Surname Pechter - Meaning and Origin
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Pechter: What does the surname Pechter mean?
Pechter is a surname of German origin. It is believed to come from the Middle High German term 'pëtzer' which means 'pedlar' or 'hawker'. The term is related to the German verb 'pechen' which means 'to go from house to house selling wares or begging'.
The surname has the meaning of 'traveler' or 'one who moves around frequently', as such may have been used to describe a peddler or trader who sold his goods in different places. The surname is quite rare in Germany, though some still exist in larger towns and cities.
Pechter was likely adopted by a family who were peddlers in the Middle Ages, and extended as their business grew. At the time, it was common for families to take the name of their craft, hence why the surname remains to this day.
The meaning of the last name Pechter reflects the lifestyle of a trader in the past, someone who was constantly on the move to make ends meet. To this day, the surname is associated with enterprise and ambition, most likely due to the livelihoods pursued by its earliest bearers.
Order DNA origin analysisPechter: Where does the name Pechter come from?
The last name Pechter is a Jewish surname, and is most commonly found in areas with large Jewish populations. There are large numbers of Pechters in Israel, Europe, and North America. In Europe, it's common among Jews in Germany, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, among other countries.
In North America, the names is particularly prevalent in the United States, where it ranks in the top 8,000 most common surnames. It's found in all 50 states, with the most significant concentrations in New York, California, and Florida.
There are also sizable numbers of Pechters in Canada. It's one of the most common surnames among French Canadians in Quebec, and also found among Jews in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. Other areas with significant numbers of people with the last name Pechter include Russia, Belarus, Australia, Brazil, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Pechter
Pechter is an uncommon Jewish surname from Eastern Europe, mainly associated with Germany. It is derived from the German word "pech," meaning misfortune or bad luck, and it is also believed to be related to the word "Achter," meaning "eighth" or "after." This type of surname often arose when a male individual distinguished himself from other members of his family by taking a nickname or a portion of a given name, as Pechter may have derived from the Hebrew name for David, "Achterman."
Variations in spelling for the surname Pechter include Pechters, Pechtar, Pechterman, Pecht, Achilles, Achs, Achter, Achters, Acks, Acker, Ackerman, Akermans, Bachtar, Pechtor, Bersch, Bieser, Bischof, and Brodnik.
Variants of Pechter that developed outside of Germany include Pechterowicz (Poland), Pechterovits (Croatia/Bosnia), Pechtero (Italy), Pechtermanovich (Ukraine), Pechik (Czech Republic), Pechtere (Sweden), Pakker (Holland/Netherlands).
There are also various like-sounding surnames which have little to no connection to Pechter. These include Pecketter (Northern Germany), Behr (Germany and Russian Empire), Bersh (Eastern Europe), Borshch (Ukraine and Russia), and Potts (English).
Famous people with the name Pechter
- Miles Pechter: Miles Pechter is a Canadian actor known for his roles in the television series “Stranded” and “Tinkers!”, as well as the films “Boogeyman 3” and “Turnbuckle”.
- Benny Pechter: Benny Pechter is an American photographer and filmmaker. He is known for his pictures of vintage cars and motorcycles, landscapes, and wildlife.
- Dave Pechter: Dave Pechter is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has released two solo albums and has released two collaborations with the band Sonnifable.
- David Pechter: David Pechter is an American composer and music producer. His work has been featured on television shows, films, commercials, and video games.
- Mary Pechter: Mary Pechter is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is the founder and CEO of Body Wise, a company that provides health and wellness products.
- Mark Pechter: Mark Pechter is a British actor who has been in films such as "Murder on the Orient Express", "The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll", and "10 Rillington Place".
- Robert Pechter: Robert Pechter is an American poet and visual artist. He is best known for his book of poetry "The Talking Trees".
- Bonnie Pechter: Bonnie Pechter is an American author and speaker. She is the author of several books on communication and relationship-building skills.
- Eric Pechter: Eric Pechter is an American musician and voice actor. He is best known for his role as the voice of "Spam" from the Underdog cartoon series.