Surname Petri - Meaning and Origin
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Unravelling My Heritage Through iGENEA: A Personal Reflection on the Petri Lineage
As a Petri, my iGENEA DNA test has initiated a transformative journey, instilling within me a profound appreciation for my ancestry and an enlightening perception of personal identity.
A. Petri
read morePetri: What does the surname Petri mean?
The last name Petri is of German origin and has derived from the Old High German word 'petare' which means to 'fatten', or 'feed'. Petri is also derived from the ancient Latin word 'petrus' which has two general meanings, one being 'stone' and the other being 'father'.
Throughout its etymology, it is evident that the Petri family was typically linked to having a trade that revolved around food. From ancient times to the current day, Petris are either involved in producing food, selling food, or raising animals. Historically, this often included working in butchery and blacksmithing trades.
The name is known to have spread across Europe, especially in the German countries, and is even present in the United Kingdom, where it was adopted after the Protestant Reformation in the 17th century.
As the last name spread, the meaning of it became increasingly varied. In due course, Petri became a sign of respect for those that provided for others- a sign of loyalty, intelligence and kindness. It is believed that the people who adopted this surname wanted to show their appreciation and honor their ancestors that provided for them.
In conclusion, the last name Petri originates from old High German and Latin backgrounds and is typically related with food production or trade. Nowadays, Petri is viewed as a sign of respect, loyalty and kindness, and is still present throughout many countries across Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisPetri: Where does the name Petri come from?
The last name Petri is most commonly found in parts of Europe, including Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Petri is a popular German and Swiss surname. It derives from the Latin word 'petra', meaning 'stone', and thus may refer to a family descended from a chiseler of stone, or a settler who lived by a stone. It's also possible that the surname was adopted from an earlier form of 'Peter'.
In Germany, the name Petri is most commonly found within the states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Bavaria. Depending on the region, the Petri surname may be written as Petri, Pieter, Pietersen, Pietrzak, Peter or Peters, amongst other variations.
The name is found in significant numbers in the countries of Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, with Germany having the largest number of Petris. In Austria, there is a concentration of Petris in the states of Styria, Vienna and Lower Austria. Switzerland has a well-established Petri population in the cantons of Zurich and Basel-Landschaft.
In Liechtenstein, Petri is fairly uncommon but exists in pockets in the municipalities of Schellenberg, Triesen and Vaduz.
The last name Petri is also found in other parts of the world, including in Canada, the United States and Australia, primarily among those with German ancestry.
Variations of the surname Petri
The surname Petri typically originates from a Biblical reference to Saint Peter. It is most commonly found among Christian families in the Mediterranean and other European countries. Derivatives of this name include Petrov, Petrova, Petrić, Petris, Petrescu, Petresco, Petroff, Petreti, Petrelli, Petrera, Petres, Petrello, Petrell, Petretto, Petreau, Petry, and Petro. Each of these surnames may have other spellings and modifiers depending on their countries of origin and language-specific spelling conventions, such as Petrić being more common in some Slavic countries and Petris in Romania.
Among other countries, the surname Petri is found in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Spellings in English-speaking countries are often slightly modified from the more traditional forms, such as Peterson, Peters, Petterson, Petersen, Petrece, Petrey, Petty, Petter, Petrson, Petty, Pettey, and Pettersen. In some cases, there may be combined forms such as Pettersson or Peterson-Peterson.
In some cases, the surname Petri may have been derived from petrus, the Latin word for stone. This could be the source of variants such as Petre, Petroc, Petrok, Petrowna, Petrowka, Petros, Petrowsky, and Petruschka in various parts of Europe.
Altogether, the surname Petri has many different spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin, making it one of the most widespread surnames in Europe and the rest of the world.
Famous people with the name Petri
- Matt Petric: Canadian Country music star
- Axel Petri: German-born painter
- Gary Petri: American professional golfer
- Admiral Fabio Petri: Italian Navy admiral
- Dr. Paul Petri:Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
- Elena Petri: Italian actress
- Heinrich Petri:German Lutheran theologian and hymnwriter
- Peter Petri: Swiss-American economist
- Larry Petri: founder of the strategy-consulting firm Albright & Petri
- Jakob Petri: Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council