Surname Pachter - Meaning and Origin
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Pachter: What does the surname Pachter mean?
The last name Pachter is a Jewish surname, originating in Eastern Europe. It is derived from the Middle High German word "pacher" or "pachter", which means tenant or farmer.
Historically, Jews in Europe were not allowed to own land or businesses, so they were limited to careers such as merchants, tailors, cobblers, artisans, musicians, and day laborers. In the early 1800s, a few Jews were able to purchase land. Those who began to practice agriculture were known as pachters. This name eventually became the last name for those families who had risen from peasantry to land owners.
Pachter families are now found all over the world – from Israel to the US, Europe, and elsewhere. They are a tight-knit community who are still proud and passionate about their shared history.
Today, Pachter is an uncommon yet meaningful surname, and each family has its own unique story to tell. It stands as a reminder of the courage and strength of those who were able to rise above difficult circumstances and make a better life for themselves and their descendants.
Order DNA origin analysisPachter: Where does the name Pachter come from?
The last name Pachter is most commonly found in Europe and within Jewish communities around the world. It is originally of Yiddish origin and is usually found in Jewish families originating from Southeastern Europe.
In terms of geographic distribution, today the last name Pachter is found in the highest numbers in Romania, where it is the 41st most common name. It is also quite prevalent in Moldova, where it is the 25th most popular surname. In other European countries, including Germany, Hungary, and Poland, the name is relatively common but ranks lower on the list at 150th or more.
Outside of Europe, Pachter is a relatively uncommon surname, although it does appear as far east as Israel, where it is the 531st most common name. In the United States, the name is still relatively rare, but also slowly becoming more popular thanks to increased immigration of Eastern European Jews. According to the 2010 US Census, Pachter is the 12,621st most common surname in the country.
Variations of the surname Pachter
The surname Pachter is a German and Jewish surname originating from the Middle High German word "Pach", meaning "to strike". It is an occupational surname that was given to a person who struck, beat or pounded.
The variants and spellings of the surname Pachter include: Pacher, Pacharz, Pachorz, Paechter, Pachterer, Paychter, Pechter, Baechter, Bachter and more.
The surnames of the same origin for Pachter include: Packer, Packard, Pepper, Bacher, Luther, Schulter, Faust, Bieder, Bergman, Schiller, Ruprecht, Pfister, Schaefer, Bauer, Turner, Stricker and more.
The spelling of the surname Pachter can vary depending on the region of origin. For example, the variation of the name Pacer is commonly found among Ashkenazi Jews. Additionally, Pacht may be an Austrian or Hungarian spelling of the name.
In Germany, the Pacht family may have its origin in Bavaria, or in the Rhineland Palatinate region. In Austria, the Pachter name is most common in the provinces of Lower Austria, Styria, and Upper Austria, while in Switzerland, the Pachter name first appeared in the mid-1800s.
In the United States, the Pachter surname first arrived in the 1800s. By the 1920s, the surname had spread to all areas of the United States. The Pachter surname is most common in New York and Pennsylvania.
Famous people with the name Pachter
- Barry Pachter, a South African-born Canadian medical doctor and professor.
- Jason Pachter, a correspondent for National Public Radio.
- Gilbert Pachter, a Canadian biochemist and medical researcher
- Nate Pachter, a professional contemporary sculptor and painter.
- Vlad Pachter, a former American basketball player.
- Bernd Pachter, a German academic and author.
- Jeffrey Pachter, a prominent American private equity and real estate investor and entrepreneur.
- William Pachter, an American historian and research professor.
- Adrian Pachter, a Romanian poet and author.
- Avi Pachter, an Israeli professional chess player and instructor.