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Pfeiffer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Pfeiffer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Medieval Austria is the noble birthplace of the family name Pfeiffer. Austria, which was originally home to a Celtic people, was conquered by the Roman Empire in about 15 BC. Following the fall of Rome, Austria was repeatedly invaded by barbarian tribes, such as the Vandals, Visigoths, and Huns, who swept in from the east. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Alemanni, Avars and Slavs settled Austria. The Avars were defeated in 785 by the Frankish emperor Charlemagne, who set up the East Mark, which later became known as the Österreich. Austria was ruled by the Babenburger dynasty until 1278, when they were succeeded by the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled Austria until the 20th century.

Early Origins of the Pfeiffer family

The surname Pfeiffer was first found in Austria, where the name could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile. Chronicles first mention Nickel Pfyfer of Liegnitz in 1372, and Hailman der Pfiffer in 1371.

Early History of the Pfeiffer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pfeiffer research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1566, 1590, 1713, 1721, 1797 and 1858 are included under the topic Early Pfeiffer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pfeiffer Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Pfeiffer include Pfeiffer, Pfeifer, Pfeyffer, Pfeyfer and many more.

Early Notables of the Pfeiffer family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Pfeiffer were

Johann Babtist Pfeiffer (around 1721), who was administrator for the mines and forges of Achrain, and was knighted in 1721...
Ida Laura Pfeiffer (1797-1858) was an Austrian traveler, daughter of a merchant named Reyer who married Dr...
Pfeiffer, a lawyer of Lemberg...

Pfeiffer Ranking

In the United States, the name Pfeiffer is the 2,766^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. [1] However, in France, the name Pfeiffer is ranked the 2,310^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,796 people with that name. [2]

Pfeiffer migration to the United States +

Austria was made a republic after the First World War. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was broken up by the Treaty of Versailles and many of its people found themselves in the new nation of Czechoslovakia. Many other Austrians and expatriate Austrians made their way to North America in the 20th century. Most landed in Philadelphia, later continuing on to the states of Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Some Austrian settlers also went to western Canada and Ontario. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Pfeiffer or a variant listed above:

Pfeiffer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Jakob Pfeiffer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1741 [3]
Wilhelm Pfeiffer, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1749
Adam Pfeiffer, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1751
Jacob Pfeiffer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 [3]
Mathias Pfeiffer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1751 [3]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pfeiffer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Wigand Pfeiffer, who arrived in America in 1833 [3]
Anna Rosina Pfeiffer, aged 71, who landed in America in 1839 [3]
Mr. George Pfeiffer, aged 45, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Washington"
Mrs. Barbara Pfeiffer, aged 38, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Washington"
Miss Joh. Pfeiffer, aged 15, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Washington"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Pfeiffer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Pfeiffer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Christian Pfeiffer, age 28, settled in Canada in 1783

Contemporary Notables of the name Pfeiffer (post 1700) +

Norman Pfeiffer (1940-2023), American architect in Los Angeles, a partner in Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA)
Daniel Pfeiffer (b. 1975), American Assistant to the President of the United States, Senior Advisor to the President for Strategy and Communications
Dorothy Diane "Dedee" Pfeiffer (b. 1964), American film and television actress, sister of Michelle Pfeiffer
Carl Curt Pfeiffer (1908-1988), American physician and biochemist, Chair of the Pharmacology Department at Emory University
Michelle Pfeiffer (b. 1957), American BAFTA Award winning, three-time Academy Award nominated actress
Darrin Pfeiffer (b. 1969), American musician, record producer, band manager and radio personality
Jim Pfeiffer, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates 3rd District, 1978 [4]
J. Scott Pfeiffer, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2008 [4]
Harold Pfeiffer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1952 [4]
George Pfeiffer Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Member of New Jersey State Senate from Camden County, 1888-90; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1888 [4]
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Pfeiffer family +

Bismarck

Horst Pfeiffer (1920-1941), German Matrosenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [5]
Gunter Pfeiffer (1923-1941), 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]
Friedrich Pfeiffer (1919-1941), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking [5]

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, March 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details