Surname Pech - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Discovering Ancestral Roots And Unforeseen Kin Through iGENEA DNA Test
Embarking on the DNA ancestry journey with iGENEA was like unlocking hidden mysteries of my lineage, specifically related to my surname 'Pech.' Connected with unexpected kin and discovered exciting tales.
W. Pech
read morePech: What does the surname Pech mean?
The surname Pech is of multiple origins. In French, it means "sin" or "misfortune," derived from the Old French word "peche," meaning sin. This surname could have been a nickname for a person who was considered sinful or unfortunate.
In Czech and German, Pech translates to "bad luck" or "misfortune." This could have also been used as a nickname for someone who seemed to always have bad luck.
However, the most common origin is likely from Jewish (Ashkenazic) tradition, where it is an occupational name for a baker, from the Yiddish word "pek," which means "to bake."
It’s essential to note that surnames had different origins, evolving from an individual's occupation, location, or characteristic. The exact meaning will often depend on the family's history and may differ between families with the same surname.
Order DNA origin analysisPech: Where does the name Pech come from?
The last name Pech is most commonly found in Central Europe. In Germany, it is the 3,254th most common surname. In Austria, it is the 1,590th most common surname. It is also common in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Pech family traditionally used the same coat of arms which has the two colours of green and gold, symbolising loyalty and strength. The image is of an eagle that is used to represent ability to follow orders, to solve problems quickly and to live with firm loyalty.
Pech is also a common surname among the descendants of German settlers and immigrants who took their name to countries such as the United States, Canada, South America and parts of Australia. If you have found the Pech surname in your family tree, you may have German ancestry.
Many of the historical references to the Pech family involve professional military service. They date as far back as the 1300s in the Holy Roman Empire. During that time, many people took their family name from the roles they served in the army. In this case, Pech is believed to represent a certain type of soldier whose duties were to be active in combat, to quickly react to orders and to be loyal to the cause.
Given its roots in Central Europe, the Pech surname has remained most common in that region of the world.
Variations of the surname Pech
The surname Pech is an old and historic surname originating from England, Scotland, Italy, and the Czech Republic. It is believed to come from the Old English word “pohha”, which can mean bird flock, dove, or pigeon.
Variants of the surname Pech include Peach, Peche, Peache, Pecheur, and Pecheux. Spellings include Peech, Peeches, Peich, Peichs, and Pech.
In England, Scotland, and Italy, the surname has been anglicized and some other variations exist. In Scotland, the variations are Peech and Peeches, and in Italy they are Pecchia and Pecchi. In the Czech Republic, variant spellings include Pech, Pejcha, Pajch, and Pejchman.
There are also some notable surnames that are derived from Pech, which include the following: Pekarik (peck-a-reek), Pekar (peck-ar), Percic (per-sick) and Pieterse (pieter-se).
In addition to these variants of Pech, there are also some related surnames and names that have similar roots, and have the same overall meaning: Pichel (meaning 'small rotation'), Pichet (meaning 'tile'), Pechar (meaning 'sparrow'), Peschel (meaning 'kingfisher'), Pecchia (meaning 'game bird'), Picek (meaning 'bulbul'), Picchio (meaning 'woodpecker') and Prucha (meaning 'stag').
Famous people with the name Pech
- Frantisek Pech: Czech ice hockey player, playing between 1977 and 1991, who also captained the Czechoslovakian National Team.
- Gerd Pech: German rugby union player, playing for ASV Durlach in the 1980s.
- Artur Pech: Austrian table tennis player, competing as part of the Austrian National Team internationally throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
- Andrea Pech: German alpine skier, who won a bronze medal at the Junior World Ski Championships in 1997.
- Teresa Pech: Czech pentathlete, who competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics.
- Dimitri Pech: Luxembourgian athlete, who took part in the 2012 Olympics in London.
- Patrick Pech: French canoeist, who represented France at both the 2010 and 2014 European Canoeing Championships.
- Robert Pech: French modern pentathlete who competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Michael Pech: Austrian cross-country skier, who competed in the 2002, 2006 and 2008 Winter Olympics.
- Richard Pech: Czech sports shooter, participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships.