Surname Pfau - Meaning and Origin
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Touching the Past, Understanding the Present: An Emotional Journey with iGENEA's DNA Test
Exploring my family history with iGENEA has been an emotional voyage of self-discovery and self-identity. Discovering a mixed German and Scandinavian ancestry brought a new depth to my German surname, Pfau. This transformative journey has reshaped how I perceive my family heritage, sparking a quest for familial history and inspiring a deeper appreciation and understanding of my lineage and myself.
Q. Pfau
read morePfau: What does the surname Pfau mean?
The last name Pfau is of German origin and it translates to "peacock" in English. Its derivation points to an occupational or characteristic surname. Possibilities include a person who raised peacocks, a flamboyant or colorful individual likened to the colorful display of a male peacock's tail, or someone who lived in a house or location identified with the sign of a peacock. Like many surnames, the exact origin can be difficult to determine as it could have evolved in different regions independently. It can also be found among Ashkenazi Jews, in which case it's likely adopted from their German-speaking neighbors in Europe. Overall, it is a fairly uncommon surname.
Order DNA origin analysisPfau: Where does the name Pfau come from?
The last name Pfau is most commonly found in Germany and its neighboring countries, including Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. According to genealogical records, Pfau is an occupational surname derived from the German word for peacock or falcon, “Pfau,” which would have been used to describe a falconer or bird keeper in Medieval Germany. It was likely first adopted as a hereditary surname by falconers or their families in the 13th century, and the name has spread over the centuries throughout the German-speaking countries and even further afield.
While Pfau is most common in Central Europe, it can be found around the world today, with naturalized citizens of Pfau descent living in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and even India. According to genealogical records, the number of documented Pfau families in the United States more than tripled between 1890 and 1920, with the largest concentrations being found in the states of California, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Therefore, it is clear Pfau is a surname with a long history behind it, and over the centuries, it has spread from its place of origin in Central Europe to various countries across the world.
Variations of the surname Pfau
The surname Pfau has several variants and spellings, including Pfohe, Pfoeh, Pföhe, Pfohe, Pfoe, and Pfeh.
Pfau in German means peacock, which is why some of the variants include Pfeh (peacock) and Pfoeh (little peacock). It may also be a shortened version of the name Wilhelmpfau.
The surname Pfau may also include surnames of similar origins, such as Bär (bear), Ephau (made of metal) or Löwen (lion). In addition, it could be a variant of Pfauw, a surname derived from the Old Swiss German phrase "Pfauwidt" meaning "peacock forest".
Variants of Pfau are also found in nations outside of Germany. For example, in the Czech Republic, the surname is Pauf or Pavel. In Poland, the surname is Paw or Pawel and in Lithuania it is Paupalis.
In the United States, the name is often seen in the Anglicized form, Pfau. It may also be spelled as Pauf, Pawl or Paupow. Some of the more common surnames related to the Pfau name in the US include the following: Pawelak, Pawloski, Pawley, Pfeiffer, Pauly, Pfister, Poff and Poovey.
In France, the name Pfau is seen as La Fau and Pau, and in Austria it is Pfauf.
All of these variants and spellings of the surname Pfau can be seen as a testament to its variation and global migration over many generations.
Famous people with the name Pfau
- Christopher John Pfau: American actor and comedian born in1948.
- Aaron William Pfau: Award-winning actor and producer from Texas.
- Lorna Pfau: Veteran character actress, mainly known for her stage work.
- Henrich Pfau: German entrepreneur in the printing and media industry.
- William G. Pfau, Jr.: Retired United States Army officer and businessman.
- Willy Pfau: German artist, author, graphic designer, and web designer.
- Gebhard Pfau: German actor with many appearances in television, film, and theater.
- Dietmar Pfau: German artist who works in the squares of Cologne.
- Simon Pfau: German artist and sculptor, known for his minimalistic works.
- Hans-Eberhard Pfau: German journalist and author.