Surname Pemm - Meaning and Origin
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Pemm: What does the surname Pemm mean?
The last name Pemm is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English words 'puma' meaning servant or page and 'maere' meaning famous or glorious. It can be translated literally as 'a famous servant'.
The name was likely given to someone who served a great leader or had a high rank in a noble household. In the Middle Ages, there were many 'pemms' employed as servants or men-at-arms in castles. It is also an English variant of the German surname 'Pfeiffer' which is derived from the word 'pfeifen', meaning 'to pipe'.
Today, the surname Pemm is still seen in certain areas of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It is uncommon as a given name, but may still be found in some parts of the United Kingdom, especially in rural areas.
The surname is likely to have been taken to other countries around the world by the emigration of people of these Celtic and Anglo-Saxon nations. It is commonly found in Australia, Canada, the United States, and other English-speaking countries. Famous individuals carrying this surname include the satirical author James Pemm (1847-1945) and the German politician Klemens Pemm (1990-).
Order DNA origin analysisPemm: Where does the name Pemm come from?
The last name Pemm is most commonly found in Western Europe and the United States. In Europe, the surname is concentrated most heavily in Germany, Poland, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States, Pemm is found most commonly in the midwest and in the states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. According to the 2000 US Census, the last name Pemm was most common in the Midwest with approximately 6,600 people having the surname.
In Germany, Pemm is an unusual but not uncommon last name. It is most heavily concentrated in the regions of Bavaria, Thuringia, and Saxony, and is also found in small numbers in other German states. In Poland, the surname occurs most commonly in the Silesian Voivodeship and in the Opole Voivodeship. Austria and Switzerland are two other countries in which the last name Pemm is found in notable numbers.
Given its Western European origin, it's not surprising that Pemm can be found in the United States. States such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin, as well as other midwest states like Indiana and Michigan, are home to significant numbers of people with the last name Pemm. According to the US Census, the surname is most prevalent in the Midwest, with nearly 6,600 people having the last name Pemm recorded in the 2000 census.
Variations of the surname Pemm
The surname Pemm has several variants and spellings that all derive from the same origin. These variants and spellings include Pamm, Pam, Pem, Pemme, Peme, Pemes, Pemmer, Pemmo, Pempts and Pemptz.
The original form of the name is believed to have originated from the Middle Low German term "Pem", which is thought to have been an occupational name for a beekeeper. The name was also used to describe someone who lived near a beekeeper. Ancient German records also indicate that Pemm is a shortened version of the name Pemmer.
The name is also thought to have developed from the French surname Panm, derived from the French word for honey, “miel”.
The gender-neutral German surname could have developed independently at various locations in Germany. The earliest occurrence of the name Pemm in Germany dates back to 1627, when a Gerhard Peter Pemm appears in the records of the Archiv der Stadt Weimar in Thuringia.
The spelling of the original surname may be linked to the various regions from which it originates. In Germany, for example, it is still commonly spelled Pemm, while in England it frequently appears as Pamm or Pam.
Pemm appears to be mainly a German and English surname, though it is possible to find examples of it outside of these two countries. Examples have been found in the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland.
Famous people with the name Pemm
- Martin Pemm:popular German handball goalie in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Tim Pemm: successful American long track speed skater who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
- Robert Pemm: Austrian amateur boxer who won the gold medal in the 1967 European Championships.
- Rachel Pemm: British Olympic field hockey player who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
- Sarah Pemm: Italian-American actress known for her television roles in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- Amber Pemm: Australian race car driver who competed in the 2000 Indy Lights Championship Series.
- George Pemm: Canadian former ice hockey player and coach who is best known for his 11 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Gareth Pemm: English former professional footballer who played for a variety of clubs in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Heinz Pemm: Austrian sculptor known for his work in bronze and stone.
- Betsy Pemm: American poet, artist, and author who wrote books about nature, animals, and the environment.