets.
Bieler German, Jewish
Jewish (Ashkenazic): habitational name from any of the many places in eastern Europe whose name incorporates the Slavic element byel- ‘white’.... [more]
Bier German, Jewish
from Middle High German bier "beer" German bier Yiddish bir a metonymic occupational name for a brewer of beer or a tavern owner or in some cases perhaps a nickname for a beer drinker.
Bierbaum German
German: topographic name for someone who lived by a pear tree, Middle Low German berbom. Compare Birnbaum.
Bierbrauer German
occupational name for a brewer German bierbrauer. Derived from the elements bier "beer" and brauen "to brew".
Bieri German (Swiss)
Derived from a diminutive of the given name Pierre which was also commonly used in German-speaking Switzerland.
Bierkle German (Anglicized), Polish (Anglicized)
The surname Bierkle is most likely an anglicized form of the Polish Bierkowski, or the German Bierkandt.... [more]
Bierschbach German
German habitational name from a lost or unidentified place.
Biert Romansh
Derived from the given name Albert.
Biet Romansh
Derived from the given name Beatus.
Bigot French
Either from Old French bigot possibly meaning "beggar" or from the Norman interjection bî got ("by God"), used as a pejorative nickname for the Normans... [more]
Bilancio Italian
Means "balance" in Italian, in the sense of "balance sheet, budget" or "assessment, result, outcome". Possibly a nickname for a clerk or accountant, or perhaps for someone financially frugal.
Bilderback German (Modern, Archaic)
German: habitational name from any of the three places in northern Germany named Billderbeck, formerly Bilderbeck.... [more]
Billard English, German, French
From a short form of the personal name Robillard, a derivative of Robert.... [more]
Billeaud French
From a personal name composed of the Germanic elements bil "sword" (or possibly bili "gentle") + wald "ruler".
Billig German
Habitational name from a place named Billig, near Cologne. Nickname from Middle High German billich ‘proper’, ‘appropriate’.
Bilotti Italian
Variant of Bilotta and Bellotti, from a diminutive of Belli or Bello.
Bimbo Italian
From Italian meaning "baby, child".
Binderman German
From an occupation, a variant of Binder.
Bindschädler German (Swiss)
Derived from German binden "to bind" and Swiss German schädlen "to make wood vessels", this is an occupational surname referring to a cooper, a barrel maker.
Binetti Italian
Comes from a diminutive of Bino. Italianized form of French 'Binet'. Habitational name from a place called Binetto (named with Latin vinetum ‘vineyard’) in Bari province.
Bingel German
A topographic name derived from a diminutive of Middle High German binge, which means "depression", "ditch", or "pit". May also be derived from pingel, which is a Westphalian nickname for a pedantic person.
Bingemann German (Rare)
Possibly a habitational name for someone from a place named Bingen or Bingum. May also be from a topographic name derived from the German word Binge, which means "trench", and may also refer to a kettle-shaped depression or a collapsed shaft in a mine (see Bingel).
Bini Italian
Comes from the given name Albino and other names ending with -bino ending.
Binotti Italian
From Latin albus, "white", derivative of Albino.
Binotto Italian
Possible diminutive of Bini or Bino. Possible variant of German Binoth
Biocca Italian
Not available.
Biondolillo Italian
Probably from Sicilian biunnuliddu "little fair one", a nickname for someone with blonde hair. Compare Biondi.
Birch English, German, Danish, Swedish (Rare)
From Middle High German birche, Old English birce, Old Danish birk, all meaning "birch". This was likely a topographic name for someone living by a birch tree or a birch forest... [more]
Bircher German (Swiss)
South German and Swiss German topographic name for someone who lived by a birch tree or in a birch wood, from Middle High German birche "birch" + the suffix -er denoting an inhabitant.
Birchler German (Swiss)
A Swiss German variant of Bircher.
Birindelli Italian
Of uncertain etymology, originating in Tuscany, Italy. Possibly related to the word brindelli "rags, tatters, shreds", indicating a person who wore old, ragged clothes, or who looked worn-out in some way.
Birk German
Either a variant of Buerk or a habitational name derived from places named Birk, Birke, or Birken.
Birnbaum German
Topographic name for someone who lived by a pear tree, from Middle High German bir "pear" and boum "tree".
Birne English, German, Jewish
Means "pear" in German, making it the German equivalent of Perry 1, perhaps originally referring to a person who harvested or sold pears... [more]
Birnfeld German (Portuguese-style, Rare, Expatriate)
Meaning “pear field” from the German words “birne”, meaning pear, and the word “feld”, meaning field.
Bischoff German
Means “bishop” in German.
Bischoffshausen German
Derived from the place name Bischoffshausen.
Biscotti Italian
An occupational surname for someone who sells or bakes biscotti.
Bismarck German
Noble family from the Altmark Region.
Bistolfo Italian
Bistolfi has a lineage between Alessandria Casale Monferrato, Acqui Terme and Prasco, Genoa and Savona. Bistolfo may derive from a modified form of the medieval name Guisulfus. In an act of 1327 Gui-sulfus Cottalorda (Mayor of Breil) signed an important peace agreement with Tenda, probably passing by the name Wisulfus, and therefore by common substitution of W with B.
Bitencourt Brazilian, Portuguese (Brazilian), French (Rare), English
BITENCOURT, derives from Bittencourt, Bettencourt and Bethencourt; They are originally place-names in Northern France. The place-name element -court (courtyard, courtyard of a farm, farm) is typical of the French provinces, where the Frankish settlements formed an important part of the local population... [more]
Bittenbinder German
Occupational name for a cooper, from Middle High German büte(n) "cask", "(wine) barrel" + binder "binder" (agent derivative of binden "to bind").
Bitterman English, German
Name given to a person who was bitter.
Bixio Italian
From an older form of Ligurian bixo "grey", a nickname for someone with grey hair.
Bizet French
Derived from the name “Byset or Bisset”
Bizzarri Italian
From Italian bizzarro, "odd, eccentric, strange".
Blacher French
Mainly used in Southern France. Topographic name for someone who lived by an oak grove, originating in the southeastern French dialect word blache ‘oak plantation’ (said to be of Gaulish origin), originally a plantation of young trees of any kind.
Blakesmith German (Anglicized)
Derived from the German, Blechschmidt, it means "tin smith", and/or, blacksmith.
Blank German, Dutch, Jewish
Means "white, pale, bright", a nickname for a person with white or fair hair or a pale complexion. As a Jewish name, it’s ornamental.
Blanke German, English, Dutch
Nickname for someone with a fair complexion. From Old High German blanc meaning "white".
Blankenbiller Dutch (Americanized), German (Americanized)
Possibly an Americanized form of Dutch Blankenbijl or German Blankenbühler.
Blankenbühler German
Possibly means "from the bare hill", from blanken "bare, bright" and bühl "hill".
Blankenstein German, Jewish
From German blanken meaning "bare" and stein meaning "stone".
Blase German
Derivative of Blasius.
Blasey French
The name may have been associated with a 4th century (316) French saint Blasius of Armenie (Armienes,) and later introduced into and adopted by Yorkshire people as their saint of wool-combers from a Norman noble.
Bläsi Romansh
Derived from the given name Blasius.
Blasio Italian
Italian form of Blaise.
Blasioli Italian
Ancient and illustrious Benevento family, called Blasi or Di Blasi, of clear and avita nobility.
Blasius German, French
From the Latin personal name Blasius. This was a Roman family name, originating as a byname for someone with some defect, either of speech or gait, from Latin blaesus "stammering, lisping", itself from Ancient Greek βλαισός (blaisos) "bent, crooked; bow-legged".
Blatt German, Jewish
Ornamental name derived from German blatt and Yiddish blat meaning "leaf", or a topographic name for someone who lived at a farm on a ledge on a mountainside, derived from Middle High German blate meaning "flat surface, ledge, plateau".
Blaum German
German last name, likely a variant of the last name Blom or Blum, referring to the word flower/blooming.
Blauman German, Jewish
From German Blau meaning "blue" and Mann meaning "man". It can be a nickname for a person who wears blue clothes.
Blaustein German, Jewish
Ornamental name from German blau "blue" and Stein "stone", i.e. lapis lazuli.
Blay French
From Old French bloi 'blond', or a habitational name from a placename, perhaps by metanalysis from Blois in Loir-et-Cher, France. Usually someone with the lastname 'Blay' is a gentle or merry person.
Bleau French
Roughly translated into " blue water".
Bleibaum German
"Lead tree" possibly changed at Ellis Island from Blumenbaum meaning "flowering tree"
Bleiberg Jewish, German
Means "lead hill" in German. Can be a toponymic name, likely from a place involved in lead mining, or an ornamental name.
Blesse English (British), Filipino, Indian, French
The last name Blesse was first discovered in Oxfordshire and held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. In the Philippines, Blesse means "a blessing in the family." In India, Blesse means "bless you."
Blessing German, English
Either a German patronymic from a variant of the personal name Blasius or a nickname for a bald person from Middle High German blas "bald bare"... [more]
Bleu French
"Blue."
Bleuler German (Swiss)
From an agent derivative of Middle High German bliuwen meaning "to pound". Hence an occupational name for the owner of a pounding mill.
Blind English, German, Dutch, Yiddish
A descriptive byname for a blind person.
Blindt German
German variant of Blind.
Blitstein German, Jewish
Stein is the German word for stone.
Blitz German
This surname is presumed to be coming from a nickname for a fast runner or a quick tempered person, from German blitz(er) meaning "lightning" (ultimately from Middle High German blicze.)
Blitzer German, Jewish
Variant of Blitz. from German blitzer "lightning" (Middle High German blicze) presumably a nickname for a fast mover.
Blitzstein German, Jewish
Blitz is the German word for lightening and stein is the German word for stone.
Bloch Jewish, German, French
Regional name for someone in Central Europe originating from Italy or France, from Polish "Włoch" meaning "Italian" (originally "stranger / of foreign stock"), ultimately derived – like many names and words in various European languages – from the Germanic Walhaz.
Blöcker German
Occupational name for a jailer.
Blond French
Nickname from Old French blund, blond meaning "blond, fair-haired", a word of ancient Germanic origin.
Blonde French
Variant of Blond.
Blondeau French
Diminutive of Blond.
Blondel French
From old French blondel a diminutive of blond "blond, fair" variant of Blond.
Blondin French
Diminutive of Blond, nickname for someone with fair hair.
Bluemel German
Diminutive of the Middle High German bluome meaning "flower." The name is believed to be an occupational name.
Bluestein German
The surname Bluestein is an Anglicized surname and translates as blue stone.
Bluhm German
German alternate spelling of the Italian surname, Blum meaning flower.
Blume German, English
Could be from the Jewish surname Blum of from Swedish Blom. It could also be from the English word bloom.
Blumenfeld German, Jewish
habitational name from any of several places called Blumenfeld or Blumenfelde, derived from the elements bluomo "bloom, flower" and feld "field"... [more]
Blumenkrantz German, Jewish
Means "flower-wreath" in German.
Blumenschein German
from Middle High German bluomenschin "flower splendor" from the elements bluomo "bloom" and sconi "beautiful" probably a topographic or habitational name referring to a house distinguished by a sign depicting a bunch of flowers or decorated with flower designs or noted for its flower garden.
Blumreisinger German (Anglicized)
Meaning "flower raiser". See also Blum.
Bluth German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): ornamental name from Middle High German bluot, German Blüte ‘bloom’, ‘flower head’. ... [more]
Bo Italian
Variant of Bove.
Bob French
From the given name Bob.
Bobeck Swedish, German, Jewish, Slavic
A respelling of the Swedish Bobäck, an ornamental name composed of the elements bo meaning "farm" and bäck meaning "stream".... [more]
Boccabella Italian
Means "beautiful mouth".
Boccadamo Italian
Meaning uncertain, first element probably comes from bocca "mouth".
Boccadifuoco Italian
Means "mouth of fire", a nickname for someone known for picking fights, or perhaps given to foundlings.
Boccafusca Italian
Possibly means "dark mouth", from bocco "mouth" and fosco "dark, gloomy", a nickname for someone who often spoke ill of others, or perhaps given to foundlings.
Boccaletti Italian
Possibly related to boccale, a kind of jug often used for wine. An occupational name for an innkeeper.
Boccalupo Italian
Possibly from an Italian saying, in bocca al lupo, literally "in the mouth of the wolf", a way of wishing good luck.
Boccanera Italian
Means "black mouth".
Boccarossa Italian
Means "red mouth".
Boccasavia Italian
Means "sensible mouth", given to someone known for being wise, or giving good advice.
Bocchinfuso Italian
Possibly derived from a diminutive form of Italian bocca "mouth" combined with fuso "melted", from Latin fusus "poured (out)", perhaps a nickname for a talkative or gossipy person.
Bocchino Italian
Means "small mouth" in Italian, either referring to a physical attribute of the bearer, or given as a nickname to a talkative person or someone prone to gossiping.
Bock German, Upper German, Jewish, English
Altered spelling of German Böck (see Boeck) or Bach 1.... [more]
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