Surname Pfisterer - Meaning and Origin

DNA Test Journey: Rediscovering Pfisterer Ancestry and Reshaping Identity

In their search for answers about their past, one individual underwent a DNA test with iGENEA. What they discovered about their Pfisterer lineage wasn't something they expected, completely altering their self-perception and connections to their roots.

M. Pfisterer

Pfisterer: What does the surname Pfisterer mean?

The surname Pfisterer is of German origin and is an occupational name for a baker. It is derived from the Middle High German word "pfister," which means "baker." The "er" at the end indicates a person who performs a certain job or role, hence "Pfisterer" would mean "the baker." This name would have been passed down from generations amongst families who had been bakers for centuries. The introduction of surnames in Germany dates back to the Middle Ages when populations were growing and it became necessary to differentiate between individuals with the same personal (first) name, often leading to the adoption of occupation-based surnames. However, it does not necessarily entail that contemporary bearers of the surname Pfisterer are bakers by profession.

Pfisterer: Where does the name Pfisterer come from?

The last name Pfisterer is most commonly found in Germany. The Pfisterer family has called Germany their home for multiple centuries. Pfisterer is the ninth most common name in the country, and its various forms can be found in record books going back to the fifteenth century. While the family was largely concentrated in the southern German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, its members have spread out to other parts of the country and even to other lands.

In recent centuries Pfisterers have emigrated from Germany and established their families in new countries like the United States, where the name is becoming more and more rare. Still, those of the Pfisterer name can be found in parts of Europe, the Americas, Australia, and more. The Pfisterer name is an old one, and it is kept alive by its existing members around the world.

Variations of the surname Pfisterer

The surname Pfisterer is derived from the German word "pfistert", meaning a person who works or sells materials used for clothes mending, such as needles and thread. Variants of this surname include Pfister, Pfeister, Pfisterr, and Pfeisterr, as well as the surnames Fister, Fisterer, and Feister.

The name Pfisterer has become quite common in Germany and Austria, but, it has also spread to other countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Spelling variants of the name are common due to its many accents and dialects, as well as the exchange of letters and sounds over time.

In the United States, there are many surnames with similar formations and spellings, including Fister, Fisterry, Pflister, Pflistery, Pfistery, Fiester, Piester, Fester, and Phester. Spelling variants of Pfisterer with an "er" at the end are also common, such as Pfisterrer, Pfeisterrer, and Piesterrer.

In certain dialects of Germany, the name is sometimes altered to Pfisterre, Pfisterbacher, and Pfisterger. Other related surnames may include Pfistermeister, Fistermacher, and Feistermacher.

In Germany today, many spellings of Pfisterer are actually the same name, even if they are pronounced very differently, depending on the region. Therefore, the same family can have different spellings. A unified spelling of Pfisterer can be used to unify the family's identity.

Famous people with the name Pfisterer

• Jeff Pfisterer: American sitarist from Gainesville, Florida and a founding member of inventive instrumental band Unexplained Transmissions.
• Sabine Pfisterer: German actress, best known for her roles in the films ‘Am Freitag, dem 13.’ and ‘The Country Doctor.’
• Edith Pfisterer: Austrian writer and poet, nominated for the 2009 Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Klaus Pfisterer: Austrian entrepreneur, founder and owner of the international wine trading company Pfisterer Wines.
• Marlies Pfisterer: Austrian figure skating coach, considered one of the world’s foremost experts on figure skating.
• Charles Pfisterer: Artist and scholar, known for his books ‘Historic U.S. Art of the 19th Century’ and ‘The Art of Charles Pfisterer.’
• Eva Pfisterer: German model, considered one of the most influential German models of the late 1990s.
• Nikita Pfisterer: Swiss sculptor and installation artist, winner of the Swiss Art Award in 2011.
• Brigitte Pfisterer: German photographer, featured in several solo exhibitions in Europe and the United States.
• Ingo Pfisterer: German sculptor and installation artist, best known for the installation ‘A Million Reflections’ featured in the 2010 Venice Biennale.

Other surnames

PfisterPfistermeisterPfistert