Many notable people were either born or adopted in the

Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

city of

Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

Native people from Zürich

The following were born or adopted in Zürich. Avenarius Richard philosopher

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Jost Amman Jost Amman (June 13, 1539 – March 17, 1591) was a Old Swiss Confederacy, Swiss-German artist, celebrated chiefly for his woodcuts, done mainly for book illustrations. Early life Amman was born in Zürich, the son of a professor of Cl ...

(1539–1591), Swiss-German artist *

Hans Asper Hans Asper ( – 21 March 1571) was a Swiss people, Swiss Painting, painter best known for his portraits. Life Asper was born in in Zürich, where he lived his entire life. Nothing is known of him until 1526, when he married the daughter of Lu ...

( 1499–1571), Swiss painter * Richard Avenarius (1843–1896), German-Swiss philosopher * Hans J. Baer (1927–2011), Swiss banker * Johann Georg Baiter (1801–1877), Swiss philologist and textual critic * Daniel Barben (born 1961), Swiss professor * Gianna Berger (born 1999), Swiss politician * Denise Biellmann (born 1962), Swiss professional figure skater * Diego Benaglio (born 1983), Swiss footballer * Severin Blindenbacher (born 1983), Swiss ice hockey player *

Felix Bloch Felix Bloch (; ; 23 October 1905 – 10 September 1983) was a Swiss-American physicist who shared the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physics with Edward Mills Purcell "for their development of new methods for nuclear magnetic precision measurements and di ...

(1905–1983), Swiss-American physicist *

Johann Jakob Bodmer Johann Jakob Bodmer (19 July 16982 January 1783) was a Swiss author, academic, critic and poet. Life Born at Greifensee, near Zürich, and first studying theology and then trying a commercial career, he finally found his vocation in letters. In ...

(1698–1783), Swiss author, academic and poet * Rosa Bloch-Bollag (1880–1922), Swiss politician and activist *

Johann Kaspar Bluntschli Johann Caspar (also Kaspar) Bluntschli (7 March 1808 – 21 October 1881) was a Swiss jurist and politician. Together with fellow liberals Francis Lieber and Édouard René de Laboulaye, he developed one of the first codes of international law a ...

(1808–1881), Swiss jurist and politician *

Alain de Botton Alain de Botton (; born 20 December 1969) is a Swiss-born British author and public speaker. His books discuss various contemporary subjects and themes, emphasizing philosophy's relevance to everyday life. He published ''Essays in Love'' (1993) ...

(born 1969), Swiss-born British author and public speaker *

Heinrich Bullinger Heinrich Bullinger (18 July 1504 – 17 September 1575) was a Swiss Reformer and theologian, the successor of Huldrych Zwingli as head of the Church of Zürich and a pastor at the Grossmünster. One of the most important leaders of the Swiss Re ...

(1504–1575), Swiss reformer and theologian * René Burri (1933–2014), Swiss photographer * Monika Dettwiler (born 1948), Swiss-Italian journalist and author *

Gottlieb Duttweiler Gottlieb Duttweiler (15 August 1888 – 8 June 1962) was a Swiss businessman and politician, founder of both the Migros chain of grocery stores and the Alliance of Independents (''Landesring der Unabhängigen,'' LDU) party. Life and work Dutt ...

(1888–1962), Swiss businessman and politician * Ulla Dydo (1925–2017), Swiss writer

E to G

Jeanne Eder-Schwyzer Jeanne Eder-Schwyzer (March 2, 1894 in New York – October 24, 1957 in Zurich) was a Swiss women's rights activist and President of the International Council of Women. Life Jeanne Eder-Schwyzer was the daughter of Dr. Fritz Schwyzer and gre ...

(1894–1957), Swiss women's rights activist * Nico Elvedi (born 1996), Swiss footballer *

Alfred Escher Johann Heinrich Alfred Escher vom Glas colloquially Alfred Escher (20 February 1819 – 6 December 1882) was a Swiss business magnate, banker, railway pioneer and politician who most notably served on the National Council from 1848 to 1882 for th ...

(1819–1882), Swiss politician, business leader and railways pioneer * Lydia Escher (1858–1891), Swiss patron of the arts * Arnold Escher von der Linth (1807–1872), Swiss geologist * Mario Fehr (born 1958), politician *

Peter Fischli Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

(born 1952), Swiss artist *

Robert Frank Robert Frank (November 9, 1924 – September 9, 2019) was a Swiss American photographer and documentary filmmaker. His most notable work, the 1958 book titled ''The Americans'', earned Frank comparisons to a modern-day de Tocqueville for his ...

(1924–2019), Swiss American photographer and documentary filmmaker *

Max Frisch Max Rudolf Frisch (; 15 May 1911 – 4 April 1991) was a Swiss playwright and novelist. Frisch's works focused on problems of identity (social science), identity, individuality, Moral responsibility, responsibility, morality, and political commi ...

(1911–1991), Swiss playwright and novelist * Christoph Froschauer ( 1490–1564), Swiss printer *

Henry Fuseli Henry Fuseli ( ; ; 7 February 1741 – 17 April 1825) was a Swiss painter, draughtsman, and writer on art who spent much of his life in Britain. Many of his successful works depict supernatural experiences, such as '' The Nightmare''. He pr ...

(1741–1825), Swiss painter, draughtsman and writer on art * Daniel Garbade (born 1957), Swiss Spanish artist *

Bruno Ganz Bruno Ganz (; 22 March 1941 – 16 February 2019) was a Swiss actor whose career in German stage, television and film productions spanned nearly 60 years. He was known for his collaborations with the directors Werner Herzog, Éric Rohmer, Franc ...

(1941–2019), Swiss actor * Ueli Gegenschatz (1971–2009), Swiss BASE jumper, paraglider and skydiver *

Conrad Gessner Conrad Gessner (; ; 26 March 1516 – 13 December 1565) was a Swiss physician, naturalist, bibliographer, and philologist. Born into a poor family in Zürich, Switzerland, his father and teachers quickly realised his talents and supported him t ...

(1516–1565), Swiss physician, naturalist, bibliographer, and philologist * HR Giger (1940–2014), Swiss artist *

Marcel Grossmann Marcel Grossmann (; April 9, 1878 – September 7, 1936) was a Swiss mathematician who was a friend and classmate of Albert Einstein. Grossmann came from an old Swiss family in Zürich. His father managed a textile factory. He became a Professor ...

(1878–1936), Swiss mathematician

H to K

* Markus Hediger (born 1959), Swiss writer and translator *

Albert Heim Albert Heim (12 April 184931 August 1937) was a Swiss geologist, noted for his three-volume ''Geologie der Schweiz''. Born in Zürich, he was educated at Zürich and Berlin universities. Very early in life he became interested in the physical fe ...

(1849–1937), Swiss geologist * Max Holzmann (1899–1994), Swiss cardiologist *

Johann Heinrich Hottinger Johann Heinrich Hottinger (10 March 1620 – 5 June 1667) was a Swiss philologist and theologian. Life and works Hottinger studied at Geneva, Groningen and Leiden. After visiting France and England he was appointed professor of church history ...

(1620–1667), Swiss philologist and theologian * Andy Hug (1964–2000), Swiss karateka and kickboxer * Christine Hug (1980–2023), Swiss military officer *

Otto Frederick Hunziker Otto Frederick Hunziker (25 December 1873 – 16 November 1959) was a pioneer in the American and international dairy industry, as both an educator and a technical innovator. Hunziker was born and raised in Switzerland, emigrated to the U.S., a ...

(1873–1959), Swiss American dairy educator * Hans-Ulrich Indermaur (born 1939), Swiss magazine editor, television reporter and author *

Philippe Jordan Philippe Jordan (born 18 October 1974) is a Swiss conductor and pianist. Biography Born in Zürich, the son of conductor Armin Jordan, he began to study piano at the age of six. At age eight, he joined the Zürcher Sängerknaben. He has ackno ...

(born 1974), Swiss conductor and pianist *

Leo Jud Leo Jud (; also Leo Juda, Leo Judä, Leo Judas, Leonis Judae, Ionnes Iuda, Leo Keller; 1482 – 19 June 1542), known to his contemporaries as Meister Leu, was a Swiss reformer who worked with Huldrych Zwingli in Zürich. Biography Jud was bor ...

(1482–1542), Swiss reformer *

Carl Jung Carl Gustav Jung ( ; ; 26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychologist who founded the school of analytical psychology. A prolific author of Carl Jung publications, over 20 books, illustrator, and corr ...

(1875–1961), Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychologist *

Gottfried Keller Gottfried Keller (19 July 1819 – 15 July 1890) was a Swiss poet and writer of German literature. Best known for his novel '' Green Henry'' (German: ''Der grüne Heinrich'') and his cycle of novellas called '' Seldwyla Folks'' (''Die Leute von Se ...

(1819–1890), Swiss poet *

Hugo Koblet Hugo Koblet (; 21 March 1925 – 6 November 1964) was a Switzerland, Swiss champion cycle sport, cyclist. He won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia as well as competing in six-day and pursuit races on the track. He won 70 races as a profe ...

(1925–1964), Swiss cyclist * Ursula Koch (born 1941), Swiss politician *

Albert von Kölliker Albert von Kölliker (born Rudolf Albert Kölliker'';'' 6 July 1817 – 2 November 1905) was a Swiss anatomist, physiologist, and histologist. Biography Albert Kölliker was born in Zürich, Switzerland. His early education was carried on in Z ...

(1817–1905), Swiss anatomist, physiologist and histologist * Ernesto Korrodi (1870–1944), Swiss-born Portuguese architect

L to R

Johann Kaspar Lavater Johann Kaspar (or Caspar) Lavater (; 15 November 1741 – 2 January 1801) was a Switzerland, Swiss poet, writer, philosopher, physiognomist and theologian. Early life Lavater was born in Zürich, and was educated at the ''Gymnasium (school), Gy ...

(1741–1801), Swiss poet, writer, philosopher, physiognomist and theologian *

Antonio Ligabue Antonio Ligabue (18 December 1899 – 27 May 1965; born Antonio Laccabue) was an Italian Painting, painter. He was one of the most important Naïve artists of the 20th century. Biography He was born in Zürich, Switzerland on 18 December 1899, t ...

(1899–1965), Swiss -born Italian painter * Hugo Loetscher (1929–2009), Swiss writer and essayist * Rolf Lyssy (born 1936), Swiss screenwriter and film director *

Dieter Meier Dieter Meier (born 4 March 1945) is a Swiss musician, conceptual artist and entrepreneur. He is the frontman of the electronic music group Yello, which was co-founded (with ex-member Carlos Perón) by music producer Boris Blank (musician), Boris ...

(born 1945), Swiss musician and conceptual artist *

Conrad Ferdinand Meyer Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (11 October 1825 – 28 November 1898) was a Swiss poet and historical novelist, a master of literary realism who is mainly remembered for stirring narrative ballads like "Die Füße im Feuer" (The Feet in the Fire). Biog ...

(1825–1898), Swiss poet and historical novelist * Silvio Moser (1941–1974), Swiss racing driver * Walter Andreas Müller (born 1945), Swiss actor * Harald Naegeli (born 1939), Swiss artist * Heinz Nigg (born 1949), Swiss visual anthropologist, community artist and video archivist *

Ernst Nobs Ernst Nobs (14 July 1886, in Seedorf, Bern – 15 March 1957) was a Swiss politician. Nobs was involved in the 1918 Swiss general strike. In 1919, a military court found him guilty of publishing subversive texts and sentenced him to four weeks i ...

(1886–1957), Swiss politician * Hans Konrad von Orelli (1846–1912), Swiss theologian *

Johann Caspar von Orelli Johann Caspar von Orelli (Latin ''Iohannes Caspar Orellius''; 13 February 1787 – 6 January 1849), was a Swiss classical scholar. Life He was born at Zürich of a distinguished Italian-speaking family from Locarno which had taken refuge in ...

(1787–1849), Swiss classical scholar *

Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (; ; ; 12 January 1746 – 17 February 1827) was a Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer who exemplified Romanticism in his approach. He founded several educational institutions both in German- and French-speaking ...

(1746–1827), Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer *

Joachim Raff Joseph Joachim Raff (27 May 182224 or 25 June 1882) was a German-Swiss composer, pedagogue and pianist.James Deaville'Raff, (Joseph) Joachim' in ''Grove Music Online'' (2001) Biography Raff was born in Lachen, Switzerland, Lachen in Switzerland. ...

(1822–1882), German-Swiss composer and pianist

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* Johann Jakob Scheuchzer (1672–1733), Swiss physician and natural scientist * Hanna Scheuring (born 1965), Swiss actress and theatre director * Roland Scholl (1865–1945), Swiss chemist * Trudi Schoop (1904–1999), Swiss dancer and therapist * Peter Schweri (1939–2016), Swiss artist and musician *

Johanna Spyri Spyri (; ; 12 June 1827 – 7 July 1901) was a Swiss author of novels, notably children's stories. She wrote the popular book ''Heidi''. Born in Hirzel, a rural area in the canton of Zürich, as a child she spent several summers near Chur i ...

(1827–1901), Swiss author *

Sandra Studer Sandra Studer (born 10 February 1969 in Zürich), also known as Sandra Simó, is a Swiss television presenter and singer. She in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991, where she placed fifth with the song "". She co-hosted the Eurovision Song Conte ...

(born 1969), Swiss moderator and singer *

Stefi Talman Stefanie Thalman known as Stefi Talman (born January 3, 1958, in Zurich) is a Swiss-born shoe designer. Life and background Stefi Talman was born 1958 in Zurich, Switzerland, where she also spent her childhood. Her mother, Regula Nydegger is a rh ...

(born 1958), Swiss shoe designer * Bénédict Turrettini (1588–1631), Swiss pastor and professor of theology *

Pancho Vladigerov Pancho Haralanov Vladigerov (or Wladigeroff, Wladigerow, Vladiguerov, Vladigueroff; ; 13 March 18998 September 1978) was a Bulgarian composer, pedagogue, and pianist. Vladigerov is arguably the most influential Bulgarian composer of all time. He ...

(1899–1978), Swiss-born Bulgarian composer, pedagogue and pianist * Heini Waser (1913–2008), Swiss painter *

Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker (born 25 June 1939) is a German scientist and politician ( SPD). He was a member of the German Bundestag and served as co-president of the Club of Rome jointly with Anders Wijkman from 2011 – 2019. Family A membe ...

(born 1939), Swiss-born German politician and scientist * Urs Widmer (1938–2014), Swiss novelist, playwright, and essayist *

Heidi Wunderli-Allenspach Heidi Wunderli-Allenspach (born 1 January 1947) is a Switzerland, Swiss biologist and was the first female director of ETH Zürich. Life and work Wunderli-Allenspach was born in 1947 in Niederuzwil in the Canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. ...

(born 1947), Swiss biologist

Famous residents

A to K

* Sibylle Berg (born 1962), German-Swiss contemporary author and essayist *

Max Bill Max Bill (22 December 1908 – 9 December 1994) was a Swiss architect, artist, painter, typeface designer, industrial designer and graphic designer. Early life and education Bill was born in Winterthur. After an apprenticeship as a silversmit ...

(1908–1994), Swiss architect, artist and designer * Anne-Marie Blanc (1919–2009), Swiss actress * Boris Blank (born 1952), Swiss musician *

Georg Büchner Karl Georg Büchner (17 October 1813 – 19 February 1837) was a German dramatist and writer of poetry and prose, considered part of the Young Germany movement. He was also a revolutionary and the brother of physician and philosopher Ludwig Büchn ...

(1813–1837), German dramatist *

Johann Gottfried Ebel Johann Gottfried Ebel (6 October 1764 – 8 October 1830) was the author of the first real guidebook to Switzerland. Biography He was born at Zullichau (Prussia). He became a medical man, visited Switzerland for the first time in 1790, and ...

(1764–1830), author of the first guidebook to Switzerland *

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein (14 March 187918 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. His mass–energy equivalence f ...

(1879–1955), German-born theoretical physicist * Stephanie Glaser (1920–2011), Swiss actress * Hermann Greulich (1842–1925), Swiss politician * Franz Hohler (born 1943), Swiss author and cabaret performer *

Udo Jürgens Jürgen Udo Bockelmann (30 September 1934 – 21 December 2014), generally known as Udo Jürgens, was an Austrian composer and singer of popular music whose career spanned over 50 years. He won the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 for Austria, ...

(1934–2014), Austrian composer and singer *

Patricia Kaas Patricia Noëlle Kaas (; born 5 December 1966) is a French singer. Her music is a mix of pop, cabaret, jazz, and chanson. Since the appearance of her 1988 debut album '' Mademoiselle chante...,'' Kaas won 6 Victoires de la Musique awards and ...

(born 1966), French singer and actress *

Jonas Kaufmann Jonas Kaufmann (born July 10, 1969) is a German- Austrian tenor opera singer. He is best known for the versatility of his repertoire, performing a variety of opera roles in multiple languages in recital Tommasini, Anthony (21 February 2014)"A Teno ...

(born 1969), German-Austrian tenor opera singer * Adolf Keller (1872–1963), Swiss Protestant theologian and writer * Tina Keller-Jenny (1887–1985), Swiss physician and Jungian psychotherapist *

Erich Kleiber Erich Kleiber (5 August 1890 – 27 January 1956) was an Austrian, later Argentine, conductor, known for his interpretations of the classics and as an advocate of Neue Musik. Kleiber was born in Vienna, and after studying at the Prague Conser ...

(1890–1956), Austrian Argentine conductor

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Vladimir Lenin Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov ( 187021 January 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, politician and political theorist. He was the first head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 until Death and state funeral of ...

(1870–1924), Russian revolutionary, politician and political theorist * Moritz Leuenberger (born 1946), Swiss politician *

Mileva Marić Mileva Marić ( sr-cyr, Милева Марић, ; 19 December 1875 – 4 August 1948), sometimes called Mileva Marić-Einstein ( sr-cyr, Милева Марић-Ајнштајн, Mileva Marić-Ajnštajn, label=none), was a Serbian physicist a ...

, (1875–1948), Serbian physicist and mathematician *

Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Manuel Rivera-Ortiz (born December 23, 1968) is a stateside Puerto Rican photographer. He is best known for his social documentary photography of people's living conditions in Developing nation, less developed nations. Rivera-Ortiz lives in Roche ...

(born 1968), Puerto Rican photographer *

Elisabeth von Rapperswil Elisabeth von Rapperswil (also ''von Habsburg-Laufenburg'', ''von Homberg''; c.1251/1261 – 1309) was the last countess of the House of Rapperswil, and secured by her second marriage the female line of the Counts of Rapperswil and the exte ...

( 1251–1309), Countess of Grafschaft Rapperswil *

Roger Sablonier Roger Sablonier (16 April 1943 – 8 June 2010) was a Swiss historian and writer of non-fiction publications, and Emeritus (Prof. Dr.) of the faculty of the University of Zürich. Biography Born in Uster on 16 April 1941 as the son of Mary Ida ...

(1941–2010), Swiss historian and writer *

Ernst Sieber Ernst Sieber (; 24 February 1927 – 19 May 2018) was a Swiss pastor, social activist and politician who served one term as a member of the National Council (Switzerland) for the Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland, Evangelical Pe ...

(1927–2018), Swiss pastor, social activist and politician *

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, songwriter and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development ...

(1936–2021), Jamaican record producer, composer and singer *

Kurt Tucholsky Kurt Tucholsky (; 9 January 1890 – 21 December 1935) was a German journalist, satire, satirist, and writer. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Kaspar Hauser (after the Kaspar Hauser, historical figure), Peter Panter, Theobald Tiger and Ignaz Wr ...

(1890–1935), German journalist, satirist and writer *

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

(1939–2023), American singer-songwriter and actress *

Tristan Tzara Tristan Tzara (; ; ; born Samuel or Samy Rosenstock, also known as S. Samyro; – 25 December 1963) was a Romanian and French avant-garde poet, essayist and performance artist. Also active as a journalist, playwright, literary and art critic, c ...

(1896–1963), Romanian avant-garde poet, essayist and performance artist * Georg von Vollmar (1850–1922), Bavarian politician *

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

(1813–1883), German composer and conductor * Raphael Zuber (born 1973), Swiss architect

References

External links

''Prominente Verstorbene'' on stadt-zuerich.ch
{{DEFAULTSORT:List of people from Zurich

Zurich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

people The term "the people" refers to the public or Common people, common mass of people of a polity. As such it is a concept of human rights law, international law as well as constitutional law, particularly used for claims of popular sovereignty. I ...

Culture of Zurich History of Zurich