Show ContentsDepeyster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Depeyster

What does the name Depeyster mean?

The Depeyster surname comes from the Upper German word "pfister," which meant "baker." 1

"Pistor is originally of the monastery, or Court, in contrast to the simple bread bakery, Latin panifex, finally a Baker at all. In Bonn, a pisternen street (now the star of street)" 2

Early Origins of the Depeyster family

The surname Depeyster was first found in Bavaria and Saxony, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power including the branch at Grubnitz.

Early History of the Depeyster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Depeyster research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1272, 1280, 1291, 1376, 1420, 1470, 1523, 1544, 1561, 1699 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Depeyster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Depeyster Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Pfister, Pister, De Pester, Pester, Pistor, Pistorio and many more.

Early Notables of the Depeyster family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Depeyster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Depeyster migration to the United States +



Depeyster Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Johannes DePeyster, who arrived in New York in 1645 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Depeyster (post 1700) +

  • Philip DePeyster, American politician, U.S. Consul in Curaçao, 1806-15 4
  • Johannes DePeyster (1694-1789), American politician, Mayor of Albany, New York, 1729-31, 1732-33 5
  • J. DePeyster Ten Eyck, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Albany County, 1787-88


  1. Debrabandere, Frans Verklarend woordenboek van de familienamen in België en Noord-Frankrijk Grondig Herziene Uiitgave, 1993. Digital
  2. Linnartz, Dr. Kasper Unsere Familiennamen Hamburg, Hannover: Ferd, Dummlers Verlag, 1958. Digital
  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 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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