Surname Pfneißl - Meaning and Origin
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Pfneißl: What does the surname Pfneißl mean?
The last name Pfneißl is an German family name derived from the Middle High German and thought to have originally been Pefinneisel. It is also found in other countries such as Austria and Switzerland, where it is known as Pfenninger. Most likely, the name originates from the word “Pfenning.” In Old High German, this word meant “the smallest possible quantity of money”.
The name is believed to have been given to people who either worked in the financial industry or were in the possession of only a “pfenning” worth of money. For example, they could have been servants or miners who were paid a very small salary on which to survive and pay their rent. Other interpretations of the name are that it may have been given to people who could craft small things out of pennies and this could be the origin of its use as a family name.
The term “Pfenninger” is also used to refer to a peasant from the Low beer Baden-Württemberg area meaning “he who comes with a penny”. This could be a reference to a family story of a peasant arriving with his wealth.
Overall, the Pfneißl name holds a variety of interpretations and could mean a person of the financial profession, a peasant who had very small amount of money or a person who was skilled at crafting small tiny items out of pennies. Most likely, the name Pfneißl represents someone of humble means who managed to overcome financial obstacles.
Order DNA origin analysisPfneißl: Where does the name Pfneißl come from?
The last name Pfneißl is most commonly found today in Bavaria, regions of Germany such as Tyrol in Austria, Southern Poland, and parts of the Czech Republic. The Pfneißl name is derived from the German word “Pfennig”, which translates to English as “penny”. This name likely was used as a nickname for someone who was considered to be penny-wise, or frugal with their money.
In Bavaria, the Pfneißl name is most prominent in the Lower Bavarian districts of Dingolfing-Landau, Landshut, Straubing-Bogen, and Passau. In Austria, the Tyrol region is the birthplace of many Pfneißl families, though the name is also quite popular in Vienna and Salzburg. Pfneißl is also found in smaller numbers in Bohemia in the Czech Republic, primarily around České Budějovice. In Poland, Pfneißl can be found in southern cities such as Krakow or Wroclaw, and in the villages of Przyczepy and Rzeszów.
The Pfneißl name is still relatively rare, even in the areas where it can be found today. However, with the availability of technology and social networking sites, individuals related to the Pfneißl name are now connecting with each other online, and thus keeping the name alive.
Variations of the surname Pfneißl
The name Pfneißl is a German language surname and many different spellings and variants of the name can be found for those with the surname in different countries around the world. The name is derived from the Middle High German words 'pfanne’ (pan) and 'schil’ (child). Based on its origin, the surname can be seen to have many spellings and variants, including but not limited to Pfneiszl, Pfneisel, Pfneisele, Pfneissel, Pfneißle, Pfneislesle, Pfneissle, Pfneussl and Pfneißel. Other surnames of similar origin that can be seen as variants of Pfneißl include Panzer, Panser, Pfander and Pfenninger.
The name Pfneißl can be found all around the world, in many different countries such as Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the USA. A number of people with this unique surname have even migrated to other countries such as Australia, Canada and the UK, which suggests that the name is no longer only confined to the German language, but can be found in a number of other dialects and cultures.
Overall, the surname Pfneißl can be seen to have many different spellings and variants depending on the culture and language it is found in. The idea of almost interchangeable spellings and suffixes suggest that the name has a wide and varied heritage, spanning many different countries and languages.
Famous people with the name Pfneißl
- Wolfgang Pfneißl: Wolfgang Pfneißl is an Austrian singer-songwriter, musician, and producer. He is the frontman of the band deine Freunde and is best known for his unique voice and electrifying live performances.
- Claudia Pfneißl: Claudia Pfneißl is an Austrian actress, theatre director and professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
- Rudi Pfneißl: Rudi Pfneißl is an Austrian footballer who currently plays for VfB Admira Wacker in the Austrian Bundesliga.
- Grete Pfneißl: Grete Pfneißl is an Austrian figure skating coach and former competitive figure skater. She is the 1977 Austrian national champion and competed at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
- Alexander Pfneißl: Alexander Pfneißl is an Austrian actor and director who studied at the Max Reinhardt Seminar, a famous acting school in Vienna. He is best known for his role in the television series “Kunstrasen” (Artificial Turf).
- Ratislav Pfneißl: Ratislav Pfneißl is an Austrian television, theatre and film director. He is best known for his critically acclaimed drama films “End of the Holiday” and “East of the West”.
- Elke Pfneißl: Elke Pfneißl is an Austrian actress and director who has been active in the theatre and film world since the 1970s. She is known for her work in the films “Falkenblau” (Golden Blue) and “Erbsen auf halb 6” (Half Past Six Peas).
- Lorenz Pfneißl: Lorenz Pfneißl is an Austrian poet, essayist, and translator who is known for his experimental works. He has written several collections of poems and his work has been translated into various languages.