The popular Swiss surnames can be traced to occupational origins. One among the bestroyal French last names,Du Bellay belongs to the French noble family who lived in the historic Anjou region in the 12thcentury. 53. Muller has an occupational origin and referred to those who worked as millers. 35. Avariant form of Jaubert, Joubert originates from the central west and centre south regions of France. 29. Citizenship was held by specific town. Sommer, This is one of the common last names which means "summer". Its root Mar means gleam. This comprehensive list of the most common French surnames to rich French last names is quite appealing and can help you trace back the lines of your family history. This topographic surname denotes a person who lives by a shrine. Currently most of the names uploaded are of Irish and British Origin - but we also have other nationalities. These last names are primarily occupational origins, such as Blaser, Egger, Fluckiger, Girtman, Jaggi, Kohler, or Pfister. 14. 86. 39. At first surnames applied only to one person, not to the whole family. The name is thus an occupational one. Schuler likely has an occupational origin representing an individual (scholar/student) undergoing training, like for becoming a priest. 28. Plus search our list of the most common last names in Switzerland. It may also have been a surname for those who served royal families. It is derived from blasaere, a Middle High German word which means blower. The name is likely of an occupational origin and would have referred to a musician who played a wind instrument. 21. A Swiss German toponymic surname for those who originally belonged to the town of Meilin in the Zurich region of Switzerland. 2. Derived from the Latin word Pascha, Pascal is a patronymic or a hereditary surname. Baum, This is one of the unique Swiss names which means a "tree". Berry: England and french jewish surname and the origins comes from Polish (eastern Ashkenazic) "Jagoda" is the Russian for "berry". 20. It is thus told by Jacques de Voragine, in his "Legenda Aurea:" There are nearly 2,300 Favres listed in Switzerland, 300 of whom live in the canton of Geneva. Your privacy is important to us. Abelli Italian From the given name Abele. In Yverdon, for example, the Portuguese surname Pinto is one of the most common, and in Vevey, the Albanian surname Krasniqi is widely used. B Ballouhey Bischoff Bregy (surname) Buchman Burkhalter E Eby Egli Egloff Eisenhower (surname) Erismann H Heidegger (surname) Horlacher Hunziker Huwyler I Isenhour K Krieger (surname) O Oeri P Piaget S 94. The most common Finnish surnames by far are: Virtanen, meaning "river" and derived from water or stream. 27. Meunier is an occupational name for miller. 96. Derived from Old Flemish word wacque, Wack is a measure of weight. Christen is derived from the Latin name Christianus, which means a Christian or a follower of Christ. 1. Others can be based on the particular occupation of an individual or can be geographical or descriptive in nature. creative tips and more. There are 1,278 Rochats in Switzerland and 73% of them live in Vaud, mainly high in the rocky surroundings of the Jura mountain range. You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. The name comes from the Old German word buehel, meaning a hill. The surname, thus, has a toponymic origin, indicative of people who dwell by a beech tree or beech tree forest. At time the usage can frequently change back and forth in the records. 8. Bagni, (Italian origin) It means a "bathhouse attendant". Auclair is a common French surname meaning clear. Vernier is a French last name meaning near the alder tree. Any information you provide to us via this website may be placed by us on servers located in countries outside the EU if you do not agree to such placement, do not provide the information. 68. Noser, This name means "cattle" in Switzerland. 24. Berg, Berger; Bergmann, Bergman. This occupational surname refers to a torchbearer. Pages in category "Swiss-language surnames" The following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total. In his quest to stand out he dropped his common birth name of Jeanneret-Gris in favour of Corbusier, a derivative of his mothers fathers name. It comes from the Middle High German word krieger that means common soldier. The name would have likely referred to those who worked as mercenaries. It is either a toponymic name referring to someone who lived near a bridge or an occupational name for someone who worked as a bridge-keeper. For example, it may suggest that your ancestors came from Poland. Bonhomme, (French origin) This last name means "a good man". Hubert is a pleasant French surname meaning heart. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. Derived from Anglo-Norman French, this occupational surname means barber. Understanding customs used in Swiss names can help you identify your ancestors in records. 91. Vogel, This is one of the ancient last names which means "a bird catcher". French last names are intriguing and stylish. Cloutier, (French origin) It refers to "someone who sold or made nails". Derived from the Old French word voler, Voland means to fly or agile. "Old French Records", at"BYU Script Tutorial", https://script.byu.edu/Pages/the-french-documents-pages/the-french-documents(english, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_name, https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Switzerland_Personal_Names&oldid=5053637. 25. Hofer, This given name was for someone who has worked on a farm. 76. This surname is a variation of beautiful, as it has the French word belle in it. Some French last names include the prefix de, meaning 'of' in English, which most people associated with the upper class.. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Some believe the name is derived from the old German word for bear(Bern). The FamilySearch moderator for Switzerland is Daniel Jones. Seiler derives from seil, the German word for rope. 47. Stalder thus has a toponymic origin representing an individual who resided on a steep slope. For more parenting tips and tricks, find us on Pinterest: Are you a writer, expert, or influencer? Meyer, (Swiss origin) means a farmer. A variant of Ayotte, this surname means small hedge or small woody plot of land in Old French. It comes from the German phrase fang haus meaning a capture house. The name referred to an enclosure used to keep animals captured during hunting. It means "a retailer". Her love for content creation made her pivot her career from science to writing. There are 3,006 Bern-based residents listed with this name. First-name trends may come and go, but last names are forever. It is a toponymic name for those who originally belonged to the valley of Siegen in Switzerland. The legendary denim brand, Levi's was created in the United States in 1853 through the will and imagination of Levi Strauss a Bavaria emigrant.Its flagship product: the jeans ! It comes from the Middle High German word voget meaning a lawyer or a bailiff. The meaning of this name is the one who follows. Occupation has been one of the most common sources of surnames in almost every culture. Garand. It is a toponymic name for someone who came from the city of Zug in Switzerland. It means Earl or Count in German. Maybe you've been told your ancestors came from Switzerland, but youre not really sure which part or what the name signifies. 15. One of the most interesting facts is that they need to be approved by the Swiss authorities, something that is documented in 'Switzerland, Swiss Watching', a book is written by Diccon Bewes which highlights some of the rules of naming children in Switzerland. For most people, citizenship was inherited, and residency was not a requirement. Abraham Jewish, English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch Derived from the given name Abraham. 84. There was a popular 4th-century saint named Martin of Tours, who was very popular with people who lived in Europe during the Middle ages. Janvier means January and means a person who was born or baptized in January. The most common family name incanton Neuchatelis Jeanneret, a name belonging to the famous modernist Swiss architect Corbusier, born in the town ofChaux-de-Fondsin the canton. Thus, Lehmann may be a status name representing a feudal tenant. Most Popular Swiss Last Names on FamilyEducation:Accola, von Arx, Schaffhauser. It indicates the geographical origin and is used for someone who lives near the stream. Remy is a medieval personal name that is represented by the Latin name Remihius meaning rower or oarsman and Remedius that means cure. Fluckiger, (Swiss origin)This Swiss last name means "to patch" and would have been given to someone working with textiles and mending fabrics or shoes. The beautiful people here have unique and varied surnames. Pronounced as Bow-four, the surname means fair fortress or beautiful. Originating from Picard of Northern France, this surname can be a habitual name for a person living in Picard. Take a look and enhance your knowledge.SaveIllustration: Momjunction Design Team. It is the German word for cellar. It was an occupational name for someone who looked after a food cellar or warden who looked after the cellar of prisoners. Abel 1 English, French, Danish, Spanish, Portuguese Derived from the given name Abel. Pronounced as Chaep-dih-lane, this French last name means cape or hood. Abelin. Surnames are listed in alphabetical order taking account of the prefix name (de, De, Di, van, von etc.). Researchers should remain alert to the use of these name variations. 4. Surnames may also have been translated outright into English, sometimes with a slight twist. Originating from the female name Osanna, Ozanne means save now or save pray. 32. Althaus, (German origin) This means old house in German and denotes a person living in an old house. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 100 Common French Surnames and their Meanings Abadie (abbey or family chapel) Alarie (all-powerful) Allard (noble) Anouilh (slow worm) Archambeau (bold, daring) Arsenault (gun maker, keeper of the arsenal) Auclair (clear) Barbeau (a type of fish, fisherman) Barbier (barber) Bassett (low, short, or of humble origins) Baudelaire (small sword, dagger) Kunz, This given name was for "a bold person". This name is derived from the first name Martinus, which is Latin. This unique-sounding French last name means bold or daring. It may have been used as a nickname for someone with a beautiful or remarkable face. Names. Many have German roots such as originating from Old German or Middle High German words. Cadieux is an ancient surname that is derived from the word cad and refers to a little fighter. In canton Vaud the most frequent surname is Rochat, a diminutive of the French word for rock ( roche ). Some of their ancient names are still very popular and common. 93. Pronounced as Bwah, the name refers to bush or shrub. For French-speaking regions of Switzerland, see also France Personal Names. An example of why soprannomi would be used would be to distinguish a branch of a family that owned and lived on land in a certain area, etc. It is composed of the Middle High German words bach, meaning stream and man which means, man. Bachmann has a toponymic origin representing one who dwells by a spring or a brook. 82. And ifyou are wondering whereRoger Federergets his name,Federis the German word for feather and Federer refers tosomeone who works with feathers. This could be due to the widespread use of abbreviations or to the difficulty in reading the handwriting. Baumngartner, This is a middle high German surname and denotes someone who owns or works in his orchard. Mller translates tomiller in English, someone involved in milling, the process ofturning grain into flour. Swiss-French baby boy names Francisque: A variation of the name Francis. Copyright 2005-2023 alpenwild.com. Bachmann, This is one of the unique names which refers to someone who lives near the stream. This surname denotes "a person living near the mountain or hill". 16. Conti, (Italian origin) This refers to someone who has lived by counting. It is derived from the German word Brucke, which means a bridge. It is a well-known Swiss name. Swiss or Switzerland, the land of chocolates, cheese, lakes, and skiing resorts, is a country with unique and diverse surnames. And she would like to continue creating content on health and lifestyle. In addition, there are many Swiss surnames that are the shortened abbreviations of their first names. Gerber, the cantons most common name, is German for tanner or leather dresser. Derived from a nickname given to a person who is light-hearted and joyful, Gay in Old French is gai which means full of joy. community of citizenship . It is a variant of Lefevre, Lefebure or Lefeuvre. 12. Luis: Meaning 'warrior'. The information on this website is of a general nature and available for educational purposes only and Each entry contains information on the place of origin (i.e. These are Switzerland's most common surnames The controversy over employees at an insurance company call centre adopting fake Swiss names instead of foreign ones has put the issue of surnames. 22. Battaglia, (Italian origin) It denotes a farmer. Originally a nickname for someone with a dark complexion More means dark-skinned person. Madhurima has completed her Masters in Biochemistry from North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. Close to half of the 680 Jeannerets in Switzerland live in Neuchatel. This French surname is similar to the English surname Edwards from Olde English and means a prosperous guardian. Weber, This is also one of the occupational surnames which stands for "a weaver". Pfister, It means "someone who bakes bread". A derivative of the word Badar, this surname comes from the Occitan word badau, meaning gullible. The most popular names for boys in Switzerland are: Daniel Peter Thomas Hans Christian Martin Andreas Michael Markus Marco First names for girls The most popular girls' names in Switzerland are: Maria Anna Sandra Ursula Ruth Elisabeth Monika Claudia Nicole Verena Swiss last names The 10 most common surnames in Switzerland are: Mller Meier Schmid The most common name inGenevais Favre, French for blacksmith. Brunner may have been a toponymic name referring to individuals residing beside a well or a spring or a fountain. The most frequent name in the canton of Fribourg is the very Swiss name of Aebischer, the surname of Patrick Aebischer, president of EPFL, the Lausanne-based technical university. This page has been viewed 43,031 times (6,006 via redirect). Aubert means noble-bright and originates from the Old German compound word Aedelbeort. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. Derived from the Old French name Theobald, Thibaut means brave or bold. 10. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. At the same time, others can denote topographic origins or social status. Soprannomi appear mainly in earlier parish records. 2. This registry is invaluable in locating towns of origin. 1. The surname is thus an occupational one. The tradition still lives on in many Swedish and Scandi surnames, but the Finnish tend to have the "poika" or "tytr" endings in the second or third given names instead of surnames. Swiss surnames are commonly found in Switzerland and all around central Europe. This site offers free access to some 48'500 entries, as compiled in the third edition of the "Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz" (Schulthess Polygraphischer Verlag, Zurich 1989). 62. Incanton Vaudthe most frequent surname is Rochat, a diminutive of the French word for rock (roche). Madhurima takes a keen interest in parenting and lifestyle. Apply this search to the user-submitted names, the letters in the pattern are compared to the letters in the name, search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes, this field understands simple boolean logic, force a term to be included by preceding it with a, force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a, sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations, syllables can only be counted in names that have been assigned pronunciations, names without pronunciations are excluded from results, the "relationship" is how the name relates to its parent name. This French surname of baptismal origin can be traced to the French term toussaint or All Saints Day. These surnames are derived directly from the parents given name. In 1990, the foundation Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (HDS) could purchase the electronic register from the so-called study group "Register of Swiss Surnames". In the parish register, their records may say either Garbani; Garbani-Gardelli; Gardelli; or Garbani dicti Gardelli, where dicti translates as otherwise known as. It is a German word for a Swiss person or for someone from Switzerland. The name would have likely originated in Germany and later adopted by those in Switzerland as well. Derived from the Latin word vache, Vachon means cow. It can be an occupational surname referring to the keeper of the kings forest.. This turbulent history has had its impact on names as well. Vi(g)ne means vineyard in Old French and can refer to the topographical name for someone who lived near a vineyard. The French surname Dubois is not only popular in France but in the US as well. Jacques is a popular name which is used both as a surname and as a first name. Gauthier means an army ruler. In 2009, it was made accessible over the internet. The 50 most popular unisex names in Switzerland 2022 Noah, Noa Lou, Lu Elia, Eliya, Elja, Elya, Elyah, lia No, Noe, No Luca, Luka Juri, Jouri, Yuri Lynn, Lin, Lyn Aria, Aarya, Arya Lian, Lyan Charlie, Charli, Charly Nino Elin Leo Robin Laurin Jamie, Jamy Kaya Jona, Yona Mika, Mica, Mikah Neo use of this site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use. 10 most common surnames in Poland Joanna Czarnecka Editor A surname can tell us a lot about a person's family history. Swiss French-language Names The most common name in Geneva is Favre, French for blacksmith. As the population increased, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name. Monet is a variant of the name Simon and means to be heard.Monet is most common in the Rhne-Alpes region of theFrenchAlps. 60. It has a toponymic origin, representing individuals who dwell in the hills or mountains. This Swiss German surname also has other popular variants that include Mosier, Moeser, Moesier, Mosser, or Mozer. They can appear several ways. This French habitational surname is quite popular and means of the bridge or a person living near a bridge. Hartmann is composed of the Middle High German words hart meaning brave or hardy and man meaning man. The name thus means brave man and would have referred to a warrior or a brave individual. The following online source contains given names translated into 23 different European languages, including English: Surname Changes of Immigrants in the United States. Swiss citizenship is kept on three levels: the nation, the canton, and the "Heimatort," or home community. Most common French last names have a Germanic origin, as there was frequent migration between France and Germany. The Gaelic Irishsurnames, OLaighin took an Anglicized form to form the surname Lane. It is a variant of the name Halter, which comes from the Middle High German word halte, meaning pasture. The name is a toponymic one referring to someone who lived near or on land with large grass pastures. This French surname is reflex of the Visigothic personal name Alaric, and means all-powerful. This category has only the following subcategory. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. 17. This occupational surname is derived from the Latin word secale which means rye or grower or seller of rye. This topographic surname refers to someone who lived by an ash tree or lived by ash wood. Derived from Palourde, this surname means a variety of shelfish. It is a toponymic surname for an individual from any of the several places named Scheideck in Switzerland and Germany. Albero, (Italian origin) It means tree and denotes a person living near the wood or forest. Abel 2 German Derived from a diminutive of the given name Albert. It is a Hebrew name for Passover. This does not influence our choices. A Swiss German surname composed of the word luti or leute that means people in German. Algeria has been part of numerous empires, and has only become independent from France in 1962. Beauchene, (French origin) denotes "beautiful oak". 98. This aristocratic-vibed French surname means mountain. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, Why not let us narrow your search for the perfect Swiss last name with our many suggestions below? It's quite popular thanks to the pop artist Bruno Mars. Arbeit, (German origin) means "work". Prior to 1900, formal surname changes documented in local court records are relatively rare. The name basically means The Englishmen. The name is an occupational one referring to those who worked as advisors or counselors. This smooth-sounding French surname refers to small sword or dagger. Hess has a toponymic origin and referred to individuals who originally came from the region called Hesse in Germany. Joubert is formed by a combination of a tribe called Gaut and berth which means bright or famous. 79. Martinus refers to the Roman god of fertility and war, who was named Mars. 44. Bassani, (Swiss origin) This is one of the traditional Swiss surnames which means multiple villages in Italy. It comes from the Swiss German word liechti that means a clearing. Liechti has a topographic origin representing an individual who resides in a clearing. Over nine year more. Noser derives from the Middle High German word Noss, meaning cattle. Noser is thus an occupational surname representing an individual who raises cattle and other domestic animals. The surname Rodier originates from the Latin word rota, which means wheel. Mahmoud. Originating from the Greek word paidion, Page is an occupational surname for a little boy. ONE of the most picturesque myths of ancient days is that which forms the subject of this article. Romansh is a Romance language spoken predominantly in the Swiss canton of the Grisons (Graubnden). Derived from Old German name Waro which originates from Wara meaning protection. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. It meanscharity priestwho was endowed to sing Mass daily on behalf of the souls of the dead. If you liked our suggestions for Swiss Last Names then why not take a look at French Canadian Names, or for something different take a look at Surnames Used As First Names. Swiss last names or surnames, are family names that are passed down generations and which originate from Germany, France and other neighboring countries. It is derived from the Middle High German word klosenaere meaning a hermit. The name would have referred to a hermit or to someone who lived at an isolated place. This Old French topographical surname is a derivative of classical Latin word fons and means well or fountain. Sometimes, deciphering a surname or given name in an old handwritten document is not as easy as one might suppose. 24. It is a variant of the name Michael, which comes from the Hebrew name Mikhael, meaning the one who is like God.. For German-speaking regions of Switzerland, see also Germany Personal Names. A commonly used Swiss German surname, it is a variant of the personal name Andreas, which comes from the Greek name Andreios, meaning manly or masculine. Additionally, their last names may sometimes be a shorter version of their names. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! It can also mean to gape or to be open-mouthed. This occupational surname from the word ferror that refers to an iron worker. "Christianus" is a name of Latin roots, and it means "follower of Christ" or "a Christian. 12. It refers to an attendant at a public bathhouse or simply bath in Old French. Madhurima has completed her Masters in Biochemistry from North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. Schwarz originates from Schwarz, a German word meaning black. The name may have originally denoted someone with dark hair or complexion. It is a toponymic name that refers to someone who originally belonged to the place called Hedingen located in the Zurich administrative division of Switzerland.