Surname Pfortmueller - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'P'
Pfortmueller: What does the surname Pfortmueller mean?
The last name Pfortmueller is an Austrian-German name which originated during the medieval period and translates to the ‘gateway smith’ or 'lock smith’. It originates from the words 'pfort' (gateway) or 'pforten' (portals) and 'mueller' (smith). It is thought the family took its name from their ancestor who was a locksmith or a blacksmith who worked at a gateway or a fortified entrance in the 12th or 13th centuries. The family may also have been builders or constructors of lock gates on rivers and canals.
Originally the family was located mainly in Vienna, Austria and some parts of central and and south Germany. Later they moved to the Bohemian area, Silesia and Hungary, and also to other parts of Germany and Austria. Some family members moved to the United States, Canada, Brazil and other countries during the mid-nineteenth century.
The family of Pfortmueller are spread out around the world and are highly respected and accepted in many different cultures due to their heritage of craftsmanship and engineering. To this day, there are still some Pfortmuellers who are engineers, blacksmiths, masons, carpenters, locksmiths, and the like, and the family continues to be proud of their craftsmanship.
Order DNA origin analysisPfortmueller: Where does the name Pfortmueller come from?
The last name Pfortmueller is most commonly found in Austria, Europe today. It is believed to be an occupational surname with an older Germanic origin, likely derived from the Middle High German word “pfortmüeller” which translates to mean “gatekeeper of a castle.” It is believed to have been mainly used in Bavaria, Germany but the name is also found in some other German-speaking countries such as Switzerland, Denmark, and Belgium.
The highest population concentration of the Pfortmueller surname is in Austria where it ranks as the 513th most common surname. Other German-speaking countries such as Germany and Switzerland also have a high occurrence of the name, with Germany ranking it as the 1287th most common surname and Switzerland ranking it as the 3313th. Outside of Europe, the name is also found in the United States, with the highest population occurring in the state of Texas where it ranks as the 23319th most common last name.
The Pfortmueller surname is well represented in Europe, especially in the German-speaking countries as well as the United States. It is believed to have derived from a castle gatekeeper occupational origin, with the highest population concentration occurring in Austria.
Variations of the surname Pfortmueller
The Pfortmueller surname is believed to have originated in Germany. One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname dates to 1720, when Johann Jacob Pfortmueller was recorded on a ship ledger.
Variants of the Pfortmueller surname include Pfortmeier, Pfortmiler, Pfort, and Pfortmeuller. Spellings of the surname have also evolved over time, and alternate spellings of the surname include Pfoertmeier, Pfortmiler, Pfortmeyer, and Poertmuller.
Surnames of similar origin include Pfau, Pformeier, Pfister, and Pfahler. These surnames are believed to have been derived from the German word "pforten," which means "gates."
Variations of the Pfortmueller surname have spread throughout Europe and the U.S., with the surname becoming popular in the 19th century. In the U.S., the surname is most commonly found as “Pfortmiller”.
The Pfortmueller surname is mostly associated with Germany, but it is also found in some other countries, including Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Many of the variant spellings of the surname are found in these countries as well, with the combination of “P” and “Mueller” remaining the same.
Famous people with the name Pfortmueller
- Christoph Pfortmueller (1888–1975, German-Canadian sculptor)
- Laura Pfortmueller (contemporary, Swiss-Canadian artist)
- Jakob Pfortmueller (1884–1932, Swiss-American painter)
- Simon Pfortmueller (1914–1984, Austrian WWII concentration camp survivor)
- Matthias Pfortmueller (born 1993, Swiss professional ice hockey player)
- Lando Pfortmueller (born 1990, Swiss-Canadian entrepreneur)
- Alexander Pfortmueller (born 1983, Swiss professional volleyball player)
- Joseph Pfortmueller (1847–1924, Swiss-American businessman and politician)
- Peter Pfortmueller (born 1988, Swiss professional soccer player)
- Johann Pfortmueller (1776–1854, Austrian PhD jurisprudence and diplomat)