Surname Peierl - Meaning and Origin

Peierl: What does the surname Peierl mean?

The surname Peierl is of German origin. It is derived from the Old German/Middle High German word "pirl," which was used to describe a young person, usually a young man. Due to the literal meaning of the word, it is likely that Peierl was originally a nickname for someone who was youthful, or for a child or adolescent.

At some point, Peierl became adopted as an actual surname, and so is found among many individuals with German heritage today. It is especially common among those of Jewish descent, as many German Jews sought refuge from religious persecution during the 19th and 20th centuries, and often changed their surnames before making the journey to other countries. Because of this, Peierl can now be found all over the world.

The spelling of Peierl also varies among different locations: in some places it is spelled Pirel, Pirell, Pizzarli, Pizarli, Peirol, Peil, Pel, Pirl, Prill and much more.

Overall, the last name Peierl is a classic example of German surname that is rooted in a nickame meaning "young person." Its many variations are testament to the fact that it is still a widely used name today, having been adopted by countless individuals of German heritage throughout the centuries.

Peierl: Where does the name Peierl come from?

The last name Peierl is most commonly found in Germany, particularly the south-western states such as Bavaria, Baden Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. It is also present in countries bordering Germany, like Netherlands, Austria, Poland and Slovakia. Peierl is a very old name, derived from the Latin “praeclarus” which means “distinguished” or “select”.

In Germany, the name Peierl dates as far back as the late 13th century, making it one of the oldest present last names in the country. Records show the first recorded spelling of the surname, which occurred in Swabia in 1378 was Peterl, the earliest form of Peierl.

The origin of the family is uncertain, some suggest links to the ancient Franks, Bavarian tribes, or others like the Swabian. Other evidence leads to Slovakia as a possible source of the original family line.

Whilst the name is still relatively common in German-speaking parts of Europe, the diaspora of Germans in the late 19th century and onwards has led to the name dispersing far from its original homeland. Peierl can now also be found in the United States and in the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Peierl

The surname Peierl is of German origin and there are several variants, spellings, and surnames with the same root. Some of the most common variants of Peierl include Peirl, Pierl, Peierls, Piercing, and Peerling. The more archaic spellings may also include Peerle, Pearle, Pearles, Pearling, Pearly, Peerel, and Piere.

Surnames with the same origin as Peierl may include Perle, Perl, Perlman, Perrin, Pierson, Person, Pierce, Pigman, Pierl, Pirling, and Pieper. These surnames may have a slightly different meaning than Peierl, but they all have the same German root.

Many of the surnames with the same origin as Peierl are derived from the given name Peter, which is derived from the Greek word “petros," meaning "rock." This may indicate that the original bearer of the Peierl surname was a descendent of someone named Peter or was someone with a strong connection to the region surrounding the town of Peterl in Germany. In some cases, the surname may have been used to denote someone with an "unfortunate" or "unlucky" character.

Other surnames related to Peierl include Peer, Perron, Perrigo, Plier, Plesing, Plisco, Pringle, Proos, and Pross. It is likely that many of these surnames have evolved over time, and branches of the same family may now use different versions of their ancestral surname.

The origin of the Peierl surname is connected to and intertwined with many other surnames of German origin, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact meaning of the name. What is known is that it was used to identify people who were related to, or connected to, the town of Peterl in Germany at some point in the past.

Famous people with the name Peierl

• Martin Peierl: Swiss television journalist.
• Wolfram Peierl: German physicist.
• Henri Peierl: French entomologist specialized in moths and butterflies.
• Robert Peierl: Australian football player from the early 20th century.
• Józef Peierl: well-known Polish artist associated with Symbolism and Art Nouveau movements.
• Jeff Peierl: accomplished American college basketball player from the late 1970s who went on to become a successful coach in his home country.
• Herman Peierl: Austrian physicist notable for his contributions to the development of the atomic bomb.
• Geoffrey Peierl: British drama teacher and novelist who wrote the award-winning novel Black Taxi.
• Lucy Peierl: American experimental poet whose work appeared in numerous publications such as the Harvard Review, The Atlantic, Poetry, and many others.
• Louis Peierl: Hungarian sculptor whose works are found in the collections of many museums across the world and are celebrated for their intriguing shape and complexity.

Other surnames

Peier