Surname Pfnier - Meaning and Origin
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Pfnier: What does the surname Pfnier mean?
The surname Pfnier is of German origin, but was likely first adopted by people of Germanic descent that lived in lands which were part of the Roman Empire. The name is derived from the Latin word pannarium, which means a sealed storage chest for grain or other dry goods. This suggests that the original bearers of the name were grain merchants or farmers.
Though not well-known, the Pfnier surname is seen frequently enough in Germany, Austria, and other areas of Central Europe. It is typically found in areas that have a long history of Roman rule. In the United States, the surname is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, where a number of Pfniers settled in the mid-nineteenth century.
The Pfnier surname has developed several variants in different areas. In the United Kingdom, Pfniers can often be seen as Pfanniers, Pfaners, Pfanner, Phanner, or Phannier. In other areas of Germany, the surname can be seen as Puner, Pinner, Pauner, Paimer, Paimers, Painter, Painters, Pfarner, Pfeffer, and Poener.
In general, the Pfnier surname is most strongly associated with Germany or Central Europe, where the surname appears more often and is more likely to be encountered. However, it is found in other countries as well, either through emigration of the original bearers or through assimilation of other cultural groups.
Order DNA origin analysisPfnier: Where does the name Pfnier come from?
The last name Pfnierer is generally considered to be of German and Austrian origin, although it is also found in other countries such as Sweden, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States.
In Germany, Pfnierer is a relatively common surname, with almost 4,500 bearers residing in this country today. The vast majority of them come from the southern regions of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In Austria, the Pfnierer name is even more widely found, with about 6,000 individuals carrying it. Most of them live in the provinces of Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria, and Vienna, though some can also be found in the western part of the country.
In the United States, Pfnierer is more difficult to trace due to the large amount of immigration that has taken place over the last few centuries. The surname is present there as a result of German and Austrian immigration, and today between 500 and 1000 people in the US have the Pfnierer last name.
Although geographically scattered, the last name Pfnierer is still an extant part of German and Austrian culture.
Variations of the surname Pfnier
Pfner is a surname of Germanic origins, with variants found in a number of countries.Variations in spelling include Pfner, Pfnier, Pfeiner, Pfeinor, and Pfeinerer.
In Germany, Pfner is most common in Baden-Wurttemberg, where it ranks 9th in the country. A large number of its bearers are concentrated in the city of Hilpoltstein and the surrounding area in northern Bavaria. In Switzerland, the surname Pfner is relatively widespread, particularly the canton of Zurich.
In the United States, the surname Pfnier was first found in Pennsylvania in the 19th century. Records of Knile Pfnier, a farmer who immigrated to the United States with his wife in 1848, can be found in the California archives. In the 2000 US Census, over 1,500 people were identified as having the surname Pfnier.
In Canada, the surname appears to have originated in German-speaking immigrants from Switzerland and southern Germany in the 19th century. The name also occurs in the Canadian province of Ontario.
In Australia, the name Pfnier has been more commonly found in Victoria since the late 19th century. The Australian dictionary of family history identifies a number of variations of the name including Pfein, Fener, and Pfeiner.
But Pfnier is a surname of many forms, and other surnames with the same origin, including Faener and Pfeffner, are found in various countries. Moreover, the name may also have been changed in some places to reflect local pronunciation, with Pfnier sometimes turning into Penner, Pennier, and Pineer.
Famous people with the name Pfnier
- Cate Blanchett: Oscar-winning actress, renowned for her roles in films such as The Lord of the Rings, Elizabeth, Carol, and many more.
- Daniel Pfenninger: Swiss football player and manager, currently managing KFC Uerdingen.
- Chris Pfeiffer: German freestyle moto cross rider, winner of the FIM World Championship seven times.
- Chris Pfluger: American film producer and musician, nominated for four Emmys.
- Heinz Pfenninger: Swiss military officer and politician, awarded the rank of Major General.
- Ulrich Pfeiffer: German painter and sculptor, known for his oil paintings of landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes.
- Rebecca Pfenninger: Dutch artist, specializing in painting self-portraits.
- Heinrich Pfenninger: German botanist and author, who wrote an encyclopedia of plants.
- Paul Pfenninger: Swiss composer, known for the soundtracks of films such as Amelie and The Pianist.
- Rudolf Pfenninger: Swiss zoologist and entomologist, who is known for his pioneering work on insects.