Surname Panter - Meaning and Origin

Panter: What does the surname Panter mean?

The last name Panter is a patronymic (or otherwise indicated as a derived from the given name of a father) variant of the Latin/Saxon surname Panther, which derives from the words for “panther" or "leopard”. This type of names is fairly common throughout certain parts of Europe, particularly in German-speaking countries.

Throughout its various incarnations of spelling (Panther, Panter, Pentor, Panther, Paunter, etc.), the panther surname had multiple origins. In some cases, it was a surname used to denote someone who had acquired a fierce, heroic, or courageous reputation, or was physically similar to a panther in appearance. In other cases, it was a name which designated a person who worked with or hunted the panther animal, or who owned panthers as pets.

In modern times, the last name Panter usually functions as a symbol of strength and resilience, as the panther animal is noted for its agility, stealth, and ability to adapt to any given situation. It may also represent a sense of defiance and nonconformity, as the panther often serves as a symbol or mascot for various forms of protest or social critique.

Generally speaking, the last name Panter is associated with various attributes of strength, agility, and adaptability – all of which make it a fitting surname for someone who is determined to forge their own way through life.

Panter: Where does the name Panter come from?

The last name Panter is a common surname in much of the Jewish diaspora, particularly in the USA, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. It is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe and Russia in the early 19th century, and was likely derived from the Yiddish word "pintele", which means "spark".

In the United States, Panter is particularly common amongst large Ashkenazi-Jewish communities that settled on the east coast, such as those in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. There are also a large number of Panters concentrated in Southern California, particularly in and around Los Angeles and Orange County.

In Europe, Panter is most commonly found in countries that have a large Jewish population, especially in Spain, England, and the Netherlands. It is also relatively common in Germany, Poland, and Austria.

In South Africa, Panter is the most common surname of Jews in the country, due in part to the number of Jewish refugees who arrived in South Africa during the Second World War. Similarly, there are also large numbers of Panters in Australia, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne.

Given its expansive reach, Panter is undoubtedly one of the most common surnames in the world, and certainly one of the most popular amongst the Jewish diaspora.

Variations of the surname Panter

The surname Panter (also spelt as Panther) has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants are Panhard, Pantazis, Panainte, Painte, Pendrel, Pantin, Panton, Panetta, Ponzi, Pont, and Panteri.

The surname Panter is believed to have French and German origin, deriving from the word ‘panther’ which is a large black or orange and black spotted feline. In ancient times the word panther was recognized as a symbol of bravery, power and strength, and was adopted as a personal name by some families in Europe.

In some cases, the spelling Panther has led to the surname Pantel, which is another variant of the main surname panter. In Northern Europe, the word Panther was sometimes spelled Pandher, which became Pandar in Scotland.

In other cases, the surname Panter has been adopted by families of Italian descent. They use the Italian spelling in the form Pantaleo or Pantalena. This could have been derived from the word ‘panther’, or from the Italian words ‘pan’ (bread) and ‘terra’ (earth), meaning someone who worked with bread dough.

Other variations of the surname Panter are Pender, Pendred, Pendry, Pendarvis, Pantry, Pendrey, Pantrye, and Panterar.

In the United Kingdom, the surname Panter is commonly misspelled as Paniter, Painter, Pantor, Pantar, Pannet, and Pannott.

Famous people with the name Panter

• Roscoe James Panter: an American musician, artist and poet.
• Don Panter: an American photographer and writer.
• J.B. Panter: an American guitarist and singer-songwriter.
• Keith Panter: an English footballer who played for clubs such as Rochdale AFC.
• Richie Panter: an English professional wrestler.
• Mervyn Panter: an English cricketer.
• Arthur Panter: an English tennis player.
• Gary Panter: an American designer, painter and cartoonist.
• Lawrence Panter: a Canadian actor and singer.
• Damien Panter: an English footballer who played for clubs such as Huddersfield Town.

Other surnames

Pantekoek