I was watching the 1989 Soviet film of Bulgakov's Собачье сердце this week and understand the significance of the professor's фамиля and that of Чугункин. However, the potential significance of the names of the other chаracters eludes me (eg Швондер, Борменталь).

Can Russian speakers suggest whether the names of the other characters have a meaning or suggest a meaning which us non-native speakers don't pick up.

Thanks,