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.
Wriedt German, DutchNickname from Middle Low German wrēt, wrede meaning "fierce", "evil", "angry".
Wulfhart GermanCould mean "brave wolf" from the German elements "wulf" (variant of "wolf") and "hard" (meaning "brave, hardy").
Wunderlich GermanA nickname for an eccentric or moody person, derived from the word
wunderlich meaning "whimsical" in German.
Wünsche GermanProbably denoted a person from Wendland, a region in Germany on the borders of the states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Alternatively, the name could have been derived from Wendling, a municipality in the Grieskirchen District, Upper Austria, Austria.
Würdemann GermanFrom the German "Würde"-honour or dignity, and "Mann"-man or person. "Man of Honour" or "Person of Dignity".
Wurdemann German (Rare)This is a German surname, also spelled WÜRDEMANN (original) and often rendered as WUERDEMANN in English. It come from the German "würde", "dignity" or "honor" and "mann", meaning "man" or "person".... [
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Wurnig GermanGerman origin from the place name am Virgen originally meaning a person from the town of Virgen in Tyrol. Construed as a family name in 1501.
Wurster GermanDerived from German
Wurst (Middle High German
wurst) "sausage" and thus either denoted a butcher who specialized in the production of sausages, or was used as a nickname for a plump person or someone who was particularly fond of sausages.
Württemberg GermanWürttemberg is an historical German territory. Together with Baden and Hohenzollern, two other historical territories, it now forms the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg.
Wurtz GermanA metonymic occupational name for a greengrocer or grower or seller of herbs, from Middle High German
würz, meaning ‘herb’.
Wuttke GermanOriginally denoted a person from
Wutike, a district near the town of Neuruppin in Brandenburg, Germany.
Xavier English, FrenchDerived from the Basque place name
Etxaberri meaning "the new house". This was the surname of the Jesuit priest Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552). He was a missionary to India, Japan, China, and other areas in East Asia, and he is the patron saint of the Orient and missionaries.
Xompero ItalianMeaning uncertain, possibly from Cimbrian
somerousch "pack horse", indicating the bearer's strength or occupation. Alternately, may mean "son of
Piero".
Yaeger GermanYaeger is a relatively uncommon American surname, most likely a transcription of the common German surname "Jaeger/Jäger" (hunter). The spelling was changed to become phonetic because standard English does not utilize the umlaut.
Yager GermanAmericanized form of JÄGER, meaning "hunter."
Yantorno ItalianDerived from the word
torno which in Italian means "around".
Zabel GermanThe surname has multiple meanings. It may come from a Slavic given name, or the High German word
zabel, meaning "board game" - given, perhaps, as a nickname to those who played many board games.
Zabka GermanFrom Polish
zaba meaning "frog", of Slavic origin.
Zachow GermanMeaning unknown. A notable bearer of this name is Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, a organist, musician, and composer who lived from 1663 to 1712. Zachow, Wisconsin is an unincorporated community named after a local landowner, William Zachow.
Zackert English, GermanAn Americanization of the German surnames Zacher and Zachert. It comes from a vernacular form of the personal name Zacharias.
Zager Germanhabitational name from ZAGER, a place near Wollin
Zago ItalianProbably from Venetian
zago "alter boy", or someone preparing to become a priest. Alternately, may derive from a toponym, such as Massanzago, Lorenzago, Cazzago, Vanzago, or Sozzago.
Zahn GermanZahn was a nickname given to a person with a peculiar tooth or a strange or defective set of teeth. It comes from the Middle High German
Zan(t), which means "tooth".
Zähne GermanThe German surname Zähne is derived from the Middle High German word "zan," which means "tooth." It is believed that the surname takes its origin from a nickname, most likely bestowed on the original bearer due to either a prominent tooth or a missing tooth.
Zahner GermanName given to people who lived in Zahna, near Wittenberg.
Zalas Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Galician, Portuguese, Aragonese, Asturian, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, BulgarianVariant of
Salas.
Zalla Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Galician, Portuguese, Aragonese, Asturian, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, BulgarianVariant of
Sala.
Zallas Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Occitan, Galician, Portuguese, Aragonese, Asturian, Romanian, Hungarian, Greek, BulgarianVariant of
Salas.
Zangara ItalianSouthern Italian: from a feminine form of Zangaro ( see Zangari ).
Zani ItalianComes from the personal name Z(u)an(n)i, a northeastern (Venetian) form of Gianni (from Giovanni, Italian equivalent of John). Zani or Zanni is a comic figure in the Commedia del’Arte, and the surname may be a nickname derived from this use, which is also the origin of the English word zany.
Zanini ItalianThe surname Zanini or Zanin was given to the descendants of Giovanni (John). It originates from the diminutive of the Venetian variant of Zani, being Zanino.
Zanni ItalianFrom the first name
Gianni, which derives from
Giovanni, which is the Italian version of
John, which means "the grace/mercy of the Lord." ... [
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Zaun GermanFrom a topographical name from Middle High German
zun "fence, hedge" the German cognitive to Anglo-Saxon
tun.
Zazzara ItalianAncient and very noble Lazio family, with residence in the city of Viterbo, known as Zazzara or Zazzera, of clear and ancestral virtue, which has spread over the centuries in various regions of Italy.
Zedda ItalianPossibly from Sardinian
zedda "cellar" or
cedda "herd of animals", indicating someone who was an innkeeper or shepherd.
Zehner German(chiefly Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, and Württemberg): occupational name for an official responsible for collecting, on behalf of the lord of the manor, tithes of agricultural produce owed as rent.... [
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Zehren German (Swiss)From a prepositional phrase from Middle High German ze hērren, an occupational name for someone was in service of a lord.
Zeimet German, LuxembourgishWestern German and Luxembourgeois: probably a variant spelling of Zeimert, a variant of Zeumer, an occupational name for a harness maker, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zoum ‘bridle’.
Zelle German, DutchTopographic name from Middle High German
zelle "(hermit's) cell" and habitational name from a place called Zelle.
Zeller German, Dutch, English, JewishOriginally denoted someone from Celle, Germany or someone living near a hermit's cell from German
zelle "cell". It is also occupational for someone employed at a
zelle, for example a small workshop.
Zenner Upper GermanSouth German: unflattering nickname for a surly, snarling person, from an agent derivative of Middle High German zannen 'to growl or howl' or 'to bare one's teeth'.
Zerbo ItalianProbably, comes from the Greek word "zerbos", meaning 'left-handed' and 'treacherous'
Ziani Italian (Rare, Archaic)Habitual surname denoting someone from Ziano, a locality in Italy. Unrelated to the Maghrebi surname of the same spelling.
Zickuhr GermanZickuhr is a German surname that means "zigzag." Although, some person believe that Zickuhr means "cuckoo clock."
Ziegenhagen GermanDerived from Middle High German
zige "goat" and
hag "enclosure, hedge, pasture". Could be an occupational name for someone who kept goats, or be derived from any of several places with the name.
Zielsdorf GermanHabitational name from an unidentified place, perhaps Ziersdorf in Lower Austria.
Zinger GermanThe surname Zinger was first found in Saxony, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. ... In Old German the name meant "lively" and "spritely," or more literally, "a biting, sharp taste."
Zinn GermanFrom the German for word for tin "tin." The name indicated someone who worked with the metal. A famous bearer is Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German botanist. Carl Linnaeus named the flower
Zinnia in his honor.
Zoch GermanDerived from Middle High German
zoche meaning "cudgel, club".
Zola ItalianItalian: habitational name from any of various minor places named with Zol(l)a, from a dialect term for a mound or bank of earth, as for example Zola Predosa (Bologna) or Zolla in Monrupino (Trieste)... [
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Zoldan Italianfrom the name place Zoldo. Zoldan indicates also the name of a little valley North from Venice.
Zopf GermanNickname for someone who wore his hair in a pigtail or plait, Middle High German zopf, zoph, or from a field name from same word in the sense ‘tail’, ‘end’, ‘narrow point’.
Zorn GermanFrom Middle High German
zorn "wrath, anger". A notable bearer was Swedish painter Anders Zorn (1860-1920) whose father was German.
Zuber German, German (Swiss)German: Metonymic occupational name for a cooper or tubmaker, from Middle High German
zuber ‘(two-handled) tub’, or a habitational name from a house distinguished by the sign of a tub. ... [
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Zucchino ItalianDerived from
zucchino meaning "zucchini, courgette" (
Cucurbita pepo). It is also related to those surnames derived from
zucca meaning "pumpkin" and to those derived from
zuccone meaning "dumb, stubborn".
Zuccoli ItalianDerived from the Italian word
zucca meaning "pumpkin", originally referred to someone who used to grow or trade pumpkins.
Zumpano ItalianComes from the town
Zumpano in the province Cosenza in Calabria, Italy. The meaning is unknown but it possibly comes from a Greek-Calabrese surname.
Zumwalt GermanGerman spelling Zum-Wald (to the forest) older german
Zürcher GermanHabitational name for someone from the Swiss city of Zurich.
Zurzolo ItalianThe last name of actor, Lorenzo Zurzolo, who is Niccolo in Baby and Theodore Nott in Harry Potter.
Zweinstra GermanZweinstra is a German, relatively unknown surname which is also sometimes used in Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein.
Zwilling German, JewishMeans "a twin", as in a twin brother or twin sister. Often given to those who were twins.
Zwingli SwissPossibly derived from a place name in Toggenburg, Switzerland. A notable bearer was Huldrych Zwingli (1484 – 1531), leader of the protestant reformation in Switzerland, who was born in Wildhaus, Toggenburg... [
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