Surname Pelser - Meaning and Origin
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Pelser: What does the surname Pelser mean?
The last name Pelser is of Dutch origin, and is derived from the Dutch word “pelser,” meaning “maker of fur coats.” The family name is believed to have originated from the Low Countries during the 16th century, when fur coat makers were in high demand. The first recorded use of the surname dates to 1671, when a Dutchman by the name of Jan Pelser was listed in a document from Monnickendam in the Northern Netherlands.
The word “pelser” is also related to the Middle Dutch word “pelse,” which means “pelt,” or “an animal skin with the fur attached,” a valuable natural material for fur coats during the winter seasons. As such, the surname Pelser could be seen as a representation of the craft of furrier itself.
The Pelser family were likely furriers by trade and skill, and as a family name they helped underscore the skills and craft that would have been needed to create such garments out of natural animal skins. It’s possible that the Pelsers provided these services to the affluent and royal families of the Dutch provinces, undergoing the substantial labor intensive process required to craft fur coats.
In modern times, Pelser is a surname that continues to be closely associated with the production and craftsmanship of fur coats. To this day, there are Pelsers who continue the trade and provide these valuable winter goods, although the methods used in furrier production have certainly evolved to more efficient and modern solutions over the past few centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisPelser: Where does the name Pelser come from?
The last name Pelser is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is one of the most common surnames in the country. The surname is estimated to be used by around 8,000 people living in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a population of around 17 million, and the Pelser surname accounts for only 0.05% of the total population. The surname is especially common in the provinces of North and South Holland, Zeeland, and Utrecht.
The Pelser surname is believed to have first originated in the western regions of the Netherlands. The origin of the name is not known for sure, but some sources suggest it may have been derived from the Dutch word for “pelt” or “fell” (pelzen in Dutch).
The Pelser surname can also be found outside the Netherlands. There is a small number of people who have the Pelser name living in the United States, as well as in Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and other countries. There are several variations of the surname, such as Pellers and Pellens, which can also be found in other countries.
Although the Pelser surname is most commonly found in the Netherlands today, it is still an interesting surname with an interesting origin. It is still possible to find people with this last name living in other countries, which adds to the diversity of the name.
Variations of the surname Pelser
The spelling and variants of the surname Pelser are numerous, with Pelsers, Pelzers, Peelsers, Pellzers, Peltzers, Polzers, and Polszers being among the most common.
The Pelser surname is largely of German and Dutch origin, and is derived from the Low German petzel, which means “little”. It is the diminutive of the personal name Peter which is also derived from the Greek petros and from the Latin petrus. The Pelser surname is dispersed throughout northern Europe and the United States. It is especially prevalent in Germany and the Netherlands, and is among the top 50 surnames in both countries.
In Germany, Pelser and its variants are most commonly seen in the regions of Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, and North-Rhine Westphalia. In the Netherlands, the Pelser name can be found in the provinces of Noord-Holland, Utrecht, and Limburg.
Many Pelsers immigrated to the United States during the 19th century. They can also be found in Canada, Brazil, Argentina, France, South Africa,and Mexico, indicating a wide dispersal around the world.
In some cases, Pelser has become Anglicized and is now spelled as "Peltser". Similarly, a variety of other spellings of the name exist, including Pelsers, Pelzers, Peelsers, Pellzers, Peltzers, Polzers, and Polszers, indicating the everchanging nature of language and the wealth of possible surnames.
Famous people with the name Pelser
- Adriaan Pelser: a former South African professional rugby union player.
- Andre Pelser: a South African composer and actor.
- Durand Pelser: a former South African international cricketer.
- George Pelser: a South African lawyer and a former Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa.
- Johann Pelser: a South African professor and a South African Senior Scientist at the Ice and Climate Division of the University of the Witwatersrand.
- Manie Pelser: a South African biologist and researcher on genetic mutation in plants.
- Willem Pelser: a Dutch politician from the Christian Democratic Appeal.
- Chris Pelser: a contemporary South African artist from Pretoria.
- Ella Maria Pelser: a South African Olympic athlete.
- Henning Pelser: a South African Nobel Prize-winning bioengineer.