Surname Pevsner - Meaning and Origin
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Pevsner: What does the surname Pevsner mean?
The last name Pevsner is a patronymic surname of Russian/Czech, Dutch and Jewish origin. It is derived from the given name Pech, Pevs, Pevzner or Pevznerchik, which are all derived from the Czech word for "craftsman" or "cobbler".
This surname was most likely taken on by a descendant of a craftsman who may have earned the nickname because of his trade and it was then passed down through the generations.
In the United States, the name is primarily found in the Jewish immigrant communities, however, there are some instances of non-Jewish Pevsners. The name is found in Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic as well.
Pevsner is most commonly found as a Jewish surname. Since the surname is of patronymic origin, it would refer to the father or paternal grandfather of the bearer.
The name Pevsner likely originated as a nickname for one who crafted footwear. Today, individuals named Pevsner are likely to be professionals in the creative or artistic fields, given that the name invokes the idea of skilled craftsmanship.
Order DNA origin analysisPevsner: Where does the name Pevsner come from?
The last name Pevsner is most commonly found nowadays among the population of Russia. The Pevsner family was originally a Russian Jewish family which had its roots in the 16th century. It descended from members of the Jewish community who had settled in different parts of the Russian Empire. In the 1700s, the Pevsner family began to move westward, settling in a variety of locations around Central and Eastern Europe.
Today, the Pevsner surname is mostly found in Russia, where it is still quite well-known. There are also pockets of the family living in countries such as Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, and Lithuania. Most recently, the surname is also found among those who settled in the United States after the fall of communism in Europe. It is also possible to find a few Pevsner families in other parts of the world, such as Canada, Australia, or South Africa.
The Pevsner family is renowned for its members' accomplishments. For example, the renowned art historian and critic of the same name, Nikolaus Pevsner, was born into the family and continues to be a known figure in academia today. Many of the family’s members have gone on to great achievements through the centuries.
In sum, the Pevsner surname is now mostly found in Russia, but can also be found in other parts of Europe, North America, and the world. The Pevsner family remains well known for its members' achievements, and its history remains an interesting one for many.
Variations of the surname Pevsner
The surname Pevsner is mainly a Jewish (Ashkenazic) name. The variants of the surname that are most commonly found include forms such as Pevzner, Pebzner, Pepzner, Pebesner, Pebesnor, Pevzener, Pevsener, Pebesener, and Pevzener.
The spelling variations of this surname occurred due to the lack of consistency when registering names in the ancient times. Historical records show that many versions of the Pevsner surname existed and evolved as one moved from one country or region to the other.
The spelling of the Pevsner surname also changed over time due to the influence of other languages. For example, in German the spelling of the surname was "Pfaffeschnae". In Russian, the spelling varied from "Pifsner" to "Pepsenr".
The surname is also found in many other forms such as Pevner, Pevznur, Puvsner, Pevsnar, Pevsenr, Pathsner, Patzner, Patzman, Patzenz, Patzmanz, Patznez, Patzennez, Patz, and Peytsner.
It is important to note that the spelling variations of the same name may also be part of different families as the surname had been altered in many ways throughout the centuries. For example, the variant Pebesener may be used by one branch of the Pevsner family while the variant Pepzner may be used by another. Therefore, it is important to check different possible spelling variants when searching for records of the Pevsner surname.
Famous people with the name Pevsner
- Sir Nikolaus Pevsner (1902-1983): Born in Leipzig, Germany, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner was a leading English art historian and critic, best known for his writings on the history of art and architecture.
- Antony Pevsner (1886-1962): Brother of Nikolaus, Antony was a notable Constructivist sculptor and teacher.
- Nathaniel Pevsner (1932-2019): Nathaniel was an American microbiologist and immunologist. He was professor emeritus of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine, a position he held for over 20 years.
- Brian Pevsner (1917-1998): Brian was an artist, graphic designer, and book illustrator, known for his abstract paintings and visionary works.
- Dan Pevsner (1932-2014): Dan was an American physicist, renowned for his work in the fields of solid-state electronics, magnetism, and optics.
- Frank Pevsner (1917-2016): Frank was a Hollywood actor and voice actor, who appeared in various motion pictures and television shows, including The Wizard of Oz and The Addams Family.
- Sally Pevsner (1921-1999): Sally was an American actress and animal rights advocate, best known for her work on the film adaptation of Peter Pan.
- Irina Pevsner (born 1945): Irina is an award-winning film director and screenwriter. She is the daughter of Nikolay and sister of Antony Pevsner.
- Klaus Pevsner (1901-1969): Klaus was an Austrian-American physicist. He co-authored a highly acclaimed book on the fundamentals of electromagnetic fields.
- Simon Pevsner (1906-2002): Simon was a German-born American physicist, whose work in the fields of cosmology, radio astronomy and special relativity earned him a great deal of professional recognition.