Vetterli Last Name: Meaning and Heraldic Roots

Spellings drift, and Vetterli is where Vetter drifted for some families. The name is usually explained as “cousin”.

Vetterli coat of arms

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Vetter surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon.

A variant of Vetter

With the diminutive -li, Vetterli is an affectionate form of Vetter that became a surname in its own right. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. Other spellings include Vetterl, Vetterlein and Vetterle.

For the full story, order the Vetterli surname pack.