Surname Peffekoven - Meaning and Origin
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Peffekoven: What does the surname Peffekoven mean?
The last name Peffekoven is a German surname. It is likely derived from the Old German phrase "penke," meaning a "hill," combined with the Old German word "hoefen," meaning "meadows." In this combination, the name could be interpreted to mean someone who lived near a hill with meadows or a family that had a homestead near a hill with meadows.
Though the term only appears in a few records going back to the 18th century, the name is more common in various forms in areas of Germany, the Netherlands and Germany's former East Prussia. In Germany, the name is commonly seen as Peffekoven, Penkofen, Penkowen, Pepkowen and Pencovin, and in the Netherlands, it could appear as Pebcoven, Pekofen or Penkoven.
Beyond suggesting a strong connection to the same geographical area, it's impossible to determine the family's exact origin. However, the various spellings of the name do point to the Peffekovens as a family with deep roots in Germany and the Netherlands, with many generations likely living in the same area for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisPeffekoven: Where does the name Peffekoven come from?
The last name Peffekoven is thought to have originated in Germany, where it is still common today, though it can also be found around the world. Peffekoven appears to be a Germanic or Frisian name, derived from the combination of two words – the prefix “pelle”, meaning “little”, and “kovan”, which means “stone quarry”. The name translates as “little stone quarry”.
In Germany, Peffekoven is most common in the western regions of North Rhine-Westphalia and Rheinland-Pfalz. It is also common in the eastern part of the Netherlands, in a region known as Overijssel, as well as across the southern half of the Netherlands. In Belgium, the name appears in the Flanders region, and there are also records of Peffekovens in Luxembourg.
Outside of Europe, the name has spread to the United States, Canada, Australia, South America and even South Africa. The Peffekovens who settled in North America arrived mainly from Germany and, to a lesser extent, Luxembourg and Belgium. The most common states for the surname are Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin. In Canada, meanwhile, it is most commonly found in the province of Ontario.
The Peffekoven family motto “Vincit ex omnibus” translates as “He conquers from among all”.
Variations of the surname Peffekoven
The surname Peffekoven has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. One of the oldest forms of the name is Pfeiffer which means “master of the pipe”. From this the surname Pfeiffel, Pfeiffen, Pfeltz and Pfaffen evolved. These Germanic names were adopted by various European countries including the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands.
In France the name was often pronounced Peffekoven and saw different spellings such as Peffekofen, Peifkofen and Peikofen. In addition, the United Kingdom adopted the name with spellings such as Pfavkofen, Pyavekofen and Pefekoven. In the Netherlands, the name saw variants such as Pebkofen, Perkofen and Pavkofen.
Other surnames with roots in Pfeiffer include the Dutch names Pfeiffen, Pfetser, Pfeiffenboff and Pfeffers, the German names Feiffer, Feifen and Fiffer and the English names Fife, Fifes and Pheiffer. In the United States, the surname has been seen with the spelling Pfeiffer as well as the English versions Pheiffer, Fifes and Fife.
Finally, the surnames Peffekofen, Perkofen, Pebkofen and Pavkofen have various other related surnames such as Pelkofen, Feldkofen, Bilkofen and Kilkofen. All of these surnames and spellings share in common the Germanic origin of the now-common surname Peffekoven.
Famous people with the name Peffekoven
- 1.Joe Peffekoven: National level gymnast who represented the US at the 2007 Pan American Games.
- George Peffekoven: Former professional football player who played for the St. Louis Rams in the early 1980s. 3.Ernest Peffekoven: German boxer who won the German Heavyweight Championship in 1927. 4.Lonnie Peffekoven: American jazz singer and Broadway actress who has been performing since the late 1970s. 5.Jules Peffekoven: French writer and philosopher who wrote extensively on the topic of the Catholic Church in the 19th century.
- Erich Peffekoven: German politician and Member of the German Parliament from the 1950s to the 1970s who was a key figure in post-war German politics. 7.Hartz Peffekoven: German architect who designed numerous public buildings in his native town of Düsseldorf. 8.Rudolph Peffekoven: German opera composer and conductor who was a well-known figure in German musical circles in the late 19th century. 9.Albert Peffekoven: German sculptor who was a key figure in the Expressionism movement in Germany. 10.Katherine Peffekoven: American television producer who was best known for her work on the hit show Friends.