Browse Submitted Surnames

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This is a list of submitted surnames in which the usage is Swiss; and the pattern is *r.
usage
pattern
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Demar French, English
Combination of the French word de, meaning "from" and the Old French word maresc, meaning "marsh".
Denier French, French (Swiss), English, English (British, Rare)
from Old French denier (from Latin denarius) "penny" originally the name of a copper coin or penny later a term for money in general hence probably an occupational name for a moneyer or minter... [more]
Denninger German
Habitational name for someone from Denning in Bavaria. Denning is related to Middle Low German denne meaning "wooded vale".
Depeder Romansh
Derived from the preposition de "of" and the given name Peder.
Dernier French
Means Last in French
Dessler German, Yiddish
Meaning Unknown. Known primarily in pop culture as the surname of a certain Michelle in the Fox tv hit 24 and of a certain villain called Albert in Space Battleship Yamato.
Detweiler German (Swiss)
From the name of a village in Switzerland or from one with a similar name (Dettweiler) in France.
Deutscher German
Means "German, person from Germany" in German.
Deutschlander English (American), German
Name given to a person from Germany.
Dexheimer German
From the German village Dexheim (south of Mainz).
Dickter German
From dichter, the German word for "poet".
Diefenbaker German
Anglicized form of Diefenbach.
Diener German
Means "butler" in German.
Dieringer German (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Thüringer, regional name for someone from Thuringia, This was also used as a medieval personal name. Americanized form of German Tieringer, habitational name for someone from Tieringen in Württemberg.
Dietmar German
From the given name Dietmar.
Dillinger German
Denoted a person from Dillingen, a district in the region of Swabia in Bavaria, Germany. This name was borne by the infamous John Dillinger (1903-1934), an American gangster and bank robber during the Great Depression.
Dimer German (Portuguese-style)
Brazilian adaptation of the German surname Diemer; altered for easier comprehension by the Portuguese-speaking population of Brazil.
Dinjer German (Rare)
Occupational surname that originated in the German dialect spoken in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. ... [more]
Dischinger German
Habitational name for someone from Dischingen near Neresheim or Oberdischingen near Ehingen in Württemberg.
Distler German
Topographic name for someone who lived in a place where thistles grew, from German Distel "thistle" (see Distel) and -er, suffix denoting an inhabitant.
Doepner German
Derived from Middle Low German top and dop "pot". This is an occupational surname originally given to a potter.
Doerflinger German
Habitational name for someone from any of several places in Bavaria named Dörfling.
Doerner German
Occupational name for a miller or mill worker.
Dörr German
Variant of Dürr.
Doster German, Belgian
A German surname, which is from an agent derivative of the Middle High German words 'doste' and 'toste' (meaning ‘wild thyme’, ‘shrub’, ‘bouquet’). It is a topographic surname which was given to someone whose land abutted an uncultivated piece of land, or possibly an occupational name for someone who dealt herbs.... [more]
Dötter German
From a Germanic personal name formed with theud ‘people’, ‘race’ + hard ‘hardy’, ‘strong’ or hari, heri ‘army’
Dozier French
Meaning "lives near willow trees" or possibly someone who made goods, such as baskets, from willow wood.
Drangmeister German
Occupational name for a healer or someone who made medicinal drinks, from Middle Low German drank "beverage, potion" and meistar "master" (from Latin magister).
Draxler German
Derived from the Middle High German "Drehseler," meaning "turner," and was most likely initially borne by a turner or lathe worker.
Drescher Yiddish, German
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a thresher, German Drescher, Yiddish dresher, agent derivatives of Middle High German dreschen, Yiddish dresh(e)n 'to thresh'.... [more]
Drollinger German
Ethnic or habitational name for someone from Tyrol.
Drucker German, Dutch, Jewish
Occupational name for an operator of a printing press, derived from German drucken "to print".
Duesler Upper German
Andrew & brother Jacob were the Progenitors of Duesler, Duessler, Dueßler from 1752 Germany to America. ... [more]
Dümmer German (Rare)
From the name of a lake in Germany.
Dummer German, English
From Middle High German tump "simple".
Dürer German, History
In the case of the German painter Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), this was a variant of the German surname Türer, a German translation of Hungarian Ajtósi, meaning "doormaker", to adapt to the local Nuremberg dialect... [more]
Durrenberger German
habitational name for someone from any of numerous places in Bavaria, Thuringia, Saxony, and Silesia named Dür(r)nberg or Dürrenberg
Dutcher German (Americanized), Dutch (Americanized)
Americanized form of German Deutscher or of Dutch Duyster.
Dwenger German
From an agent derivative of Middle Low German dwengen "to press or oppress" probably a nickname for a violent person.
Edler German
"Noble man." It comes from Edelman.
Egner German
From a Germanic personal name formed with the element agi ‘point (of a sword)’.
Ehler German
Variant of Ehlert.
Ehlinger German
Habitational name for someone from Ehlingen in the Palatinate.
Eichacker German
Topographic name meaning "oak field. from Middle High German eiche "oak" and acker "field".
Eichelberger German
Habitational name for someone from any of the various places called Eichelberg.
Eichler Upper German
South German variant of Eich, the -ler suffix denoting association. "eager"
Eiler German
1 North German: variant of Ehlert.... [more]
Eisenberger German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from any of the several places called Eisenberg. As a Jewish name it is also an ornamental name.
Eisenhauer German
Occupational name meaning "iron cutter" where Eisen- means "iron" and -hauer means "hewer". The verb 'hew' being less well used in English than in earlier times, but still understood to mean cut, such as in hewing tree limbs... [more]
Eisenmenger German
occupational name for an "iron dealer" from Middle High German isarn "iron" and mengære "dealer".
Eisner German, Jewish
Occupational name for an ironworker, smith, or ironmonger, from an agent derivative of Middle High German īsen and German Eisen, meaning ‘iron’ (see Eisen).
Eleanor French
Derives from the given name Eleanor. Not popular as a last name.
Ellender German
Respelling of German Elender, a nickname for a stranger or newcomer, from Middle High German ellende ‘strange’, ‘foreign’, or a habitational name for someone from any of twenty places named Elend, denoting a remote settlement, as for example in the Harz Mountains or in Carinthia, Austria.
Eller German
Habitational name from places in the North Rhine and Mosel areas
Ellermeyer German
It is a combination of the German words “Eller,” which means “alder,” and “Meyer,” which means “steward” or farmer”. So, it is thought to refer to someone who was either a steward or farmer who lived near an alder grove.
Elsener German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Elisabeth.
Elsinger German (Swiss)
Probably a derivative of Elsing.
Emmer German
A topographic name for someone who lived by land where grain was grown, a status name for someone who owned such land, or a metonymic occupational name for someone who grew or dealt in grain.
Engländer German, Jewish
German ethnic name from Engländer "Englishman" and Jewish artificial name distributed at random by Austrian clerks.
Englander German, Jewish
Ethnic name derived from German Engländer, meaning 'Englishman', thus denoting an incomer from England. In some cases, the Jewish name may be an ornamental adoption.
Engler German
South German: patronymic from Engel.
Eppler German
Occupational name for a fruit grower or dealer, from Middle High German epfeler meaning "grower of or dealer in apples".
Erber Jewish, German
Meaning uncertain. Either a habitational name for someone living in a place named Erb or Erp, a name for a owner of a farm named Erbhof (derived from MIddle High German erbære "honorable, noble"), or derived from the given name Erpo.
Erdenberger German
Originated in Germany.
Ermatinger German (Swiss)
The surname Ermatinger derives from the village of Ermatingen on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance. It simply means "from Ermatingen".... [more]
Ermendinger German
The surname Ermendinger was derived from the older surname Ermatinger, a name connected to the village of Ermatingen on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance, and came into existence at some point during the early 17th or late 16th century when a branch of the Ermatinger family relocated from Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to Mulhouse, Alsace... [more]
Ernsberger German (Anglicized, Modern)
Also spelled (Ehrnsberger) has been said that a Christian Ernsberger or Ehrnsberger came to the U.S. in 1710 from Germany but i dont know from where in Germany.
Escher German
Derived from German Esche meaning "ash (tree)", a habitational name for someone who lived near an ash tree, or came from a place named after it. This name was borne by the Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher, known for making works inspired by mathematics.
Esler German
German: byname or occupational name for someone who drove donkeys, from Middle High German esel ‘donkey’ + the agent suffix -er.
Ettlinger German
Deriving from Ettlingen, a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Euler German, Jewish
Occupational name for a potter, most common in the Rhineland and Hesse, from Middle High German ul(n)ære (an agent derivative of the dialect word ul, aul "pot", from Latin olla).
Faber German, Dutch, French, Danish
An occupational name for a blacksmith or ironworker, ultimately derived from Latin faber "artisan, creator, craftsman, smith".
Fahr German, German (Swiss)
A topographic name for someone who lived near a crossing point on a river, from Middle High German vare, meaning ferry.
Fassbender German
Occupational name for a maker of keg barrels.
Fassbinder German
Occupational name for a cooper, derived from German Fass "barrel, keg, cask" and Binder "girder, tie". Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945-1982) was a German filmmaker considered as one of the major figures and catalysts of the New German Cinema movement.
Favier French
Occupational name for a grower of beans or a bean merchant derived from Latin faba "bean".
Fechter German
Occupational name for a fencer or a duelist who fought for public entertainment, derived from Old High German fehtan or Middle Low German vechten, both meaning "to fight".
Fechtmeister German
Means "fencing master" in German, this is a nickname for a show fighter or organizer who are a begging and thieving journeyman at fairs in 17th century Germany, from German fechten "to fence" and meister "master".
Feder German, Jewish
metonymic occupational name for a trader in feathers or in quill pens from Middle High German vedere German feder "feather quill pen"... [more]
Feiler German
Occupational name for a filemaker, from Feil + the agent suffix -er.
Felber German
Middle High German residential name "velwer" meaning Willow Tree.
Felder German, Croatian
Derived from German feld, meaning "field".
Feller English, German, Jewish
Occupational name for a furrier, from an agent derivative of Middle English fell, Middle Low German, Middle High German vel, or German Fell or Yiddish fel "hide, pelt". See also Fell.
Feller German
Habitational name for someone from a place called Feld(e) or Feld(a) in Hesse.
Feltscher Romansh
Derived from Romansh feltscher "scythe-maker", ultimately from Latin falcarius "scythe-maker; sickle-maker".
Fenster German, Jewish
Occupational name for a window maker from Middle High German venster German fenster "window".
Fenstermaker German
Means 'one who makes windows' in German.
Feuchtwanger German
Denoted a person from the town of Feuchtwangen in Germany. The name of the town is probably from German feucht "wet, humid, dank" and possibly wangen "cheek".
Feuer German
Metonymic occupational name for a stoker in a smithy or public baths, or nickname for someone with red hair or a fiery temper, from Middle High German viur "fire".
Feuerbacher German
Habitational name for someone from any of the places called Feuerbach.
Feulner German
Franconian dialect form of Feilner (see Feiler), or derived from Feuln, a town near the district of Kulmbach, Bavaria, Germany. A notable bearer is the American academic Edwin Feulner (1941-).
Février French
Meaning, "February."
Fichter German
Topographic name for someone who lived near pine trees (originally bei den Fichten, Feichten, or Feuchten), from Old High German fiohta. The vowel of the first syllable underwent a variety of changes in different dialects.
Fichtner German
The Fichtner family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common
Fier German
German word for "four"
Fifer German, American, Slovene
Americanized and Slovenian spelling of German Pfeiffer.
Fightmaster German (Americanized)
Americanized form of Fechtmeister. Emmett Rogers Fightmaster (1992-), known professionally as E. R. Fightmaster, is an American non-binary actor, producer and writer.
Figuier French (Rare)
From French figuier meaning "fig tree" (ultimately from Latin ficus; a cognate of Figueroa), possibly indicating a person who lived near a fig tree or one who owned a plantation of fig trees.
Finger English, German, Jewish
Probably applied as a nickname for a man who had some peculiarity of the fingers, such as possessing a supernumerary one or having lost one or more of them through injury, or for someone who was small in stature or considered insignificant... [more]
Finsler German (Swiss)
Derived from the given name Alfons.
Finster German, Jewish
Nickname from German finster "dark, gloomy" or Yiddish fintster (Middle High German vinster). The name may have referred to a person's habitual character or it may have been acquired as a result of some now irrecoverable anecdote... [more]
Flaugher German (Anglicized)
Americanized spelling of German Flacher, itself a variant of Flach, or of Flaucher, a nickname derived from an agent derivative of Middle High German vluochen meaning "to swear".
Fleischhacker German, Jewish
Occupational name for a butcher from German fleisch "flesh meat", and an agent derivative of hacken "to chop or cut".
Fleischhauer German
Occupational name for a butcher from Middle High German fleisch or vleisch "flesh meat" and an agent derivative of Middle High German houwen "to cut". Variant of Fleischauer.
Flerchinger German
Flerchinger is a name with origins from the city of Flörschingen or Flörange in the Saarland region on the French and German border.
Floerchinger German
Habitational name for someone from Flörchingen in the Saar region.
Flückiger German (Swiss)
Origin and meaning unknown.
Folger German
From nickname volger, meaning "companion, supporter"
Follador Italian
Derived from Italian follatore "fuller, treader", an occupational name for someone who fulled cloth (see Fuller).
Forster English (Anglicized), German, Jewish, Slovak
English: occupational and topographic name for someone who lived or worked in a forest (see Forrest). ... [more]
Frankfurter German
Habitational name for someone from either Frankfurt am Main or Frankfurt an der Oder, both places in Germany, derived from German Franke "Franconian, Frank" and Furt "ford", literally meaning "ford of the Franks"... [more]
Frankhauser German
Denotes somebody from any of several places with the name Frankenhausen.
Freer French
Dutch spelling of Frere (brother); another variant spelling is Frear.
Freier German
Status name of the feudal system denoting a free man, as opposed to a bondsman, from an inflected form of Middle High German vri "free".
Freier German
Archaic occupational name, from Middle High German, Middle Low German vrier, vriger, denoting a man who had the ceremonial duty of asking guests to a wedding.
Freyer German
Variant of Freier.
Fricker German
Patronymic form of Frick.
Fricker German, German (Swiss)
Habitational name for someone from the Frick valley in Baden, Germany, or from Frick in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland.
Friseur German
From German meaning "barber, hairdresser".
Froehner German
Derived from Middle High German vröhner meaning "servant".
Fromager French
Occupational name for someone who makes or sells cheese.
Frutiger m German
Frutiger is a German surname that is a habitational name for someone from the place called Fruttigen.
Fuhrer German
Originally, an occupational name for a carrier or carter, a driver of horse-drawn vehicles.... [more]
Furrer German (Swiss)
Topographic name from the regional term furre ‘cleft in the ground’.
Furtwängler German
Denotes somebody from Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
Gabathuler Romansh
Derived from Romansh casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name Berchtold.
Gaber Jewish, German
In Jewish, from Haber, and in German from Gabrijel.
Gafafer Romansh
Derived from Romansh casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and Romansh faver "smith".
Gagner French (Rare), French (Anglicized)
Alternate or anglicized form of Gagné or Gagneur.
Galbier Romansh
Derived from Romansh casa "house" and, by extension, "household, family" and the given name Albert.
Gambier French
Derived from gambier, a Northern French variant of jambier, the masculine form of jambière "greave (a piece of armour that protects the leg, especially the shin, and occasionally the tops of the feet)"... [more]
Ganser German
From the Middle High German word ganser meaning "gander", occupational name for a geese shepherd.
Gasnier French
From Old French gaaigner meaning "to win, to earn" or "to till, to cultivate", possibly used as an occupational name for a farmer.
Gasser German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a goat herd from Middle High German geiz meaning "Goat" and (n)er an agent suffix.
Gaucher French
Means "left-handed" in French.
Gauger German
Middle High German gougern 'to wander around or stagger', presumably a nickname for someone with a peculiar gait.
Gayer German
Derived from Slavic gaj "grove", this name denoted a forest warden.
Geisberger German
Regional name for someone who lives in Geisburg, Geisa or near any mountain called Geisberg.
Geiser German, German (Swiss)
Occupational name for a goatherd, from a derivative of Middle High German geiz 'goat'.
Geisinger German
Denoted a person from the town of Geising in Germany, which in turn got it's name from the Geisingberg mountain. The Geisingberg most likely got it's name from the Germanic geut or the Early New High German geußen, both meaning "to pour", and the German word Berg meaning "mountain"... [more]
Geller Yiddish, German, Russian
The name may derive from the German word "gellen" (to yell) and mean "one who yells." It may derive from the Yiddish word "gel" (yellow) and mean the "yellow man" or from the Yiddish word "geler," an expression for a redheaded man... [more]
Gerner German
Habitational name for someone from one of five places in Bavaria called Gern.
Geyer German
Variant of Geier.
Gfeller German
Topographical name for someone who lived by a gorge, Middle High German gevelle, or a habitational name for someone from any of various places in Bavaria and Austria named from this word.
Gier German
Means "greed" in German.
Giesinger German
Denoted a person from the town of Giesing in Germany. Or perhaps a variant spelling of Geisinger. A famous bearer of this surname is the German singer-songwriter Max Giesinger.
Gindlesperger German
Possibly a topographic name for someone who lived on a mountain near the town of Gindels in Bavaria, Germany.
Glauser German (Swiss)
Patronymic form of Glaus.
Gober English, French
The surname Gober was first found in Warwickshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Norman influence of English history dominated after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed.
Goetzinger German
Originally denoted a person who came from an place called Götzing, Götzingen or Goetzingen.... [more]
Golder German
Meaning "gold worker, jeweller".
Goldner German
"Gold maker, gilder".
Goldschneider German
Means "gold cutter" in German, from the elements gold "gold" and snidan "to cut".
Goldwasser German
German form of the anglicised surname Goldwater.
Goldwater German (Anglicized), Jewish (Anglicized)
This name is an Anglicized form of the German or Ashkenazic ornamental surname 'Goldwasser', or 'Goldvasser'. The name derives from the German or Yiddish gold', gold, with 'wasser', water, and is one of the very many such compound ornamental names formed with 'gold', such as 'Goldbaum', golden tree, 'Goldbert', golden hill, 'Goldkind', golden child, 'Goldrosen', golden roses, and 'Goldstern', golden star.
Gonthier French
Derived from the given name Gonthier.
Goodbar German (Anglicized), English
Possibly an altered spelling of English Godber, derived from the medieval given name Godebert, or an occupational name for a beer brewer and a nickname for a toper... [more]
Goudier German
Germanic patronym from "godhari" meaning "army of God".
Grammer German, English
Variant of Krämer or a habitational name for someone possibly from German places called Gram or Grammen. It can also be an English occupational name for a scholar or an astrologer, derived from Old French gramaire meaning "grammarian, scholar, astrologer"... [more]
Granier French
French for a grain merchant (from Latin granarius), a topographic name for someone who lived by a granary (from Latin granarium) or a metonymic role name for someone who monitors or owned one.
Greenberger German, Jewish
Anglicized form of the German surname Grünberger, which is formed from the words grün "green", Berg "mountain", and the habitational suffix -er. This name indicated a person who lived on or near a forest-covered mountain.
Greiner Upper German, German (Swiss)
Nickname for a quarrelsome or cantankerous person, derived from Middle High German grīner meaning "squabbler, quarreler" (ultimately an agent derivative of grīn meaning "loud, cry, screaming, shouting")... [more]
Grenier French
Occupational name for a grain merchant (from Latin granarius), or a topographic name for someone who lived by a granary (from Latin granarium) or a metonymic occupational name for someone who supervised or owned one.
Gretzinger German
Habitational name for someone from any of three places named Grötzingen (Old High German Grezzingun) in Baden-Württemberg.
Grieser Upper German
topographic name for someone living on a sandy site, from Middle High German griez ‘sand’ + -er suffix denoting an inhabitant.
Griessler German
Topographic name for someone who lived or farmed in an area of sand.
Griner German (Anglicized), Jewish
Americanised form of German Greiner. It could also denote a person who came from various German places called Grüna or Grünau. In Jewish, it is a topographic name for someone who lived in a green of leafy area, derived from Yiddish grin meaning "green" or Middle High German gruene meaning "greenery".
Gubler German (Swiss)
Means "Of the Mountains"... [more]
Guenther German
German: from a Germanic personal name composed of gund ‘battle’ + hari, heri ‘army’.
Guerrier French, Haitian Creole
Nickname for an aggressive person or occupational name for a soldier, from Old French guerrier "warrior". Cognate of Guerrero and Guerriero.
Guggenberger German
A habitation surname originating from Guggenberg, Bavaria.
Gunzenhauser German, Jewish
Habitational name for someone from either of two places named Gunzenhausen, one in Württemberg and the other in Bavaria.
Gutjahr German, German (Swiss)
nickname for someone born on New Year's Day from a New Year's greeting meaning "Good year".
Hackler German
Occupational name for someone who used a small hoe in the field or a vineyard.
Hafer German, Jewish
Metonymic occupational name for a grower of or dealer in oats, from German Hafer "oats". Compare Haber. As a Jewish surname, it is in many cases ornamental.
Hägler German (Swiss), Jewish
Accented form of Hagler. Primarily used in Switzerland.
Hähner German
Pet form of Heinrich.
Hahner German
Occupational name for a poultry farmer, from an agent derivative of Middle High German hane "rooster".
Hahner German
Habitational name for someone from any of several places called Hahn or Hag.
Hamberger German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) habitational name for someone from any of various places named Hamberg. Jewish (Ashkenazic) variant of Hamburger.
Hamburger German, Jewish
German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) habitational name for someone from Hamburg.
Hamer English, German
From the town of Hamer in Lancashire from the old english word Hamor combining "Rock" and "Crag". It is also used in Germany and other places in Europe, possibly meaning a maker of Hammers.
Hammer German, English, Jewish
From Middle High German hamer, Yiddish hamer, a metonymic occupational name for a maker or user of hammers, for example in a forge, or nickname for a forceful person.
Häner German
Variant of Hanner.
Haner German
Altered spelling or variant of Hahner.
Hänner German
Pet form of Heinrich.
Hanner German
From a pet form of Hann, short form of Johann.
Har German
Variant of Har.
Hargier French
Known back to the 15th or 16th century in France.... [more]
Harlacher German
Habitational name for someone from Ober- or Unter-Harlachen, near Überlingen.
Harnar German
Given to one who was noisy
Haselbauer German
Translates to 'hazel farmer'
Hasslacher German
hass=hate; lacher=laughter... [more]
Hattler German
Occupational name for someone who raises goats.
Hauser German, Jewish
From Middle High German hus "house", German haus, + the suffix -er, denoting someone who gives shelter or protection.
Häuter German, Jewish
German cognate of Skinner, from German haut "skin, hide".
Haver English, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Jewish
Occupational name for someone who grows or sells oats.
Havner German
Variant of Hafner.
Hayner English (American), German
Possibly a variant of Heiner.
Heber German
Occupational name for a carrier (someone who loaded or transported goods), from an agent derivative of Middle High German heben "to lift".
Hecker German
German form of Hatcher.