Surname Pitzer - Meaning and Origin

Pitzer: What does the surname Pitzer mean?

The surname Pitzer is of German origin. It is derived from the Middle High German word "pfütze," which translates to "puddle" in English. The name is believed to be occupational or topographical in nature, bestowed upon individuals who lived near a notable water body such as a pond or marsh, or those who worked with water such as a water carrier or fisherman. Over centuries and migration, the name has variants in different regions. It can be confusing to interpret origins and meanings of surnames as they often underwent significant transformation over time due to linguistic and cultural changes. Regardless, a surname provides a connection to one's ancestry and lineage. Please note that many surnames have multiple historical meanings and interpretations, hence the given explanation is one of the possible origins for the surname Pitzer.

Pitzer: Where does the name Pitzer come from?

The last name Pitzer is a German name, so those of German descent are most likely to share this surname today. The people carrying the surname Pitzer are found primarily in Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.

In Germany, Pitzer can be found mainly in the Baden-Württemberg region, which is a southwestern state located near the French and Swiss border. According to some German phone books, the number of people registered with the surname Pitzer in Germany is estimated to be around 200.

In Switzerland, Pitzer is most commonly found in the Ticino and Zurich areas of the country. In Switzerland, the name Pitzer is extremely rare and is primarily associated with the Catholic religion.

In the United States, Pitzer is most likely to be found in Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley, as well as in Ohio, Texas, and California. According to Census Bureau records from 2019, about 943 people in the United States are registered with the last name Pitzer.

It is uncertain how the Pitzer name spread, but what is known is that is it most commonly found in German-speaking countries.

Variations of the surname Pitzer

The surname Pitzer is of English, German, and Swiss origin. It is derived from an occupational name for a potter, from an altered form of Mid High German pizel or pitzer ("cutter, chopper, hack") or from the Medieval English “picter”, which meant painter. Variants of the surname include Picard, Pichard, Piyer, Pictor and Picther.

The surname is also sometimes spelled as Pitor, Pyter, and Piters. In Germany, it is also sometimes spelled as Pitzer, Pitzer, and Pitscher. In Switzerland, it is sometimes spelled as Pit structure, while in Denmark, it is spelled as Pitsen.

Common surnames derived from Pitzer include Pitzner, Putzner, Pitzen, Piccioni, Pizarro, and Pitteper. In Norway, the common surname is Pittzner and in Sweden, it is Pittson. The surname is also sometimes spelled as Pitsoff, Pitroff, and Petzner.

In French, the surname is spelled as Picart, Piéard, Picardy, Picardeau, Pierard, Piéchart, Pigiard and Pitiard. In Spanish, it is spelled as Pizarro, Pizario, and Pizarro. In Italian, it is spelled as Piccart, Piccardo, Picard, Piccardi, Piccinini, Picciotti, and Piccini. In Hungarian, the surname is spelled as Píczerszky.

The surname Pitzer is typically found in areas where German was the traditional language, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. It is also commonly found in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, and Australia.

Famous people with the name Pitzer

• Jill Pitzer: Actress who has appeared in TV shows such as American Housewife, Deck the Halls, and Elementary, as well as movies such as Mr. Mom and Three Amigos.
• Karmen Pitzer: Miss Ohio USA 2016 and pageant coach.
• Ellen Pitzer: Teacher in the Narberth and Merion-area schools, specializing in French and Spanish.
• Ken Pitzer: Physical organic chemist and the founding Dean of the School of Natural Sciences at the University of California, Davis.
• Barry Pitzer: Former National Football League defensive lineman who played for the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers between 1975 and 1978.
• J.B. Pitzer: Oil industrialist and owner of Pitzer Petroleum who holds executive positions in various industries, including the Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association, Noble Energy, Petroleum Equipment Suppliers of Oklahoma, and other entities.
• Frank Pitzer: Prominent Episcopal priest and educator, serving as the rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Nashville, Tennessee for over 46 years.
• Dominic Pitzer: Yugoslavian-born American professional soccer player who represented both the U.S. and Yugoslavia.
• Maureen Pitzer: American journalist and the executive editor of the Los Angeles Times from 1998 to 2000.
• Darlene Pitzer: Mother of five and grandmother of eleven, Pitzer is one of the leading activists in the Grayback tribe of the Paiute Indians of Owens Valley.

Other surnames

Pitzenbauer