Surname Peffgen - Meaning and Origin
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Peffgen: What does the surname Peffgen mean?
The last name Peffgen is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘pfeffin’, which means pepper-man. This moniker may have originally been acquired by someone who sold or traded pepper, or possibly someone who was believed to be of fiery or peppery temperament.
The family name Peffgen can be found in various forms throughout Europe, from Germany and Netherlands to Denmark and Sweden. It is also seen amongst German emigrants in North America and the United Kingdom, acquired as a result of 19th and 20th-century migration.
The earliest known reference of the surname dates back to 1381, in a document pertaining to the knight Gerlach Pfeffinc von Zell. Since then, the surname has gained some notoriety in Germany, shared by notable celebrities such as the media personality Jan-Friedrich Peffgen, and the footballer Horst Peffgen.
It is believed that the Peffgen surname has been around since the Middle Ages and is still in use today, a testament to the family’s longevity and enduring legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisPeffgen: Where does the name Peffgen come from?
The last name Peffgen is commonly found in Germany. Between the years of 1871 and 1900, the majority of people with this last name lived in the western states of Germany like Baden-Württemberg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse.
In 2019, the majority of people with the last name Peffgen still live in Germany, with the highest concentration in the west of the country. German-results.com estimates that there are still more than 1700 people with this last name living in present-day Germany.
The last name Peffgen is also common in the United States. There, it is primarily clustered around the East Coast, particularly in Pennsylvania and New York. It is estimated that there are over 1000 people living in the US with a variation of this surname.
The last name Peffgen is also found in smaller numbers in neighboring countries such as France, Canada, and Austria, as well as in the United Kingdom. It is becoming increasingly common in other countries around the world such as Australia and New Zealand, as more and more people trace their ancestry back to Germany and its surrounding regions.
In short, the last name Peffgen is still very much alive and well and is most common in Germany, the United States, and other European countries. However, due to globalization and the ease of travel, people with this last name can now be found spread across the world.
Variations of the surname Peffgen
The surname Peffgen is a German-language variant of the surname Pfaffen, which is derived from the word “Pfaffe”, a German term for priest. The surname is also found in various language variations and spellings. The most common variants of the name are Pfaffen, Paffen, Pfaffmann, Pfaffenberger, Peffgen, Pefgen, Poffgen, and Pfefgen. The spelling of the name may also vary within the same family depending upon which German-speaking region their ancestors were originally from.
The surname has also acquired different surnames through marriage over the centuries, such as von Peffgen, Peffgen von der Heydt, Peffgen von Pfaffen, and Peffgen. These are all derived from the original surname of “Peffgen”. In most cases, these surnames are used in combination with the original surname. For example, a descendant of the Peffgen family may have the combined name “von Peffgen-Pfaffen”, which indicates both his or her family’s origins and the relationship of two different families.
In some parts of Germany, the surname has been adapted and simplified to “Pfaff”, a more commonly used term. This is often seen in records from the 19th century.
The prevalence of variations of the surname “Peffgen” has resulted in a wide variety of forms being used around the world. In addition to its various language variations and spellings, the surname may also include hyphenations, such as “Peffgen-Pfaffen”, as well as compound names, such as "Pfeffgen-Graf und Pfaffenberger". As one would expect, all of these variants have the same original source as the surname “Peffgen”.
Famous people with the name Peffgen
- Nadine Peffgen: German fashion model.
- Karl Peffgen: German theologian.
- Ferdinand Peffgen: German automobile designer and engineer.
- Gustav Peffgen: German art critic and poet.
- Peter Peffgen: German Olympic rower.
- Gerd Peffgen: German German Politician.
- Klaus Peffgen: German footballer.
- Hans Peffgen: German mathematician.
- Karl-Hans Peffgen: German industrialist.
- Friedrich Peffgen: German theologian.
- Jörg Peffgen: German actor and director.
- J.W. Peffgen: German art collector.
- Carol Peffgen: American lawyer and politician.
- Theodor Peffgen: German painter.
- Clara Peffgen: German aviatrix and Aircraft designer.
- Joseph Peffgen: German businessman and philanthropist.
- Stephanie Peffgen: German TV presenter.
- Ernst Peffgen: German professor of pediatrics.
- Leticia Peffgen: Spanish poet.
- Christopher Peffgen: American musician.