Switzer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  Germany 


The surname Switzer is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. The surname Switzer indicates that the original bearer immigrated to Austria from Switzerland.

Early Origins of the Switzer family

The surname Switzer was first found in Austria, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would shape the course of European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, particularly in the city of Frankfurt, and become noted for their involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Switzer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Switzer research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1625, 1709, 1710, 1730, 1833 and 1875 are included under the topic Early Switzer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Switzer Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Switzer include Schweitzer, Schweizer, Schwitzer, Schwyzer, Switzer, Sweitzer, Schwitter and many more.

Early Notables of the Switzer family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Switzer were Johann Friedrich Schweitzer (1625-1709), Dutch physician and alchemical writer of German extraction; Johann Jacob Casimir von Schweitzer, who was...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Switzer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Switzer Ranking

In the United States, the name Switzer is the 2,481st most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1


Switzer migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Switzer or a variant listed above:

Switzer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Switzer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Switzer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Switzer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Switzer Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Switzer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Switzer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Switzer (post 1700) +
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