Switzerland Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Swiss Surnames

Switzerland is a country known for its stunning scenery, rich culture, and diverse population. Swiss last names, or surnames, reflect this diversity, with origins ranging from Germanic and French to Italian and Romansh. This comprehensive guide explores the meanings and origins of over 40 common Swiss last names, offering a fascinating glimpse into the country's history and heritage.
1. **Aebischer:** From the Old High German word "Aebisch", meaning "apple tree".
2. **Ammann:** A common German surname, meaning "steward" or "administrator".
3. **Bachmann:** Meaning "stream man" or "man from the brook".
4. **Bähler:** From the Old High German word "Bahel", meaning "a small valley".
5. **Barth:** Meaning "beard" or "barley", possibly referencing a physical characteristic or occupation.
6. **Bäuerle:** Derived from the German word "Bauer", meaning "farmer".
7. **Benz:** A common German surname meaning "son of Benedict".
8. **Berger:** From the Old High German word "berg", meaning "mountain", signifying a person who lived near a mountain.
9. **Bernoulli:** Derived from the Old French word "bernard", meaning "strong as a bear".
10. **Bieri:** A common German surname meaning "bear".
11. **Binz:** From the Old High German word "binzi", meaning "marsh" or "wetland".
12. **Blaser:** Meaning "one who blows", likely referencing a musician or someone who used a wind instrument.
13. **Boss:** From the German word "boss", meaning "master" or "boss", often referring to an employer.
14. **Brunner:** Meaning "well man", likely referencing a person who lived near a spring or well.
15. **Burkhalter:** From the Old High German words "burc" and "haltar", meaning "fort" and "protector" respectively.
16. **Calonder:** A Romansh surname, meaning "from the mountain pass".
17. **Christen:** A common German surname meaning "Christian".
18. **Dallmayr:** From the Old High German word "dall", meaning "valley", and "mayr", meaning "mayor" or "administrator".
19. **de Beer:** A surname of Dutch origin, meaning "from the bear".
20. **de Coulon:** A French surname, meaning "from the hill".
21. **de la Harpe:** A French surname, meaning "from the harp".
22. **de Quervain:** A French surname, meaning "from the cross".
23. **Dettwiler:** From the Old High German words "dett" and "wiler", meaning "house" and "settlement" respectively.
24. **Dubois:** A French surname, meaning "from the forest".
25. **Eggenberger:** From the Old High German word "egge", meaning "edge", and "berg", meaning "mountain".
26. **Egli:** A common German surname meaning "eagle".
27. **Emmenegger:** From the Old High German word "emme", meaning "meadow", and "egg", meaning "edge".
28. **Eugster:** From the Old High German word "aust", meaning "east", and "garten", meaning "garden".
29. **Fahrni:** From the Old High German word "fahr", meaning "journey", and "ni", meaning "from".
30. **Fischer:** A common German surname meaning "fisherman".
31. **Frey:** A common German surname meaning "free", possibly referencing a noble status or freedom from servitude.
32. **Fuchs:** A common German surname meaning "fox".
33. **Gasser:** From the Old High German word "gass", meaning "street", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
34. **Geiger:** From the Old High German word "geig", meaning "violin", referring to a musician.
35. **Gerber:** A common German surname meaning "tanner".
36. **Giger:** From the Old High German word "giga", meaning "a kind of wild goat".
37. **Gnägi:** From the Old High German word "gnagen", meaning "to gnaw", possibly referencing a person who lived near a mountain with steep cliffs.
38. **Graf:** A common German surname meaning "count" or "noble".
39. **Grütter:** From the Old High German word "gruot", meaning "gravel", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
40. **Haas:** A common German surname meaning "hare".
41. **Haller:** From the Old High German word "hall", meaning "hollow", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
42. **Häusermann:** From the Old High German words "haus" and "mann", meaning "house" and "man" respectively.
43. **Heimgartner:** From the Old High German words "heim" and "garten", meaning "home" and "garden" respectively.
44. **Hess:** A common German surname meaning "Hessian".
45. **Hofer:** From the Old High German word "hof", meaning "court" or "farm", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
46. **Hug:** From the Old High German word "hug", meaning "heart" or "mind".
47. **Imhof:** From the Old High German word "im", meaning "in", and "hof", meaning "court" or "farm".
48. **Jaeger:** From the Old High German word "jagen", meaning "to hunt", referring to a hunter.
49. **Jost:** A common German surname meaning "Joseph".
50. **Käser:** From the Old High German word "käse", meaning "cheese", referring to a cheesemaker.
51. **Keller:** From the Old High German word "keller", meaning "cellar" or "basement", referring to a person who worked in a cellar.
52. **Knecht:** A common German surname meaning "servant" or "knight".
53. **Koch:** A common German surname meaning "cook".
54. **Kölliker:** From the Old High German word "kol", meaning "coal", and "iker", meaning "one who lives near".
55. **Koller:** From the Old High German word "kol", meaning "coal", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
56. **Kuhn:** A common German surname meaning "son of Conrad".
57. **Lauber:** From the Old High German word "laub", meaning "leaf", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
58. **Lehmann:** A common German surname meaning "tenant" or "farmer".
59. **Leuthold:** From the Old High German words "leute" and "hold", meaning "people" and "brave" respectively.
60. **Linder:** From the Old High German word "linde", meaning "linden tree".
61. **Lüthi:** From the Old High German word "luti", meaning "people" or "nation".
62. **Maier:** A common German surname meaning "mayor" or "administrator".
63. **Martin:** A common German surname meaning "warlike".
64. **Maurer:** A common German surname meaning "mason".
65. **Meier:** A common German surname meaning "administrator" or "farmer".
66. **Michel:** A common French surname meaning "Michael".
67. **Müller:** A common German surname meaning "miller".
68. **Neumann:** A common German surname meaning "new man".
69. **Niederer:** From the Old High German word "nieder", meaning "low", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
70. **Oberholzer:** From the Old High German words "ober", meaning "upper", and "holz", meaning "wood".
71. **Odermatt:** From the Old High German words "oder" and "matt", meaning "river" and "meadow" respectively.
72. **Pfister:** From the Old High German word "pfister", meaning "priest" or "cleric".
73. **Ryser:** From the Old High German word "ries", meaning "giant".
74. **Schaller:** From the Old High German word "schal", meaning "shrill", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
75. **Schmid:** A common German surname meaning "smith".
76. **Schneider:** A common German surname meaning "tailor".
77. **Schnyder:** From the Old High German word "schnid", meaning "cut", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
78. **Schöni:** From the Old High German word "schön", meaning "beautiful", and "i", meaning "one who lives near".
79. **Schuler:** From the Old High German word "schule", meaning "school", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".
80. **Schwarz:** A common German surname meaning "black".
81. **Seiler:** From the Old High German word "seil", meaning "rope", referring to a ropemaker.
82. **Senn:** A common German surname meaning "dairyman".
83. **Suter:** From the Old High German word "suter", meaning "shoemaker".
84. **Tanner:** From the Old High German word "tan", meaning "oak tree".
85. **Thommen:** From the Old High German word "thom", meaning "thorn", and "en", meaning "son of".
86. **Tobler:** From the Old High German word "tobel", meaning "ravine".
87. **Trümpy:** From the Old High German word "trum", meaning "trumpet".
88. **Vogel:** A common German surname meaning "bird".
89. **Wagner:** A common German surname meaning "wagon maker".
90. **Walter:** A common German surname meaning "ruler of the army".
91. **Weber:** A common German surname meaning "weaver".
92. **Weibel:** From the Old High German word "weib", meaning "woman", and "el", meaning "little".
93. **Weismann:** From the Old High German words "weis" and "mann", meaning "wise" and "man" respectively.
94. **Wenger:** From the Old High German word "wange", meaning "cheek".
95. **Wicki:** From the Old High German word "wick", meaning "bay" or "inlet".
96. **Widmer:** From the Old High German words "wid" and "mer", meaning "wide" and "famous" respectively.
97. **Wüthrich:** From the Old High German word "wütrich", meaning "angry" or "fierce".
98. **Zbinden:** From the Old High German word "zbinden", meaning "to bind".
99. **Zimmermann:** From the Old High German words "zimmer" and "mann", meaning "room" and "man" respectively, referring to a carpenter.
100. **Zürcher:** From the Old High German word "züri", meaning "Zurich", and "er", meaning "one who lives near".