Surname Pichlmayer - Meaning and Origin
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Pichlmayer: What does the surname Pichlmayer mean?
The last name Pichlmayer is a German name which most likely originates from the Bavarian region of Germany. It is derived from the terms ‘Pichl’ which means ‘small’, and ‘mayer’, a common surname suffix denoting a local magistrate or mayor. Therefore, the name likely indicated that an ancestor either lived or held a position of authority in a small rural area.
Pichlmayer may have also been a nickname for a person who was of small stature or held a subservient role in society. Alternatively, it could refer to someone who was an especially talented worker in a specific trade, such as a potter or a miller.
As of a 2020 survey, Pichlmayer was the 1,362nd most popular last name in Germany. In the United States it is rare, with only a few hundred people having it as a part of their name. Despite its unusualness, Pichlmayer still transcends throughout many countries worldwide and is not only a testimony to one family's unique history, but to the vast complexity of mankind's rich culture.
Order DNA origin analysisPichlmayer: Where does the name Pichlmayer come from?
The last name Pichlmayer is a relatively uncommon name today, but is primarily concentrated in Austrian-speaking countries, such as Austria, Germany, South Tyrol (Italy), and Liechtenstein. The origin of the name dates back to the Middle Ages when it was used as an occupational name, taken from the Pichl family, who were employed in various forest-related jobs such as harvesting wood and timber.
Today, the majority of people bearing the Pichlmayer name live within Austria. According to the 2019 Austrian census, approximately 1,700 people bear the name. Out of those, the vast majority (1,473) live in the federal state of Upper Austria, which incidentally is also the location of Pichlmayer's first known origin.
The name is also present in large numbers in the neighbouring German states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, with 1,047 and 296 people respectively.
Furthermore, the name has also spread to other parts of Europe, particularly the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Croatia. While still rare, there are even a number of people with the Pichlmayer name in the United States and Canada.
The Pichlmayer surname continues to be relatively rare throughout the world, but those bearing it should consider themselves part of a special group rooted in history and tradition.
Variations of the surname Pichlmayer
The surname Pichlmayer is of Germanic origin, most likely a variant of the name Picklmayer, with possible variants including Picklmayr, Pichlmayr, and Pichlmeier. Variations, spellings and other surnames of similar origin include Pichltrauer, Pichelmayer, Pichelmaier, and Pickhlmayer.
The Picklmayer/Pichlmayer/Pichltrauer surnames all have a similar sound and meaning, typically describing someone from the region of Bavaria, Germany, where several similar-sounding surnames are found. It can be derived from the German 'pichel', meaning ‘bucket’ or 'pfiffel', meaning 'pipe' or 'plush toys', as well as 'mayer' or ‘meier’ which mean 'mayor' or ‘skirmisher’ respectively. This suggests that the original bearer of the surname was probably either a mayor or a skilled fighter or huntsman.
The spelling and pronunciation of 'Pichlmayer' is commonly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but in other parts of the world, the name may take on slightly different spellings. In the United States or Canada, for example, the surname may be found spelled as Picklmayer, Picklmayr, Pichlmayr, or Pichlmeir. In other countries, the surname may take on new spellings due to the influence of local languages, such as Pelxlmayer in South Africa, or Pluchlmayer in the Czech Republic. Additionally, other surnames may have the same origin as the Pichlmayer surname, such as Pelxmair, Pichlmaier, and Pickholtz.
Famous people with the name Pichlmayer
- Karl Pichlmayer (1881-1942): Austrian actor and theatre director.
- Hubert Pichlmayer (born 1975): German geneticist and recipient of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize.
- Doreen Pichlmayer (born 1985): German Paralympic athlete and gold medalist.
- Ferdinand Pichlmayer (1914-2014): Austrian painter and sculptor.
- Fabian Pichlmayer (born 1972): Austrian Paralympic sailor and winner of bronze medals.
- Alois Pichlmayer (1886-1961): Austrian-born entrepreneur and art collector.
- Josef Pichlmayer (1902-1965): Austrian-born art historian and museologist.
- Helmut Pichlmayer (1917-1985): Austrian painter and printmaker.
- Constantin Pichlmayer (1853-1916): Austrian-born composer and music critic.
- Rudolf Pichlmayer (1911-1984): Austrian physicist and philosopher.