Surname Pleyer - Meaning and Origin
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Pleyer: What does the surname Pleyer mean?
The surname Pleyer is a German family name most commonly found in the Austrian regions of Salzburg and Tyrol today. It is believed to be derived from a Middle High German word meaning "plower," which refers to a farmer who plowed fields for a living. As such, the surname Pleyer is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, indicating a person belonging to a family whose primary source of income was agriculture.
Throughout the centuries, the Pleyer family spread throughout Europe, including throughout Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria. Therefore, the surname Pleyer is found in several different countries, with variations in spelling throughout the years. Frequently, the spelling of Pleyer is altered to "Pleyer," and even "Plyer."
Today, the Pleyer surname remains a popular name throughout Europe, with numerous members of the Pleyer family still living in both Austria and Germany. The interactive map on the website MyHeritage.com shows that Pleyer is an especially popular surname in Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and Styria.
The Pleyer surname is certainly a unique one, with origins that go far back in time. Its source as an occupational surname demonstrates the evolution of both people and their professions over the centuries, a testament to a family history that has spanned many centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisPleyer: Where does the name Pleyer come from?
The last name Pleyer is most commonly found in Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany. In Switzerland, the surname is concentrated in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden with the highest percentage of around 20%. In Austria, it is found mostly near Vienna and the country's Burgenland region, with the town of Pinggau having the highest concentration.
Southern Germany also has a relatively high concentration of Pleyer, specifically in the state of Bavaria. Here, it is most commonly found in Rheinland-Palatinate and the cities of Aschaffenburg, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse. Smaller populations can be found in Kassel as well as various other, relatively rural, parts of Germany.
Outside of Europe, the surname is much less common. A small presence can be found in North America, mainly in the United States, where Pleyer is most commonly associated with German immigrants and their descendants. Canada has similar numbers, somewhat more concentrated in Ontario and Quebec.
The name also appears, although more rarely, in Australia, New Zealand, and other countries with German-speaking heritages.
Variations of the surname Pleyer
The surname Pleyer is of German origin and has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames stemming from it.
The most common variant spelling is Pleier, and is believed to be derived from the Low German word pleger meaning a player of music, a minstrel, or a tumbler. It may also be derived from Pleier, a district in Austria, or from Pliezhausen, a small city located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Other variant spellings include Pleier, Plieger, Plager, Pleyre, Pleyer, Pleijer, Plejer, and Plegard.
Surnames that stem from the same origin as Pleyer include Pleiger, Pleiher, Pleijer, Pleis, Pleisterer, and Plöger.
In some cases, the granite spelling is used, which usually denotes a person of high social or professional standing in certain regions. This spelling is mainly seen in Southern Germany and the Alsace region of France.
Due to the wide range of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, it is not uncommon to come across varying spellings of the same name within the same family.
Famous people with the name Pleyer
- Phil Pleyer: an American former professional wrestler who competed in numerous prominent professional wrestling promotions, including the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.
- Harry Pleyer: a former tennis player who reached the singles final of the 1950 French Championships.
- Nikky Pleyer: a German model and actress who appeared in Luke Mockridge's music video for the song "Auf Da Flur".
- Thomas Pleyer: a German neurologist and scientist who is a professor at the University Hospital of Bonn, Germany and is known for his research on the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Hubert Pleyer: a former East German middle-distance runner who competed in the 1952 Olympics.
- Cristina Pleyer: an Italian singer who released her first single "A Good Feeling" in 2020.
- Toni Pleyer: a German film maker who directed the television series "Tatort" and the feature films "E subscribe" and "Der Mörder in uns".
- Wolfgang Pleyer: an Austrian actor who has appeared in several films, including "Die Ewigkeit des Augenblicks" and "Winterboy".
- Albrecht Pleyer: a German actor who has starred in films such as "Berlin is in Germany", "Liebesäpfel" and "Winzerkrieg".
- Hermann Pleyer: a German chemist and professor emeritus at the University of Freiburg who has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Leibniz Prize.