Surname Pilzer - Meaning and Origin
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Pilzer: What does the surname Pilzer mean?
The last name Pilzer is a German and Ashkenazi Jewish surname, with its roots in the German words “pilz”, meaning “mushroom”, and “er”, meaning “man”. As such, the likely origin of the name is an occupational reference; it was likely given to individuals whose livelihoods involved growing or gathering mushrooms.
It is possible that the name implies a more general locational origin, as mushroom gathering could involve traveling to forests and woodlands. This could mean that the name was given to people living in or near such areas.
Pilzer is a fairly common surname in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, with many bearers tracing their origin to the ancient villages and towns that populated those countries in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It is believed that variations in the spelling of the name, such as Pillzer, Piller, Pilser, or Pilsser, may have arisen as a result of regional variations in dialects, with certain parts of speech being pronounced differently in different areas.
Overall, the last name Pilzer is likely to have originated as an occupational reference to mushroom gathering, though it could also refer to a more general locational origin. Its many variations across different countries indicate the surname has traveled across Europe over the years.
Order DNA origin analysisPilzer: Where does the name Pilzer come from?
The last name Pilzer is most commonly found in Germany today. It is a relatively uncommon name, and used only by a few dozen families throughout the country.
The earliest recorded instance of this last name was in the 1220s in Bavaria, which belonged to the Kingdom of Germany at that time. Since then, the Pilzer family has made its way throughout many regions of Germany, with the highest concentrations of this name being in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hamburg.
The earliest instances of the name pilzer in German documents are typically preceded by the letter M, which signifies "von" or "of" in German. This could signify that the Pilzer family was originally of noble status, or it could simply be a prefix of their home region.
The Pilzer name is also found in Europe, the United States, South America, and even Asia, with the name having spread throughout the world during German emigration in the late 19th century.
The meaning of the name Pilzer also remains a mystery. It does not have any known originating roots in either German or English, and all attempts to trace back its origin have been unsuccessful. Despite the mystery of its origin, the name Pilzer is still carried by a few hundred scattered families around the world today.
Variations of the surname Pilzer
Pilzer is a German surname, derived from the German word 'Pilz', meaning 'mushroom'. It is most likely an occupational surname for someone who grew and sold mushrooms, or lived near a place where mushrooms were collected. Variations on the surname Pilzer include Pilzner, Pilser and Pilsser.
In Austria, Pilzeir is an alternate spelling, as are Pilzher and Pillser. Additionally, in Germany surname spellings such as Pellzer and Piltzer also exist.
In the United States of America, the Pilzer surname spelling is usually Americanized as Pillzer or Pillzor, whereas in England it is often spelled Pilser. In the Netherlands, the most common spelling is Pilsser. In Germany, Pilzer also has other spellings such as Pellzer, Pilser, Pilsser and Piltzer.
In some cases, surnames derived from Pilzer include Pilzner, Pelzer, Pilson, Pilzerling, Pilsner, Pillner, and Pilmer. All of these surnames can be traced to a common Pilzer origin.
All of these spellings are very similar, and most likely have the same origin. It is likely that these surname spellings came about when emigrants went to a foreign land, and their names were written and pronounced differently than their original form. The various spellings have been preserved over time, and each one has a unique variation of the Pilzer surname.
Famous people with the name Pilzer
- John Pilzer: American former politician, served as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota from 1971 to 1975.
- David Pilzer: American singer and actor from the musical group, Pilzeye.
- Sandor Pilzecker: Hungarian physician, pharmacist and politician.
- Jack Pilzer: Israeli basketballer, currently playing professional in Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Premier League.
- Morris Pilzer: Canadian politician, represented Scarborough North in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
- Maria Pilzer: Austrian politician, political scientist and feminist. Member of the Green Party.
- Clara Pilzer: German business executive, once highest ranked female in German industry.
- András Pilz: Hungarian champion fencer, four times Épée World Cup finalist.
- Tina Pilzer: Austrian football referee, FIFA referee since 2006.
- Ing. Franz Pilzer: Austrian architect, noted for his modernist designs.