| ![Show Contents]() Pfifer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Germany
Etymology of PfiferWhat does the name Pfifer mean? Medieval Austria is the noble birthplace of the family name Pfifer. 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 Pfifer familyThe surname Pfifer 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 Pfifer familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pfifer research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1566, 1590, 1713, 1721, 1797 and 1858 are included under the topic Early Pfifer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Pfifer Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Pfifer include Pfeiffer, Pfeifer, Pfeyffer, Pfeyfer and many more. Early Notables of the Pfifer familyJohann 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...
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pfifer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Pfifer migration to the United States | + |
After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Pfifer were
Pfifer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Christian Pfifer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 1
- Ludwick Pfifer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 1
Pfifer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Alben Pfifer, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1850 1
Pfifer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Joseph Pfifer, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 1
- 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)
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