Surname Pfizenmayer - Meaning and Origin

Pfizenmayer: What does the surname Pfizenmayer mean?

The last name Pfizenmayer is a German surname of occupational origin. It is derived from the old German words for ‘apple’ and ‘mayor’, reflecting an occupation of either a mayor or magistrate who was associated with apples. In other parts of Europe where similar words exist, the surname could have derived from an occupation related to a market or a fruit producer or seller.

The surname is also found in various variations such as Pfizer, Pfitzer, Poest, Pfeitzener, Pfitzinger, Pfitzmayer, and Pfeitzer. Commonly found throughout Germany, this surname was most often concentrated in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It is found more widely throughout Germany, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, The Netherlands, and the United States.

The surname Pfizenmayer has a few different meanings, which range from apple farmer to mayor. It is one of the many surnames that reflect the occupation of an ancestor, and it is an interesting part of a family’s history. Although this surname is not especially common, it is still found in many countries around the world.

Pfizenmayer: Where does the name Pfizenmayer come from?

The last name Pfizenmayer is most commonly found in Germany, especially in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemburg. It is a relatively rare name, though it is likely due to the migration of German people to other parts of the world. The United States is also seeing a steady rise in people with the Pfizenmayer last name, as German immigration to the United States has increased.

According to the US Census Bureau, nearly one million US citizens find themselves with the Pfizenmayer last name, and it is estimated that a majority of them are of German descent. The majority of those with the name are concentrated in states such as New York, Texas, California and Illinois, showing a large, successful German American presence.

The last name can also be found in other parts of Europe, such as Austria and Switzerland, though the numbers are much smaller. Additionally, the name is found in Brazil, where people of German descent make up the largest minority in the country, and it is also found in Canada and Australia.

Though it is difficult to trace the name's exact roots, it likely originates from the Prussian province of East Prussia, as both Pfizen and Mayer were prominent family names in that area. The Pfizenmayer last name is likely to continue its global rise, as German immigration into the United States has been growing steadily and many families carry the name with them wherever they go.

Variations of the surname Pfizenmayer

The surname Pfizenmayer is a German variant of the name Pfitzenmaier or Pfitenmayer. Its origin is derived from Low German and Middle High German words such as 'pfize' meaning 'bombard' and 'meier' meaning 'mayor'. The German form can also be written as Pfitzenmeyer, Pfitzenmeyer, Pfitzenmaier and Pfitenmayer.

In the United States, there are spelling variations including Pfitzenmyer, Pfitzenmeier, Pfizenmeier, Pfizenmyer, Pfitenmyer and Pfitenmeier. Each variation of the surname shares a common root, but is pronounced differently because of dialectal changes or spelling variations from one place and time to another.

Additionally, the French form of Pfizenmayer is Pfitzenmayer which has the same root origins and spelling variations, often sharing many of the same surnames.

In Germany, there are many variants of Pfizenmayer such as Pflückemayer, Pfälzermaier, Pfeilschmieder, Pfeilmaier, Pfeifmayer, Pfenniger, Pfeffermaier, Pfeifermaier, Pfisterer and more.

Another name, Pfitzenmayr, is a German variant of Pfizenmayer and has remained a family name in Germany. The spelling of this version has remained relatively unchanged over time.

The spellings in Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic are more or less identical to Pfizenmayer. The last name is also found in the Netherlands and in the UK without any spelling differences.

Overall, while Pfizenmayer is the most common variant of the surname, there are a variety of spellings and associated surnames which all have the same root origin.

Famous people with the name Pfizenmayer

• Mathias Pfizenmayer (1857-1921): German zoologist and a founder of the field of zoogeography.
• Adolf Pfizenmayer (1815-1880): German lithographer and publisher.
• Wilhelm Pfizenmayer (1819-1874): German opera composer and conductor.
• August Pfizenmayer (1845-1897): German missionary and ethnographer.
• Georg Pfizenmayer (1864-1938): German psychiatrist and neurologist.
• Wilhelm Pfizenmayer (1871-1964): German mathematician and educational theorist.
• Hermann Pfizenmayer (1884-1955): German stage designer and costume designer.
• Hans Pfizenmayer (1894-1958): German journalist and skeptic who wrote about medicine and religion.
• Alexander Pfizenmayer (1930-2014): German theologian, author of books on spirituality and culture.
• Martin Pfizenmayer (1945-): German violinist and composer.

Other surnames

Pfizenmaier