Surname Pesselt - Meaning and Origin

Pesselt: What does the surname Pesselt mean?

The last name Pesselt is of German origin, and it derived from the Proto-Germanic personal name Pōsalaz, which was composed of elements meaning "foot-elf". The surname was likely a gotra (nickname) that described someone who had a graceful gait or ran quickly.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Pesselt dates to the year 1334, when Johannes Pesselt of Magdeburg appeared in a document cited by the Hamburger Staatsarchiv. It was also found in numerous records of the 16th century in Baden, such as the birth of Melchior Pesselt in 1590, and in 17th century documents in western Germany (in towns like Frankfurt, Manheim, and Leipzig).

The surname Pesselt is listed as a variation of the name Pelz, which itself is derived from the Middle High German word 'pelz' meaning furry. This was likely a nickname for someone with furry hair or clothes, or for someone who lived in a nano-region known for its fur trade.

The Pesselt family has also given its name to a region in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, and the family is also found in Denmark, Austria, and the United States. In all of these places, the surname typically refers to those with a distinct set of physical characteristics, such as a graceful gait, or to those engaged in professions related to the fur trade.

Pesselt: Where does the name Pesselt come from?

The last name Pesselt is a rare name, and it has been found mostly in Germany and France. It is especially common in western Germany, although it is also found in other areas of the country. In France, the name is primarily found in the region of Alsace. Records indicate that there are still a few Pesselt families living in Alsace today.

The origin of the name Pesselt is uncertain, though it is believed to be either an old German name or a regional name from the French region of Alsace. It could also be of Dutch origin.

In addition to Germany and France, the last name Pesselt can be found in other parts of Europe, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Lithuania. Records from the United States indicate that a few Pesselt families made their way to America in the late 1800s or early 1900s. Today, there are a few Pesselt families living in the United States.

In short, the last name Pesselt is quite rare but is primarily found in western Germany and the French region of Alsace, as well as scattered throughout other parts of Europe and the United States.

Variations of the surname Pesselt

Pesselt is a German surname originating from northern Germany and is derived from the Middle Low German word ‘pesel’, meaning ‘flat hat’. Variants of the name include Pesel, Peselt, Pessell, Peisel, Peiselt, Pessl, Pessler, Pösel, Poesel, and Poesell.

The surname has spread all across the world, and as it has occurred, different spellings have formed. Variations can be found in other parts of Germany, such as Paesel, Paesl, Paesler, Paessel, Pahsels, Passel, Pessel, Peseler, and Peessler, as well as Austria, where forms like Passell, Pessl, and Peesell are common.

In America, like many other German surnames, the Pesselt name has been Americanized. Common spellings now in the United States include Pasel, Pessl, and Pessel. It is also somewhat common to see Pessel spelled without the final ‘t’.

Surnames of similar origin may also be found in various countries across Europe. In Poland, the variants Pasek and Paszek are most popular while in the Czech Republic the most popular forms are Paselka and Paselka.

In France, there are the forms Paesel, Pessel, and Pezel, and in Spain, the forms Pesol, Pesel, and Pesol are found, whereas in Italy, the most common variants are Pasella, Pesella, and Pesole.

Overall, Pesselt is a German surname with multiple spellings all over the world, creating various variants, international surnames, and localized spellings.

Famous people with the name Pesselt

• Heinrich Pesselt: Germanwikipedian historian.
• Pia Pesselt: German actress
• Peter Pesselt: German banker
• Gottfried Pesselt: German politician
• Ernst Emil Pesselt: German economist
• Fred Pesselt: American football player
• John Pesselt: American grain merchant
• August Pesselt: German sculptor
• Carl Wilhelm Pesselt: German astronomer
• Johannes Pesselt: Dutch dermatologist
• Suzanne Pesselt: American Realtor
• William Pesselt: Swedish actor and director
• Christina Pesselt: German-Jewish school teacher
• Matthias Pesselt: German civil engineer
• Karl Friedrich Pesselt: German botanist
• Werner Pesselt: Austrian geologist
• Robert Pesselt: American railroad magnate
• Alfred Pesselt: German musicologist
• Albert Pesselt: German theologian
• Maria Pesselt: German cardiologist

Other surnames

Pesselowicz