Show ContentsPfaff History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Pfaff family

The surname Pfaff was first found in Switzerland, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation.

Early History of the Pfaff family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pfaff research. Another 199 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1753, 1765, 1790, 1825 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Pfaff History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pfaff Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pfaff, Pfaffen, Pfaffe, Pfaf, Pfafe, Faff, Faffe, Pfaffmann and many more.

Early Notables of the Pfaff family

Notables of the time with the surname Pfaff were

  • Johann Friedrich Pfaff (1765-1825), who was an influential German mathematician

Pfaff Ranking

In the United States, the name Pfaff is the 5,221st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Pfaff is ranked the 7,024th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. [2]


United States Pfaff migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pfaff Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Maria Pfaff and Elisabeth Pfaff, both of whom settled in Pennsylvania in 1749
  • Peter Pfaff, who landed in America in 1749 [3]
  • Hans Philipp Adam Pfaff, who arrived in America in 1752 [3]
  • Theobald Pfaff, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1768 [3]
  • Wilhelm Pfaff, who landed in America in 1772 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Pfaff Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Pfaff, aged 5, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 [3]
  • Christian Pfaff, aged 30, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 [3]
  • Christian Pfaff, age 30, who settled in Philadelphia in 1804
  • Anna M Pfaff, aged 12, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 [3]
  • Caterina Pfaff, aged 32, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Pfaff Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Magdalena Pfaff, aged 50, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 [3]
  • Adolf Pfaff, aged 7, who arrived in New York, NY in 1901 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Pfaff (post 1700) +

  • William Pfaff (b. 1928), American author
  • Kristen Marie Pfaff (1967-1994), American musician, bassist for alternative rock band Hole (1993 to 1994)
  • Judy Pfaff (b. 1946), American artist and has shown exhibitions around the world. She received a Guggenheim Fellowship for Sculpture
  • Shawn W. Pfaff, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Wisconsin, 2008 [4]
  • Otto Pfaff (1864-1948), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Oneida, New York, 1901, 1910-11, 1915, 1920-21;Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 32nd District, 1916; Candidate for Presidential Elector for New York, 1920; Chair of Madison County Democratic Party, 1927 [4]
  • Jacob Pfaff, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 5th District, 1895-96 [4]
  • Dorothy E. Pfaff, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from New York County 13th District, 1934, 1935 [4]
  • Andrew J. Pfaff, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Philadelphia County, 1907-08 [4]
  • Dieter Pfaff (1947-2013), German actor and director
  • Petra Pfaff (b. 1960), East German gold and silver medalist 400 metres hurdler
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Richard Pfaff (1921-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [5]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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