Surname Peller - Meaning and Origin

Peller: What does the surname Peller mean?

The last name Peller is of German and Jewish origin. In both countries it is derived from the Middle High German word "Peller" meaning "farmer". It is likely that the name arose independently in both countries from this common origin, as families from both countries settled in the same geographical area.

The surname Peller is a relatively uncommon name, but is found in several different variants, depending on the region. In Germany, it is recorded as Peller, Pellern, and Pellers, while in Jewish communities it is often written as Peler, Pellner, Pellers, and Pelers.

The majority of people with the last name Peller can be found in Germany and Austria. In the United States, the Peller surname is found mainly in states that have historically attracted immigrants from these countries such as New York, Pennsylvania, and California.

Early bearers of the last name Peller were likely farmers. While there are no records of the actual spelling of the name until the 19th century, records from Poland show a man with the name Yehudah Peler, meaning "farmer".

Overall, the last name Peller is usually associated with farming, whether through its origin as a descriptive surname or because of the historical prevalence of the Peller family in agricultural communities. The Peller family has likely spread to many countries throughout history, as has their unique name.

Peller: Where does the name Peller come from?

The surname Peller is most common today in Central and Eastern Europe, specifically in Hungary and Austria. It can also be found throughout the United States, though in smaller numbers.

In Hungary, around twenty-six thousand people carry the surname, with the largest population being found in Budapest. This surname is also common across the Austrian border with an estimated eleven thousand people bearing the name.

The origin of the name Peller is thought to stem from the medieval Hungarian word 'pella' meaning 'princely'. This origin is supported by the many noble families bearing this surname.

Peller has also been adopted as a first name, especially in the United States, where applicants with a non-English name sometimes change the spelling of their original surname to make it more English-sounding.

In the US today, the Census Bureau keeps data on the number of people with specific surnames. In accordance with this, the last name Peller ranks nine thousand three hundred and sixty-one out of the hundred and forty most common surnames in the country.

In short, the last name Peller is most commonly found in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the United States, with the largest population residing in Hungary and Austria. Though the name is relatively rare in the US, it is rising in popularity.

Variations of the surname Peller

The surname Peller is of Jewish and German origin, and can be seen spelled in many different ways. Here are some of the variants of the surname Peller:

Peller, Pellers, Pelehr, Pellher, Pellhor, Pilhar, Pellar, Plar, Poller, Taller, Paler, Plendaer, Paloch, Pollar, Pelerer, Plarner, Pilars, Peleren, Pilhorn, Pillars, Pellaros, Pellhauer, and Ansbacher.

In the Jewish tradition, the spelling of names is often adapted to the language and culture of the family's local language and culture. That's why you'll find variants of the Peller surname in multiple languages. This includes Yiddish variants such as Pilhar, Peller, Pellhauer, and Paloch, as well as German variants such as Pelehr, Pellar, Poller, and Taller.

There are also German-Jewish surnames derived from Peller, such as Ansbacher and Plendaer. These were derived from the German towns of Anspach and Plenden, where Peller families resided.

Additionally, there are socialite and professional variants of the Peller surname. These include Paler for a tailor, Plar for a teacher, and Plarner for a miller.

Overall, the Peller surname is derived from German and Jewish roots and the spelling of the surname has been adapted to many different cultures and languages over the centuries. With various spellings, socialite and professional family branches, and surnames derived from the Peller name, the Peller surname is a unique and interesting family name.

Famous people with the name Peller

• Gabor Peller: Hungarian theologian and philosopher, first president of the Szeged chapter of Franciscan Order
• Antal Peller: Hungarian politician, Minister of Agriculture from 1872 to 1875
• Jim Peller: American actor and comedian, well-known for his roles in The Flintstones, The Two of Us, and The Beverly Hillbillies
• Ottó Peller: Hungarian statistician, author of “Methods of Statistical Computing”
• Jenő Peller: Hungarian watercolor artist, member of the Halmai school of painting
• Ivor Peller: British politician, Labour Member of Parliament for Romney from 1979 to 1983
• David Peller: American filmmaker, best known for documentary films on labor issues
• Márta Peller: Hungarian-Italian actress, well-known for her appearances in films such as “The Brothers Karamazov” and “Of Mice and Men”
• Margaret Peller: American politician and first woman mayor of Newark, Ohio in the late 19th century
• László Peller: Hungarian chemist and biologist known for his contributions to the field of chemistry

Other surnames

PellemPelleterPelletier