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.
Catapano ItalianMeans "catapan, governor of a catepanate", ultimately from Byzantine Greek
κατεπάνω (
katepánō) "(the one) placed at the top, or the topmost".
Cathomas RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Thomas.
Cathomen RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Thoman.
Catschegn RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and a short form of the given name
Vincentius.
Cauchon French, Norman, PicardMetonymic occupational name for a maker or seller of slippers, derived from French
chausson literally meaning "slipper".
Cava Italian, Catalan, Spanish, PortugueseFrom
cava ‘cave’, ‘cellar’ (from Latin
cavea), hence a metonymic occupational name for someone employed in the wine cellars of a great house, a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a cave, or a habitational name from any of numerous places named with this word.
Cavadenti ItalianFrom Italian
cava ("to extract, to pull out") and
denti ("teeth"), an occupational name for a dentist.
Cavagnaro ItalianMeans "basket-weaver" or perhaps "basket-carrier", derived from Italian
cavagna "basket" and the agentive suffix
-aro.
Cavalera ItalianA bearer of this name is Brazilian metal musician Max Cavalera, whose father was Italian.
Cavaliere ItalianFrom a nickname derived from Italian
cavaliere meaning "knight".
Cavallini ItalianThe surname comes from the words "cavallaro," which means a horse dealer; or from "cavalieri," meaning a horseman, rider or knight.
Cave Norman, French, EnglishA name of various possible origins. As a Norman French name Cave can mean "bald" from
cauf or it can mean "worker in a wine cellar" or "one who dwelt in or near a cave". As an English name Cave refers to a Yorkshire river whose fast current inspired the name meaning "swift".
Cavegn RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Vivengius, itself a variant of
Viventius.
Cavelti RomanshThe first element is derived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family". The second element is of debated origin and meaning; theories include an adoption of Swiss German
Welti.
Caviezel RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Viezel, a Romansh form of
Wetzel.
Cavigelli RomanshDerived from Romansh
casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name
Vigelli (see
Vigeli).
Cayenne French, English, TupiMost likely from the city of Cayenne, French Guiana or from the name of the pepper, also known as
Capsicum annuum which comes from the Tupi language, specifically the word
kyynha, which meant "capsicum" or "hot pepper".
Caylus FrenchOf debated origin and meaning; theories include a Southern French corruption of Latin
castellum "castle, fort, citadel, fortress, stronghold".
Ceddia ItalianUncertain etymology. Possibly related to Sicilian and Corsican
aceddu "bird", from Latin
aucellus "little bird".
Cembrola ItalianUncertain etymology. Possibly derived from Italian
cembro "stone pine, cembrum pine".
Cena ItalianDerived from Latin meaning "dinner, meal, supper". Possibly an occupational name for a cook or a waiter. In an alternative representation, it could be given to someone who's known for hosting or being involved in meals or dinners, or may have given this surname to an illegitimate child who was not welcomed at the dinner table.
Centofanti ItalianMeans "a hundred soldiers on foot" in Italian, derived from Italian
cento meaning "(a) hundred" and Italian
fanti, which is the plural form of
fante meaning "soldier, infantryman"... [
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Centore Italianfrom
cento ore "hundred gold pieces" hence probably a nickname for a wealthy person.
Cera Spanish, Italian, Catalan, SicilianMetonymic occupational name for a wax seller, derived from Latin
cera meaning "wax". A famous bearer of this surname is Canadian actor and musician Michael Cera (1988-).
Cerasuolo ItalianMeans "cherry red, cherry-coloured" in Italian, either a habitational name from either of two villages, or a nickname.
Cerise French, ItalianItalian habitational name from La Cerise or Torrent-La Cerise placenames in Valle d'Aosta from French
cerise "cherry"; and French occupational name from
cerise "cherry" (from Latin
cerasus) applied as a metonymic occupational name for someone who grew or sold cherries.
Cernivani ItalianProbably an Italianized form of the Slovenian surname
Černivan.
Cerva ItalianPossibly derived from Italian
cerva "doe, hind", the feminine form of
cervo "deer, stag", or perhaps from the Latin cognomen
Cervius, which likely also derives from Latin
cervus "deer, stag".
Cestaro ItalianFrom
cesta "basket" and the suffix
-aro, an occupational name for a basket maker.
Cetera ItalianPossibly derived from Italian
cetera (or
cetra) meaning "lyre, zither", perhaps as a nickname for a musician.
Cetrulo ItalianPossibly from Italian
citrullo "fool, simpleton", or alternately from Latin
citrullus "watermelon".
Chabert FrenchFrom
Charbert, an old baptism name of Germanic origin formed from two words that mean: concern and famous.
Chabot FrenchFrom chabot ‘bull-head’, a species of fish with a large head, hence a nickname for someone with a big head and a small body.
Chaisson French, EnglishVariant of the French surname
Chiasson originally denoting someone from the the municipality of Chiasso in Ticino, Switzerland, located along the Swiss/Italian border.... [
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Chalamet FrenchNickname for someone who played the reed or an occupational name for seller of torches, from a regional form of Old French
chalemel meaning "reed" or "blowtorch". A notable bearer is American actor Timothée Chalamet (1995-).
Challoner French, WelshDerived from a town in France of the same name. This family derive their origin from Macloy Crum, of the line of chiefs in Wales, who resided several years in Challoner.
Champion English, FrenchDerived from the Middle English and Old French words
campion,
champiun and
champion all meaning "athlete" such as a wrestler or boxer; also "warrior hired to do battle in single combat on behalf of others" (from Late Latin
campio genitive
campionis a derivative of campus "plain field of battle")... [
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Champlain FrenchName given to those who live in or around fields. Known barrer of the name is Samuel de Champlain who founded Quebec, Canada and after whom the lake is named.
Chapdelaine FrenchCompound name derived from Old French
chape meaning "hooded cloak, cape, hat" and
de laine meaning "of wool", probably applied as a metonymic occupational name for a maker of such apparel, or as a nickname for someone who wore a distinctive cloak or hat.
Chapel FrenchOccupational name for a maker of cloaks or a nickname for a person who wore a distinctive cloak, from a diminutive of Old French
chape meaning "cape, cloak".
Chapelle FrenchTopographic name for someone who lived near a chapel from French
chapelle "chapel" or from several places in France and Belgium called (La) Chapelle and variant of
Lachapelle,
Capelle, and
Chappelle.
Chapin French, SpanishFrom a reduced form of French
eschapin or Spanish
chapín, a term for a light (woman's) shoe; perhaps a nickname for someone who habitually wore this type of footwear or possibly a metonymic occupational name for a shoemaker.
Char FrenchName for someone who works as a carter, from French
char "cart, carriage".
Chariot FrenchMeans "cart" in French. Perhaps an occupational name for a cartwright or a carter.
Charisse FrenchOf unknown meaning. It was used as a given name in honour of American actress and dancer Cyd Charisse (1921-2008).
Charlier French, WalloonOccupational name for a cartwright wheelwright from Old French
charrelier a derivative of
charrel "cart" a diminutive of
char "cart carriage".
Charmant FrenchDerived from French meaning "charming, attractive". It could have been given to an ancestor who was known for their charming or pleasant demeanor, or to someone who was known for their good looks or attractive features... [
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Charrette FrenchDerived from Old French
char(r)ete "small cart", itself a diminutive of
char "cart carriage".
Chartier FrenchAn occupational name for a carter from an agent derivative of Old French charette "cart".
Chase FrenchTopographic name for someone who lived in or by a house, probably the occupier of the most distinguished house in the village, from a southern derivative of Latin
casa "hut, cottage, cabin".
Chastang FrenchDerived from Olde French
castanh meaning "chestnut". Possibly a location or occupation name.
Chaumont FrenchHabitational name from any of numerous places called
Chaumont "bald mountain" from the elements
chals caux "bald" and
mont "mountain" (ultimately from Latin
calvus mons) for example in Cher Orne Jura Haute-Savoie.
Chauray FrenchHabitational name from Chauray a place in Deux-Sèvres, France.
Chell FrenchProbably a respelling of the French habitational name
Challe, from any of the various places so named from Late Latin cala ‘rock shelter’.
Chêne Frenchfrom Old French
chesne "oak" (from Late Latin
caxinus), hence a topographic name denoting someone who lived near a conspicuous oak tree or in an oak wood, or a habitational name from (Le) Chêne, the name of several places in various parts of France... [
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Chene FrenchMeans "oak" in French. Perhaps it's named for someone who lived by an oak tree.
Chénier FrenchFrench surname which indicated one who lived in an oak wood or near a conspicuous oak tree, derived from Old French
chesne "oak" (Late Latin
caxinus). In some cases it may be from a Louisiana dialectical term referring to "an area of shrub oak growing in sandy soil" (i.e., "beach ridge, usually composed of sand-sized material resting on clay or mud... [
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Chery FrenchThe name Chery is derived from the Anglo Norman French word, cherise, which means cherry, and was probably used to indicate a landmark, such as a cherry tree, which distinguished the location bearing the name.
Chessa ItalianProbably from Sardinian
chersa "lentisk", a kind of tree.
Chevron FrenchFrom French
chèvre meaning "goat", indicating a person who cultivated goats.
Chiapello ItalianPossibly connected to
chiappare "to catch, to trap", a nickname for a hunter. Alternately, may be an elaborate form of
Chiappa.
Chiappa ItalianPossibly
chiappa "stone", indicating someone who lived in a stony area.
Chiappetta ItalianA nickname derived from
chiappa, meaning "buttock, butt cheek". Alternately, may be a diminutive of
Chiappa.
Chiaramonte ItalianItalianized from of the French surname
Clermont, using Italian
chiaro "bright, clear" and
monte "mountain". It was brought to Sicily from Picardy, France, by a branch of the House of Clermont in the 11th century, and several locations were subsequently named after them... [
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Chiarenza ItalianFrom Clarence, a medieval Frankish town in Greece, called Chiarenza or Clarenza in Italian, rendered Γλαρέντζα (Glarentza) in contemporary Greek documents.
Chiasson French, EnglishFrench surname originally denoting someone from the the municipality of Chiasso in Ticino, Switzerland, located along the Swiss/Italian border.... [
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Chiere French (Rare)Possibly derived from the Old French
chiere, from
chier, meaning "dear, dearest".
Chiesa ItalianMeans "church" in Italian, originally a topographic name for someone who lived near a church, a habitational name from any of various places named Chiesa or perhaps an occupational name for someone who worked in a church.
Chiodi ItalianFrom Italian
chiodo "nail", probably given to someone who made or sold nails.
Chirico ItalianVariant of
Ciriaco, ultimately from the Ancient Greek given name
Kyriakos. Alternatively, could be from Italian
chierico "cleric, acolyte; learned man, clerk", from Ancient Greek κληρικός
(klerikos) "of the clergy" via Latin
clericus.
Chopin FrenchFrench and English: nickname for a heavy drinker, from Old French chopine, a large liquid measure (from Middle Low German schopen "ladle"). The derived Old French verb chopiner has the sense 'to tipple’, ‘to drink to excess’... [
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Choquette FrenchAltered spelling of French Choquet, a Picard form of Old French soquet, which was the term for a tax on wines and foodstuffs, hence a metonymic occupational name for a collector of such taxes.
Chrysanthe FrenchFrom the Greek
Χρύσανθος (
Chrysanthos), meaning "golden flower". This surname was first given to children found on October 25, the feast day of Saint
Chrysanthos.
Chrysler German, JewishFrom a German name referring to spinning or related to a Yiddish word,
krayzl meaning "spinning top." The name can refer to a potter who spun a wheel to make utensils or to a person with curly hair or someone known for being continually active... [
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Ciambra ItalianA habitational name from a place containing the Sicilian element
ciambra "room, chamber".
Cianci ItalianThe surname Cianci is a name for a person of small financial means. The surname Cianfari is derived from the Italian words cianfrone and cianferone, which referred to a type of medieval coin.
Ciaramitaro ItalianFrom Sicilian
ciaramidaru "roof tile maker, potter", ultimately from Ancient Greek
κέραμος (
keramos) "potter's clay, pottery, tile".
Ciavarella ItalianFrom Sicilian
ciavaredda "goat kid", an occupational name for a goatherd, or perhaps a nickname based on the bearer's appearance or behaviour.
Ciavatta ItalianFrom
ciabatta "slippers", a nickname for a cobbler, or someone known for dressing casually.
Cicero ItalianFrom Sicilian
cìciru "chickpea", an occupational name for someone who grew or sold chickpeas, or perhaps a nickname for someone with notable pimples or skin sores.
Ciechi ItalianMeans "blind (people)" in Italian, from Latin
caecus "devoid of light, blind; invisible; aimless".
Cifrino Italian (Rare)Possibly from an inflection of Italian
cifrare, meaning "to monogram, to abbreviate (a name) to initials; to encode, to cypher", or perhaps a derived term meaning "little nothing". Ultimately from Arabic صِفْر
(ṣifr) "empty, zero".
Cima ItalianMeans "mountain top, peak, summit" in Italian. Alternatively, it could derive from the medieval given name
Cima.
Cimarosa ItalianPossibly derived from Italian
cima "top, peak, summit" combined with either
rossa "red" or
rosa "rose (flower); pink (colour)". If the former, it may be a habitational name derived from
Cima Rossa, a mountain in the Alps... [
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Ciminera Italianfrom a dialect variant of
ciminiera "chimney" hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who built chimneys or worked a furnace oven or kiln with a chimney or a nickname for a tall thin person.
Cimino ItalianPossibly derived from Italian
cimino or Sicilian
ciminu "cumin" as a metonymic occupational name for a spice merchant. Alternatively, it could be a diminutive of a shortened form of names such as
Decimius or
Ecimius.
Cinardo ItalianDerived from the Germanic name
Chenardus or
Chinardus, or perhaps a variant of the Catalan surname
Ginard.
Cipolla ItalianMeans "onion" in Italian, given to someone who farmed onions, or perhaps a nickname for someone who resembled an onion in some way.