Swiss surnames or last names reveal information about a person’s job, the land they live on, and their standing in society.
Switzerland, known for its chocolates, cheese, lakes, and skiing resorts, has a variety of interesting surnames. Many Swiss surnames or last names come from the jobs people did. Some surnames show where someone lived or their social status. Some Swiss surnames or last names are just shortened versions of first names. These surnames have roots in Middle High German, Swiss-German, and Old German languages. Here is a list of common Swiss surnames with their meanings and origins.
Famous Swiss Surnames or Last Names With Meanings
1. Ammann
A Swiss German last name, Ammann comes from the Middle High German name ‘ambet man,’ which means a ‘retinue man’ or retainer.
2. Andros
It is a popular Swiss German last name that is a different version of the name ‘Andreas,’ which has its origins in the Greek name ‘Andreios,’ signifying manly or masculine.
3. Brunner
This Swiss surname comes from the German word ‘brunnen’ which means a fountain or spring. Brunner could have been a name for people who lived near a well, spring, or fountain.’
4. Baumann
The Swiss surname Baumann originates from the word ‘bumann’ in Middle High German, which means a farmer. This surname has its roots in early medieval Germany and might have been used to indicate the status of being a peasant.
5. Baumgartner
The Swiss surname Baumgartner comes from the word ‘boumgarte’ in Middle High German, which means ‘orchard.’
6. Bachmann
The Swiss surname Bachmann comes from two Middle High German words, ‘bach’ meaning ‘stream’ and ‘man’ meaning ‘man.’ This surname likely originated from someone who lived near a spring or a brook.
7. Buhler
The Swiss surname Buhler originated from an Old German word that means hill. Buhler is therefore likely to refer to people who lived on or near a hill.
8. Bucher
The Swiss surname Bucher comes from the Middle High German word ‘buoche’ which means ‘beech tree’ and the suffix ‘-er’ which shows someone who lives there. So, the surname originally comes from people who lived near a beech tree or beech tree forest.
9. Berge
The Swiss surname comes from the German word ‘berg,’ which means a mountain. It comes from a place name, describing people who live in hilly or mountainous areas.
10. Bieri
This Swiss last name comes from the first name Pierre, which is the French version of Peter. The name Peter comes from the Greek word ‘Petros,’ which means ‘stone.’
11. Burri
The Swiss surname Burri started as a nickname based on the name ‘Burkhart,’ which comes from the German words ‘burg,’ meaning fortress or castle, and ‘hart,’ meaning strong or courageous.
12. Blaser
The Swiss surname comes from a Middle High German name, ‘blasaere,’ meaning ‘blower.’ This last name probably originated from an occupation and would have been used for a musician who played wind instruments.
13. Brucker
This Swiss surname comes from the German word ‘Brucke’ meaning bridge. It could refer to someone who lived near a bridge or someone who worked as a bridge-keeper.
14. Christen
The Swiss surname Christen comes from the Latin word ‘Christianus’, which means ‘a Christian’ or someone who follows Christ.
15. Egger
The Swiss surname Egger comes from the German word ‘eggen’ which means harrowing or plowing. It is possible that Egger was a name given to someone who worked as a farmer or a peasant.
16. Elmer
This Swiss surname is a name based on a place, indicating that the person was from the village of Elmer in Glarus, Switzerland.
17. Fischer
The Swiss surname comes from the German word for ‘fisher’ or ‘fisherman.’ This means that the name is based on the person’s job as a fisherman.
18. Frei
The Swiss surname Frei is the German name for ‘free’ or ‘liberal.’ It might have started as a name used to show someone was free or liberated in a feudal system.
19. Fricker
This Swiss surname comes from the region in Switzerland called the Frick valley, and it is used to refer to someone who is from there.
20. Fuchs
The Swiss surname Fuchs comes from the Old High German name ‘fuhs’ which means a fox. It could have been given to someone clever or sneaky as a nickname. The last name might have also been used as a way to refer to someone with red hair.
21. Furrer
Furrer is a Swiss last name that comes from the word ‘Furre,’ which means a split or gap in the ground in Swiss.
22. Fluckiger
This Swiss surname comes from Middle High German and means ‘to patch.’ This surname could have been given to people who were skilled at patching fabric or shoes.
23. Fankhauser
Originating from the German name ‘fang haus,’ which translates to ‘capture house,’ this name was given to an area where captured animals were kept during hunting. It’s possible that the name was also used to describe a person who lived near or took care of such a facility.
24. Favre
This Swiss surname originated from the Latin word meaning ‘smith’ or ‘craftsman.’ It was typically given to someone who came from a family of blacksmiths or craftsmen.
25. Gerber
This Swiss surname refers to people who worked in tanning leather.
26. Graf
In German, the name means ‘Earl’ or ‘Count’. It was used as a title for people from noble backgrounds. It could also have been a last name for those who worked for royal families.
27. Girtman
The last name Girtman comes from the German word ‘gurten,’ which means ‘to gird.’ This surname means that Girtman originally referred to someone who made straps and belts for a living.
28. Gasser
This surname comes from the German word ‘gasse,’ which means ‘street’ or ‘alley.’ Gasser originates from a person who lived in a small street or alley.
29. Gisler
This Swiss surname is a changed version of the name Geissler. The surname Gisler comes from the Middle High German word ‘geiz,’ which means ‘goat.’ Therefore, Gisler originally had an occupational meaning related to being a goatherd.
30. Haller
It is a different version of the Swiss surname Halter, which originated from the Middle High German name ‘halte,’ and it means ‘pasture.’ This last name is based on a person’s location who lived close to or on land with wide grassy fields.
31. Hofer
This Swiss surname Hofer comes from the Middle High German word ‘hof’, which means ‘manor farm’ or ‘farmstead’. This last name can refer to someone who lived on a farm or someone who worked as a manager on a farm.
32. Hofmann/Hoffman
The last name Hoffman/Hofmann originated from the Middle High German name ‘hofman,’ which means a person who oversees the farm or property of someone else, essentially a steward.
33. Hess
The Swiss surname Hess comes from the name of a place in Germany called Hesse, and was used to describe people from that region.
34. Hug
The Swiss surname ‘hug’ comes from the Old German language and originally meant ‘spirit’ or ‘someone who is brave and intelligent.’ It was probably also used as a person’s name.
35. Hunziker
The Swiss surname Hunziker comes from the name of places in Switzerland called Hunzikon and Huntziken, indicating someone from those areas.
36. Hauser
The origin of this Swiss surname comes from the Middle High German word ‘hus,’ which means ‘house,’ with the suffix ‘er.’ This last name would have been given to someone who offered shelter or protection to others, possibly someone who ran a lodge or inn.
37. Hartmann
The Swiss surname Hartmann comes from two Middle High German words – ‘hart’ which means ‘brave’ or ‘hardy’, and ‘man’ which means ‘man’. In other words, Hartmann means brave man and would have been used to describe a warrior or a brave person.
38. Hedinger
This Swiss surname comes from a place called Hedingen in Zurich, Switzerland. This is where the person originally belonged to.
39. Imhof/Imhoff
The origin of the Swiss surname is from Middle Low German and it means ‘at the manor farm.’ This last name is based on people who worked at manor farms or a a farmstead.
40. Jaggi
The Swiss surname Jaggi comes from the German word ‘jagen,’ which means ‘to hunt.’ This last name could have started as a way to identify someone who worked as a huntsman or a hunter.
41. Keller
The German name for ‘cellar’ is used to describe an occupation where someone is in charge of a food cellar or responsible for the cells of prisoners.
42. Kaufmann
Kaufmann is a German name that refers to someone who trades or sells goods. The name indicates what type of job or profession someone has.
43. Kuntz
The Swiss surname Kuntz comes from the name ‘Konrad,’ which means ‘bold advisor’ in Old High German. This last name was given to people who worked as advisors or counselors.
44. Koch
The surname ‘Koch’ in German is used to refer to a male cook. It comes from an occupational background and specifically means a cook.
45. Kohler
This Swiss surname comes from the Middle High German word ‘kol,’ which means ‘charcoal.’ The surname Kohler comes from someone who either burns or sells charcoal, based on their occupation.
46. Kensinger
This Swiss last name, Swiss German, comes from the name of a place called Kenzingen in Germany.
47. Krieger
This Swiss surname comes from Middle High German and originally meant ‘common soldier.’ It was likely used to describe individuals who worked as mercenaries.
48. Kuhn
It’s a German name that translates to ‘brave,’ ‘strong,’ ‘courageous,’ or ‘bold.’ This last name was probably given as a name to individuals who displayed such characteristics.
49. Klauser
A shorter version of the name Nicholas, which originates from the Greek name Nikolaos, and means ‘people who achieve victory.
50. Klausner
The surnmae Klosenaere comes from Middle High German and means ‘hermit’. This last name was used to describe a person who lived alone in a secluded area.
51. Luthi
The Swiss German surname comes from the words ‘luti’ or ‘leute,’ which mean ‘people’ in German. This last name was likely used as a nickname or personal name before becoming a surname.
52. Lehmann
The surname Lehmann comes from the Middle High German word ‘lehenman,’ which means vassal – a feudal tenant given land by a landlord in exchange for payment. Therefore, Lehmann could be a name indicating someone of that status in the feudal system.
53. Leuenberger
The surname comes from a specific location, Lowenberg, in Germany. It may also refer to people from various small places called Leuenberg in Germany and Switzerland.
54. Langel
This last name comes from the German word ‘lang,’ which means long or tall. This name would have been given to someone who was tall as a nickname.
55. Liechti
This last name originates from the Swiss German name ‘liechti’ which refers to an open area in a forest. The name Liechti comes from the topography and describes someone living in a clearing.’
56. Muller
The last name ‘muller’ comes from Middle High German and means ‘miller.’ This name was used to describe people who worked as millers in the past.
57. Meier
The last name originated from the Middle High German name ‘meier’ which translates to ‘administrator’ or ‘mayor.’ As a result, the surname is related to a person’s occupation.
58. Meyer
This surname comes from the Middle High German name ‘meier’ which translates to mayor. This name was given to individuals who held the role of mayor or acted as a bailiff or steward.
59. Moser
This Swiss surname comes from the Middle High German word ‘mos,’ which means a peat bog. This last name likely indicated someone who lived near a peat bog.
60. Marti
The surname Marti comes from a short form of the name Martin. Martin is derived from the ancient Roman name Martinus, which was used to describe someone who worshipped the Roman God Mars.
61. Maurer
This Swiss surname refers to a person who is skilled in building walls. This last name is based on the person’s job.
62. Michel
It is a different version of the last name Michael, which has its roots in the Hebrew name ‘Mikhael,’ signifying ‘like God.’
63. Mylin
A Swiss German last name that comes from the town of Meilin in Zurich, Switzerland.
64. Noser
The surname Noser comes from the name ‘Noss’ in Middle High German, which refers to ‘cattle.’ This means that Noser is a last name that shows someone works with raising cattle and other domestic animals.
65. Oberle
The surname Oberle comes from the Middle High German word ‘ober,’ which means ‘upper one.’ It probably originated as a way to describe someone who lives at the top or above a settlement.
66. Pfister
The surname ‘pfister’ comes from Middle High German and means ‘baker.’ Pfister is a last name based on someone’s occupation.
67. Peter
The Swiss surname Peter comes from the Greek word ‘Petros,’ which means ‘rock’ or ‘stone.’
68. Roth
The last name probably comes from the word ‘rot’ in Middle High German, which means ‘red.’ It could have been a nickname for someone with red hair.
69. Reif
This Swiss surname originates from the name ‘reif’ in Middle High German, which translates to ‘hoop’ or ‘ribbon.’ This last name was given to individuals who were ribbon-makers or coopers as an occupational surname.
70. Schmid
This surname is related to the name ‘Smith’ and is based on the occupation of a blacksmith.
71. Schneider
The surname Schneider comes from the German word ‘schneiden,’ which means ‘to cut.’ This surname typically refers to someone who is a tailor or a merchant selling clothes.
72. Steiner
The surname Steiner comes from the German word ‘stein,’ which means a rock or stone. It could mean someone who lived on a rock or worked in a quarry.’
73. Seiter
The last name ‘Suter’ comes from the word ‘suter’ in Middle High German, which means shoemaker. This surname suggests that the ancestors were cobblers.
74. Studer
This Swiss surname is believed to have originated from the German name ‘staude’, which refers to a shrub or plant. It is thought to be a name based on the location where people lived, such as a plantation, forest, or thicket.
75. Schweizer
It is a German name that refers to a person from Switzerland. The name probably originated in Germany and was later used by people in Switzerland too.
76. Stalder
The Swiss surname Stalder comes from the Middle High German word ‘stalde,’ which means a steep slope or path.
77. Sutter
The surname ‘Sutter’ originates from Middle High German and means ‘to sew.’ It is a name given to people who worked as tailors or shoemakers.
78. Sommer
This Swiss surname could have been used as a nickname for someone who is warm and friendly, or someone who has a connection to the summer season.
79. Schuler
In German the surname Schuler means a person who is a student. The name Schuler probably comes from someone who was training to become a priest or scholar.
80. Senn
The Swiss surname Senn comes from the word ‘senne’ in Middle High German, which refers to a farmhand or someone who works on a dairy farm. Therefore, Senn is a last name based on a person’s occupation.
81. Seiler
The Swiss surname Seiler comes from the German word ‘seil,’ which means rope. This means that Seiler originally referred to someone who made ropes for a living.
82. Schmidt
Schmidt is a popular last name in Switzerland that originated from the German word ‘smit’ which means a smith. This surname comes from a person who worked with metal or was a blacksmith.
83. Schwarz
The surname Schwarz comes from the German word for ‘black.’ It could have been used to describe someone with dark hair or skin originally.
84. Schaffhauser
Schaffhauser is a Swiss German last name that comes from the town of Schaffhausen in Switzerland, near the Rhine river.
85. Saxer
Saxer is a surname that comes from the region of Saxony in Germany.
86. Siegenthaler
The last name comes from people who are from the Siegen valley in Switzerland.
87. Scheidecker
The last name Scheideck is based on the name of places in Switzerland and Germany called Scheideck.
88. Staheli
This surname is a variation of the name Stahl which originated from the Middle High German name ‘stal’ that refers to ‘steel’ or ‘armor.’
89. Theiler
The surname ‘Theiler’ comes from the German word ‘teilen,’ which means ‘divide’ or ‘division.’ It originally referred to someone who was in charge of cutting cloth in a store.
90. Tanner
The last name ‘Tanner’ comes from someone who used to work with leather or was a leather merchant. It could also be a surname for someone from a town called Tann in Germany.
91. Vogel
This surname comes from the German word ‘vogel,’ which means bird. The last name might have been given as a nickname or as an occupation for someone who caught birds.
92. Vogt
The last name originates from the word ‘voget’ in Middle High German, which means a lawyer or bailiff. Therefore, the surname is based on someone’s occupation.
93. Weber
The surname Weber comes from the name ‘weber’ in Middle High German, which means ‘to weave.’ This suggests that Weber originally referred to someone who worked as a weaver.
94. Wenger
The last name Wenger is a name that comes from places called Weng or Wengen in Switzerland and Germany.
95. Wuethrich
The surname ‘wüetrich’ in Middle High German means ‘tyrant’ and could have been used as a nickname for a tyrannical person.
96. Wagner
The surname comes from the Middle High German word ‘wagener,’ which means a person who makes wagons. Therefore, the surname is based on the person’s occupation as a wagon-maker.
97. Zaugg
The last name Zaugg comes from an Old High German first name ‘Zougo.’ The name Zougo possibly comes from the Old High German word ‘ziehen,’ which means ‘to pull.’
98. Zurcher
Zurcher is a last name that indicates someone is from Zurich in Switzerland.
99. Zimmermann
The surname ‘Zimmerman’ comes from a combination of two Middle High German words, ‘zimber’ which means timber, and ‘mann’ meaning man. This last name was often given to people who were carpenters.
100. Zug
The surname Zug is used to indicate that someone is from the city of Zug in Switzerland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Switzerland is well-known for its stunning natural beauty. The people here have unique last names that offer a glimpse into the history of the region, including both modern Switzerland and Germany. Many of these Swiss surnames or last names stem from occupations, like Blaser, Egger, Fluckiger, Girtman, Jaggi, Kohler, and Pfister. Some surnames, like Elmer, Hess, Kensinger, Mylin, Wenger, and Zurcher, come from specific place names. Other names, such as Peter, Schneider, and Frei, have different meanings altogether.
