Surname Pfefferler - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Pfefferler: What does the surname Pfefferler mean?
The surname Pfefferler is a Germanic name, derived from the now obsolete Middle German word "pfefferle," which means "one who works with pepper." During the Middle Ages, pepper was a prized and sought-after culinary spice. As a result, some individuals may have begun to specialize in the cultivation of pepper, eventually incorporating their trade into their surname.
Originally, the spelling of the name varied greatly, with variations such as "Pfefflerer," "Feiffeler," or "Feifferle." Since the beginning of the modern period however, the spelling of the name has largely settled on the form "Pfefferler."
At the dawn of the 20th Century, most families bearing the surname Pfefferler were living in southern Bavaria. In terms of occupational records, many who bore this name were found to be employed in agriculture, although some may have also held positions as merchants.
Today, the name Pfefferler is still common in the Bavarian region. However, thanks to migration, individuals with this surname can now be found not only throughout Germany but also in international locations such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisPfefferler: Where does the name Pfefferler come from?
The last name Pfefferler is most commmonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland today. It is likely derived from the Middle High German Pfeffeler, meaning “pepper seller” or “pepper merchant,” as many surnames were taken from professions held by the bearer’s ancestors. It is found in records as early as the 16th century, as families bearing the name can be found in villages located in both Germany and Austria with mentions in government documents.
Evidence of the Pfefferler family’s presence in Germany dates back to sizeable communities in the areas of Nordhein, Baden, Bavaria, and Thuringen. The family’s presence in these areas is also supported by the last name’s frequency in Germany; while Pfefferler is not a particularly common last name, it is still found in over three-thousand different locations. Furthermore, Germany’s largest cities are likely to contain at least a handful of people with the last name Pfefferler, with Berlin representing the greatest concentration.
There are also families with the name Pfefferler living in Austria. Records indicate that between 1751 and 1772, a few hundred families bearing the name Pfefferler can be found residing in Austria and Hungary. The Pfefferler family first appears in Austrian records in 1622 and by the mid-1700s, the last name was found in the regions of Upper and Lower Austria.
In more recent times, the name Pfefferler can be found throughout Europe, as people with the name have migrated to countries including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Sweden. These countries have smaller populations of Pfefferler-bearing families than Germany or Austria, though they still play significant roles in the Pfefferler surname’s prevalence throughout Europe.
Variations of the surname Pfefferler
The surname Pfefferler is a German and Austrian categorization of the name and roughly translates to pepper. Other possible spelling variants or names with the same origin as Pfefferler include:
1. Pfeifer: This common German name is derived from the same root as Pfefferler and is the German form of Piper.
2. Pfefer: Another German variant of Pfefferler.
3. Pfefferer: This is the Hungarian version of the original Pfefferler.
4. Fefferle: This spelling is heard in Austria and Switzerland.
5. Pfepfe: A rare variant mostly found in Styria, Austria.
6. Feffley: This Anglicised version of Pfefferler can be found in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries.
7. Pepper: This form of the name is used in the United States and is an Anglicized version of the German Pfeffer.
Overall, all of the variants of the Pfefferler surname share the same root name, suggesting that the family members may have had a Germanic origin. In addition, there are many variations that can be found in different countries, depending on the specific region's language and dialect.
Famous people with the name Pfefferler
- Richard Pfefferler: lawyer, President of the Bavarian Bar Association
- Ferdinand Pfefferler: Bavarian sculptor and painter
- Matthieu Pfefferler: French professional footballer
- Hugo Pfefferler: Austrian optician and industrialist
- Edwin Pfefferler: German classical philologist and publisher
- Arthur Pfefferler: American professional baseball player
- Vera Pfefferler: Austrian movie actress
- Priscilla Pfefferler: American professional photographer
- Paula Pfefferler: German opera singer
- Terry Pfefferler: United States military veteran and active duty serviceman