Surname Pfeiffer - Meaning and Origin

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Q. Pfeiffer

Pfeiffer: What does the surname Pfeiffer mean?

The last name Pfeiffer is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word pfeifer which means “pipe player” or “fife player.” It is one of the oldest German surnames and is believed to have originated in the early Middle Ages, when musicians and instrument makers traveled from place to place, often bearing the name of the instrument they were playing or making.

The Pfeiffer surname has evolved over time, with members of the family sometimes taking on various occupational or place-based surnames such as Pfeifferstein (meaning “stone pipe player”), Pfeiffermeister (meaning “pipe master”) and Pfeifferhoff (meaning “pipe mill”).

The Pfeiffer family has played an important role in German history. Notable descendants include Johann Pfeiffer, a Dean of Munich University who was an influential figure in the Counter-Reformation, and Christoph Wilhelm Pfeiffer, an 18th century cartographer known for his work in cartographical surveying.

Today, the Pfeiffer name is a common one in Germany and is also found in North America, where it has been passed down from immigrants who traveled to the New World in search of a new life. The name is a reminder of the musical heritage that is part of the Pfeiffer family’s ancestral story.

Pfeiffer: Where does the name Pfeiffer come from?

The last name Pfeiffer is particularly common in Germany and parts of Austria. Pfeiffer is one of the most common surnames in Germany with more than a quarter of a million people sharing the name. It is the ninth most common name in Austria, where it is spelled "Pfeiffer" as is also common in Germany. Moreover, small populations bearing the name can be found in Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Liechtenstein.

In the United States, Pfeiffer is widely spread, with major concentrations in the Central and Midwestern states of Texas, Missouri and Illinois. Other states with a high concentration of people with the last name Pfeiffer include Ohio and California.

Moving further west, Pfeiffer is also a quite common surname in Canada. Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia are the provinces where Pfeiffer is most frequently seen.

Due to German migrations in the 19th and 20th centuries, Pfeiffer can also be found in Central America, South America, South Africa and Australia. In South Africa, the surname is especially popular around the Natal-area and in the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, while in Australia, many Pfeiffers are located in Victoria and New South Wales.

Variations of the surname Pfeiffer

Pfeiffer is a German-language surname with various variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spellings are Pfeifer, Pfiefer, Pfeufer, Pfäffer, Pfaff, Pfeuffer, Frueffel, Pfälzel, Pfähler, Pfeiffele, Pfifferling, Pfeifel, Peiffer, Pifer, Pfeffinger, Pfffferle, Pffffbach, Pfêffer, Pfeiffling and Pfaefle.

The surname Pfeiffer originated as a habitation name, denoting a person from one of several places in Germany such as Pfeiffershäusen, Pfiffersgrund, and Pfeifferhöfe, all of which are located in Bavaria. The places are derived from the Middle High German words “pfîvel” meaning “riverbank” or “dwelling”.

The surname Pfeiffer can also be an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word “pfife”, meaning “bone flute” or “pipe”, and was likely given to a pipe-maker or flutist.

In addition, the surname Pfeiffer or Pfeifer can be derived from the nicknames “Pfiff” which refer to someone who is lively, active and “Pfalz”, which is German for the territory of the Palatinate.

Altogether, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin of Pfeiffer include Pfeifer, Pfiefer, Pfeufer, Pfäffer, Pfaff, Pfeuffer, Frueffel, Pfälzel, Pfähler, Pfeiffele, Pfifferling, Pfeifel, Peiffer, Pifer, Pfeffinger, Pfffferle, Pffffbach, Pfêffer, Pfeiffling, Pfaefle, Pfiff, and Pfalz.

Famous people with the name Pfeiffer

• Michelle Pfeiffer, American actress
• Robert Pfeiffer, German classical archaeologist and author
• Choppy Pfeiffer, the former main singer of German rock band Scorpions
• David Pfeiffer, German television actor
• Debby Pfeiffer, American actress
• Jessica Pfeiffer, American actress and film producer
• John Pfeiffer, American film editor
• Joseph A. Pfeiffer III, American telecommunications entrepreneur
• Paula Pfeiffer, Olympic gold medalist in equestrian show jumping
• Matthew Pfeiffer, American scenic designer
• Rich Pfeiffer, American musician and songwriter
• Michael Pfeiffer, American television editor
• Paul Pfeiffer, American sculptor and installation artist
• Vincent Pfeiffer, Austrian physicist
• Claudia Pfeiffer, German actress
• Catharina Pfeiffer, German actress
• Herbert Pfeiffer, German zoologist
• Hubert Pfeiffer, German zoologist
• Julius Pfeiffer, German statistician
• Margaret Pfeiffer, German botanist

Other surnames

Pfeifferer