Surname Paefgen - Meaning and Origin
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Paefgen: What does the surname Paefgen mean?
The surname Paefgen is believed to be of German origin. It is a combination of the German words "paeffel" meaning small and "gen" meaning village or settlement.
The surname likely originated in the 17th century when the last name was first used. During that time, few people were able to own land, so many families lived in small villages, settlements, or hamlets, with the last name Paefgen being used to denote those from such places.
Today, the surname can be found in Germany, Holland, South Africa, Australia, and the United States. In the United States, many of the individuals who bear this last name have German ancestry, with most coming from Wisconsin and Michigan.
Paefgen is often a surname associated with hardworking individuals, particularly in the agricultural industry. Those with this name typically put a lot of effort into their work and show a strong commitment to their family and their work ethic.
Overall, the last name Paefgen is a combination of two German words which denote origin from a small settlement. It can be found in many parts of the world today, and is often associated with individuals who lead industrious lives and display a strong commitment to their family and their work.
Order DNA origin analysisPaefgen: Where does the name Paefgen come from?
The last name Paefgen is most commonly found in Germany. In fact, about 8,300 people in Germany carry the Paefgen surname. It is also found in even smaller numbers in other European countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and Poland.
Many people in the Paefgen family stem from the city of Magdeburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Here, records of the family date back to at least the 14th century. It's likely that this is where the Paefgen family first originated, as many people with this surname still live there today. Before this, however, the Paefgens may have been of Flemish origin and settled in Magdeburg.
Today, the Paefgen surname is scattered all across the world. In the United States, it can be found in much smaller numbers than it is in Germany. According to the US Census Bureau, there are currently less than 1,000 individuals living in the United States who carry the Paefgen last name. Nonetheless, its presence in the US shows that the family has spread quite far and is now well dispersed across many countries.
Overall, the Paefgen surname is most commonly found in Germany today. It has a presence in other countries, but it's true home lies in the city of Magdeburg. For hundreds of years, the Paefgens have called this part of Germany home. And, though the family has spread all over the world, the largest portion of them still remain in Germany, where the name first originated.
Variations of the surname Paefgen
The surname Paefgen is of German origin, and is derived from the Germanic personal name Pagan, which in turn is thought to derive from an old Roman nickname Pavo, which meant peacock.
Variants of the surname Paefgen include Pfaffen, Pfauen, Pfefgen, Paefgens, Peffgen, Papaefgen, Paffgen, Paefgen, Potfeffen, Pfefen, Pfaufen, Pfaeffen, Pfaffgen, and Paffen.
Other spellings and related surnames include Paff, Pfender, Pfefferkorn, Baffa, German, Peffers, Paffrath, Peffley, Pfaffmann, Pefferle, Baffling, Peffers, and Pefferlein.
Many of these surname variants originate from small villages and towns within Germany, such as Pfaffenberg, Pfaffenhausen, Pfeffengermühle and Pfauenhausen.
Many Americans with the surname Paefgen have its original spelling changed by immigration officers or twentieth century US census takers when entering the US. A good example of this is the popular American actor Paul Leyden, whose name was changed from its original German spelling 'Paule Pfeffgen' upon entering Ellis Island.
The surname Paefgen is still present in many areas of Germany today, though many bearers of the name have spread across the world since the 19th century. North America, in particular, has seen many German immigrants settle over the years, often with the surname Paefgen.
Famous people with the name Paefgen
- Daimler and Bentley chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Dieter Päefgen
- German Formula One driver Nick Heidfeld
- German professional football player Thomas Päefgen
- Carsten Paefgen, German handball player
- Jacob Paefgen, German organist and writer
- Hans-Joachim Paefgen,German World War II U-boat commander
- Balthasar Päefgen, German botanical sculptor
- Riot Altom Paefgen, American philanthropist and wildlife conservationist
- Austrian nobleman and general Paul von Paefgen
- German actor Werner Päefgen