Surname Pfennigschmidt - Meaning and Origin
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Pfennigschmidt: What does the surname Pfennigschmidt mean?
The last name Pfennigschmidt is a German name. The literal translation of the name is "Penny Smith". In German, Pfennig means "cent" and Schmidt means "smith". This implies that the family name likely has its origin in a profession. Smiths were integral to many communities throughout history, and they were often responsible for creating tools and forging metal.
A possible origin of the Pfennigschmidt family could therefore be a metalworker who was paid in coins. This would make them a Pfennigsmid, or Penny Smith. As the profession became more specialised, the people with the occupation may have adopted the family name on their own.
The spelling of the name has changed over the years. In some places, the letter "d" may have been added to the end, turning it into Pfennigschmidtd. In other places, the letter "h" may have been removed from between the "n" and the "g" to become Pfennigschmit.
The name Pfennigschmidt continues to have an association with metalworking, craftsmanship and the careful creation of tools. It is a rare name and is not widely found throughout Europe, but is indicative of the proud history and traditions of Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisPfennigschmidt: Where does the name Pfennigschmidt come from?
The last name Pfennigschmidt (or its variants Pfennigschmidt and Pennigschmidt) is most commonly found today in Germany. It is particularly concentrated in the states of Bavaria, Hesse, and Thuringia, with smaller pockets present in other German states.
The name is most likely of German origin and may have emerged as a toponymic name for someone whose residence was located near a small currency, a "Pfennig" (old German for penny). The additional suffix “schmidt” implies the original bearer was likely a craftsman or tradesman of some sort.
Although the exact date of adoption of the name is unknown, it is likely that the name was borne by several generations of individuals since at least the mid-1400s. There is documented presence of the name in various cities throughout German-speaking areas towards the end of the medieval period, including references to Conrad Pennigschmidt of Wiener Neustadt in 1550, Jaegenes Pennigschmidt of Regensburg in 1558, and others.
Today, the name is shared by about 1,400 individuals in Germany, making it relatively rare in most modern contexts. Outside of Germany, the name is largely absent, with no more than a few dozen individuals on record in other countries.
Variations of the surname Pfennigschmidt
The surname Pfennigschmidt is an old German occupational surname derived from Middle High German Pfenning which means ‘head-coin’. It was used to refer to a coin maker or moneyer. This surname is also spelled Pfennigschmidt, Fenigschmidt, Pfenningschmidt, Pennigschmidt, Pheningstmid, Ph reactive and Finning Schmidt.
Variations of this surname include such names as Penninger, Pennings, Penninck, Pennink, Penne, Penn, Pennekamp, Penick, Penke, Pennkens, Pennings, Penning, Pennixon, Pennig, Pennick, Pennigmann and Pennigman.
The name is also found in several other countries including but not limited to the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Poland, Belgium, and Russia. Variations of this surname are also found in other languages such as Dutch, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, and Finnish.
Variants of this surname include variants based on regional spelling and pronunciation conventions, such as Pfehnschmidt, Femingschmidt, and Paennigschmidt. Nicknames and diminutised forms of this name include 'Fenni' and 'Fenig'.
Surnames derived from this original version may also appear as different surnames entirely in different regions due to dialectal changes. A Dutch form of this name is Pinnick and a Danish-Norwegian form is Finningsmitt. Similarly, a Polish form of this name is Fenikowskw and a French version is Fenings.
The surname Pfennigschmidt can also be found in other variations such as 'Pfennigmacher' (German for 'moneyer'), 'Fehndigsmid' (Dutch for 'coin smith'), and 'Finigan' (Irish for 'coin maker').
Overall, the surname Pfennigschmidt can be seen throughout Europe as well as many other countries in a variety of spellings and as different surnames. It has been changed and transformed over time due to regional accent and dialectal differences which has resulted in an abundance of variations.
Famous people with the name Pfennigschmidt
- Carl Pfennigschmidt (1814: 1891), German-American printer.
- Hermann Pfennigschmidt (1896: 1963), German entomologist.
- Gustav Pfennigschmidt (1855: 1924), German sculptor.
- Ernst Pfennigschmidt (1850: 1917), German poet.
- Heinrich Christian Pfennigschmidt (1781: 1848), German-American businessman.
- Johann Wilhelm Pfennigschmidt (1759: 1832), German composer.
- Maximilian Pfennigschmidt (1890: 1968), Austrian novelist.
- Wilhelm Pfennigschmidt (1817: 1890), German botanist.
- Johann Heinrich Pfennigschmidt (1709: 1784), German organist.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Pfennigschmidt (1785: 1863), Prussian-American settler.