as Lugano. Traditional German-language variants of the name (now virtually unused) are Lowens, Lauis, Lauwis, Louwerz.

The local Lombard form of the name is rendered Lugan. The etymology of the name is uncertain, suggestions include derivation from Latin lucus ("grove"), from a Vulgar Latin *lakvannus ("lake-dweller") and from the god Lugus. In Romansch,