Wyss

Wyss (German pronunciation: [ˈʋiːs]) is an Alemannic form of the German surname Weiß used predominantly in Switzerland.[1][2] It comes from Middle High German wīz (white, blonde) and Old High German wîs (wise, clever, experienced, knows).[3]

Notable persons with the surname include:

• Amanda Wyss (born 1960), American actress
• Amy Wyss (born 1970/1971), Swiss-American billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist.
• Andre Wyss (contemporary), American professor of paleontology
• Arthur Wyss (Archivar) [de] (1852–1900), German historian and archivist
• Bernhard Wyss [de] (1833–1890), Swiss writer
• Bernhard Wyss [de] (1905–1986), Swiss philologist
• Brigit Wyss (born 1960), Swiss politician
• Danilo Wyss (born 1985), Swiss road racing bicyclist
• David von Wyss [de] (1763–1839), Swiss politician
• David Wyss, American economist
• Denise Wyss (born 1965), first priestess of the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
• Dieter Wyss [de] (1923–1994), German anthropologist and professor in Würzburg
• Dorothea Wyss (born around 1430/32, died after 1487) married Niklaus von Flüe, the patron saint of Switzerland
• Esther Egger-Wyss [de] (born 1952), Swiss politician (CVP)
• Franz Anatol Wyss (born 1940), Swiss painter
• Georg von Wyss (1816–1893), Swiss historian
• Hansjörg Wyss (contemporary), Swiss billionaire
• Johann David Wyss (1743–1818), Swiss author of The Swiss Family Robinson
• Johann Emanuel Wyss [de] (1782–1837), Swiss painter and draftsman
• Johann Rudolf Wyss (1782–1830), Swiss author and folklorist; son of Johann David
• Johann Rudolf Wyss (der Ältere) [de] (1763–1845), Swiss country priest and poet
• Laure Wyss [de] (1913–2002), Swiss journalist and writer
• Marcel Wyss (born 1986), Swiss road cyclist
• Max Albert Wyss [de] (1908–1977), Swiss journalist and photographer
• Monika Wyss [de] (born 1959), Swiss Swiss Roman Catholic "priestess" (not officially recognized)
• Orville Wyss (1912–1993), American microbiologist
• Paul Wyss (born 1928), Swiss politician and former ice hockey player
• Paul Friedrich von Wyss [de] (1844–1888), Swiss jurist and legal scholar
• Ruedi Wyss [de] (1932–2007), Swiss musician and composer
• Sophie Wyss (1897–1983), Swiss soprano
• Thomas Wyss (born 1966), Swiss professional football player
• Ursula Wyss (born 1973), Swiss economist and politician
• Verena Wyss [de] (born 1945), Swiss writer
• Vinzenz Wyss [de] (born 1965), Swiss communication scientists

Patrician families:

• Wyss (Patrizierfamilie, mit den Kolben) [de]
• Wyss (Patrizierfamilie, mit der Lilie) [de]

See also

• Escher Wyss (Zürich), quarter of Zürich, Switzerland
• Escher Wyss & Cie., former engineering company in Switzerland
• Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, in the United States
• Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering, in Switzerland
• Wyss Samen und Pflanzen [de], Swiss horticultural company
• WYSS, a radio station in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan

Notes

1. Kohlheim, Rosa; Kohlheim, Volker, eds. (2005). Duden. Familiennamen. Mannheim, Leipzig and Zürich: Dudenverlag.
2. Vgl.Duden. Familiennamen. Herkunft und Bedeutung von 20.000 Nachnamen. Bearbeitet von Rosa und Volker Kohlheim. Dudenverlag, Mannheim/Leipzig/Wien/Zürich 2005; unter Weiss, Weiß sowie Wyss.
3. Schweizerisches Idiotikon, Band XVI, Spalte 1984 ff., Artikel Wīss zu Wyss; zum Namen Sp. 1995 f.