The Huwyler surname has origins from Upper Swabia in the Middle Ages, connecting the region between the current Bavaria and Swiss-German cantons. This surname is still recognized as linked to the Swiss central region (Zurich, Zug and Lucerne) with roots in the cities of Risch and Steinhausen.

Surname endings -wyler or -weiler are derived from Latin “villa” meaning village or dwellings. Therefore, they are topographic surnames related to a place, such as the name of an old town, a parish, a church, a county or an entire region. They were generally given to people who migrated from their birth-place to a new community.

Huwyler is a topographic surname from the Huwyl castle and hamlet located between Römerswil and Hochdorf, Lucerne around the 15th century. The Huwyl area was named as Hunwil in documents dated from 1230 to 1474. The surname started from the Lords von Hunwil (Herren von Hunwil, Giswil OW). The von Hunwil surname is well documented as they were ministerialis barons. In the 15th and 16th century, Swiss surnames were derived by appending the syllable –er. This largely replaced the practice of using the "von" prefix. Surname von Hunwil evolved over the years to Huwiler and Huwyler.

Its family crest shows an owl which represents a family underlined by its constancy and wisdom. The vigilant owl has long been associated with Athenea, intelligence, prudence and acuity. The shield in or yellow involves generosity, wealth and intellectual upliftment, as well as, the coupeaux vert, green triune implies hope and loyalty. The base triune, "dreiberg", is common in coats of arms from Central Switzerland and it represents three Alpine mountains. The owl rests on a Thau Cross, also called Saint Anthony's Cross (Antoniuskreuz) or  "crux commissa” , which motto is Scientia cum Virtute.

The Huwyler surname Today, the number of people surnamed Huwyler can be estimated at 1,000 around the world.

Continue