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.
Visconti ItalianDerived 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... [
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Vista ItalianProbably from a short form of a medieval personal name such as Bellavista, an omen or well-wishing name literally meaning ‘fine view’.
Vittone ItalianProbably an augmentative form of the given name
Vitto, which can be a variant of
Vito 1 (from Latin
vita "life"), derive from the Germanic name
Wido, or be a shortened form of names ending with
-vitto, such as
Salvitto or
Iacovitto.
Vivier FrenchDerived from Latin
vivarium, ultimately from Latin
vivus "alive". This name is locational relating to living near a fish pond.
Vogelmann Germanoccupational name for a birdcatcher from Middle High German Middle Low German
fogal "bird" and
mann "man".
Vogelsang GermanMeans "bird song" in German. From the German words vogel (bird) and sang (song).
Voglar German, Jewish (Ashkenazi), SloveneSome characteristic forenames: German Kurt, Otto, Gunther, Alfons, Erwin, Frieda, Gerhard, Volker, Wilfried, Wolf.... [
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Voisin FrenchFrom 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... [
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Volkmann GermanProbably 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... [
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Vollbrecht GermanFrom 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 GermanGerman 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 GermanThis 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).
Von Aachen GermanMeans "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 Esmarch GermanMeans "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 Langenbeck GermanMeans "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 RomanshDerived from German
von "of" and
Moos "moss". The name itself is a calque of Romansh
da Palü which was Germanized after the Reformation.
Von Sydow Swedish, Germanvon 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"... [
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Von Westphalen GermanDenoted a person from Westphalia, a region of northwestern Germany, borrowed from Medieval Latin
Westphalia, derived from Middle Low German
Westvâlen "west field".
Vorwald GermanTopographic name for someone who lived "in front of (Middle High German
vor) a forest (Middle High German
wald)".
Vosberg GermanMeans "foxhole" or "fox hill", from
vos "fox" and
berg "hill, mountain".
Vought GermanThe 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 FrenchDerived 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 ItalianSouthern variant of
Volo, likely after the place name Bolo from Sicily.
Wachs German, JewishOccupational name for someone who dealt with beeswax from Middle High German
wahs German
wachs "wax".
Wacker GermanFrom a nickname for a bold or energetic person, from Middle High German
wacker meaning ‘fresh’, ‘lively’, ‘brave’, or ‘valiant’.
Wagenmann GermanOccupational name from Middle High German wagenman ‘hauler’, ‘wagoner’.
Wager GermanAn occupational name for an official in charge of the city scales.
Wagmann GermanPossibly derived from Swabian
Wegman, meaning "herb".
Wahl German, JewishFrom 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.
Wald German, EnglishTopographic name for someone who lived in or near a forest (Old High German
wald, northern Middle English
wald).
Waldmann Germantopographic 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 GermanHabitational name from any of at least three places so called, derived from Old High German
wald "forest" and
dorf "village, settlement"... [
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Waldstein German, JewishHabitational surname for a person from a place in Bohemia called Waldstein, which is derived from Middle High German
walt "forest" +
stein "stone".
Wallee GermanOf French origin, denoting a person who lives in or is from a valley.
Walliser GermanDenoting somebody from Valais (German form Wallis), a canton in Switzerland, or someone who immigrated from Valais, ultimately from Latin
vallis "valley, vale".
Waltrip GermanDerived 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.
Wannemacher German, DutchOccupational 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"... [
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Warmbier GermanMetonymic occupational name for a brewer, derived from Middle Low German
warm meaning "warm" and
ber meaning "beer".
Warns German, DutchPatronymic 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 GermanGerman: from a short form of the personal name Wartold, from Old High German wart ‘guardian’.
Wäscher GermanOccupational surname for a washer, from Middle High German
waschen,
weschen "to wash".
Waterhouse GermanOld German and Dutch locational name meaning “a house by water.”
Watteau FrenchPossibly from French
gâteau “cake”, denoting a baker.
Wax German, Jewish, EnglishGerman 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... [
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Weghorst Dutch, GermanHabitational 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 GermanFrom Middle Low German
wede, "wood forest" combined with
man, "man"
Weide GermanEither a topographic name for someone who lived by a conspicuous willow or by a group of willow trees from Middle High German
wide "willow"... [
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Weil German, JewishSouth 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, JewishHabitational name from any of several places so named in southern Germany. Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of
Weil.
Weimar GermanHabitational name from any of several places called Weimar in Hesse and Thuringia.... [
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Wein German, Yiddish, HungarianMeans "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"... [
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Weinbrenner GermanOccupational name for a distiller of brandy, literally 'wine burner'.
Weingartner GermanDerived 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"... [
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Weinheimer GermanGerman: habitational name for someone from any of the places named Weinheim, for example in Baden and Hessen.
Weininger German (Swiss), JewishDenoted 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.
Weinland GermanTopographic 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, JewishGerman and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational name for a viticulturalist or wine merchant, Middle High German
winman, German
Weinmann.
Weinstock German, JewishEnglish variant of the German surname
Wenstock, an occupational name for a producer or seller of wine, from German
Weinstock "grapevine" (also compare
Wein).... [
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Weintraub German, Jewishfrom 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.
Weise GermanMeans "wise, prudent" in German. Notable bearers include Christian Weise (1642-1708), a German writer.
Weisenburger German, JewishHabitational name for someone from any of numerous places named Weissenburg "white fortress".
Weishuhn GermanDerived 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.
Weißmüller Germanfrom 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.
Weixel GermanGerman: 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 GermanName given to our family by our relative, a German king.
Welle GermanTopographic name for someone who lived by a spring or stream, Middle Low German welle.
Weller English, GermanEither 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."... [
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Welsch GermanFrom 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.
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).
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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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 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'.
Wiener GermanDerived from German
Wiener meaning "inhabitant of Vienna". The Austrian capital city is known as
Wien in German.
Wiens GermanPatronymic from a short form of an ancient Germanic compound personal name beginning with
wini "friend".
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.
Win GermanOne who acted as host in a tavern or inn.
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, JewishDerived from Middle High German
winkel "corner, angle", a topographic name for someone who lived on a corner of land in the country or a street corner in a town or city. This word also came to denote a corner shop (see
Winkelmann)... [
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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".
Winterfeld GermanA topographic name from Middle High German
winter "winter" and
feld "field" denoting a winter pasture or a field with an autumn sowing or a winter crop or a habitational name from any of various places so named for example near Salzwedel... [
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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.
Witte German, Dutch, EnglishCognate to and variant of
White, a nickname for someone with white or blonde hair or an unusually pale complexion