Surname Pfitzemaier - Meaning and Origin
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Pfitzemaier: What does the surname Pfitzemaier mean?
The last name Pfitzemaier is a German-origin surname. It is composed of two elements – “Pfitz” and “Maier”. The origin of “Pfitz” is derived from Old German words meaning “to prepare” or “to initiate”. “Maier” is thought to be derived from the Middle High German occupational name Meier, referring to an estate or landowner. Put together, the surname translates to “initiator of the lands” or “one who prepared the land”.
The Pfitzemaier surname can be found in records of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Czech Republic beginning in the 13th century. It can also be found in the United States and Canada as a result of immigrants settling in these countries during the 19th century. As of 2021, Pfitzemaier is the 8,770th most common surname in Germany and 1,278th most common in Austria.
Today, the surname Pfitzemaier is most commonly associated with Wilfried Pfitzemaier, a German canoe sprint athlete who won the gold medal in men’s C1 500m at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.
Order DNA origin analysisPfitzemaier: Where does the name Pfitzemaier come from?
The last name Pfitzemaier is most commonly found in Germany and Austria. It is believed to have originated in Bavaria, one of the 16 states of Germany, however, some occurrences have been found in surrounding regions.
Because of Germany's relative closeness to many other European countries, it's possible that some Pfitzemaier's have emigrated to other parts of Europe. Records show the name has spread to countries such as Ukraine, Romania, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, as well as the United States.
In the United States the name Pfitzemaier is most commonly found in Wisconsin and Minnesota. It's likely the surname migrated to the United States from Germany in the mid 19th century, when America was populated with many German settlers.
Internationally, it is fairly rare to find the name through a quick search however, it is believed by some to have originally derived from a Swiss form of the name.
Pfitzemaier is a surname that appears to have been derived from either a location or a specific occupation in the middle ages.
The majority of those with the Pfitzemaier surname continue to reside in Germany, proving that the name hasn't faded out from the original country of origin.
Variations of the surname Pfitzemaier
Pfitzemaier is a German-language surname, which is derived from the Lower Saxon placename "Pfitzmair" meaning "Pfitz pond". The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Pfitzemaier are:
Pfitzemaier: This is the most common spelling of the surname and can also be found as Pffitzemaier, Pfitzemeyer, Pfitzemayer, Pfitszemaier and Ptizemaier.
Pfitzmair: This variation of the name is believed to originate from Lower Saxon, and can also be found as Pfitzmayer, Pfitszmair and Pfitszmeyer.
Pfitzmaier: This variation is derived from a Middle German spelling of the name, and can also be found as Pfitszmaier and Pffitszmaier.
Pfitzammer: This variation originated in southern Germany, and can also be found as Pfitzammerle and Pfitzammerling.
Pfitzenmaier: This variation is a combination of Middle German and Lower Saxon, and can also be found as Pfitsenmaie or Pfitsenmayer.
Pitchesmyer: This name originates from Bavarian, and is related to Pfitzemaier.
Fitzmaurice, Fitzmauricee: This name is an Anglicized version of Pfitzemaier.
Fitzmaurice-Pfitzemaier: This is a combination of the Irish Fitzmaurice and German Pfitzemaier, which is a more modern version of the name.
Fitzmair: This is an Anglicized variation of the name.
These are all variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin as Pfitzemaier. There are likely more variants that have been around for centuries. As with any name, it may have changed over time depending on location and culture.
Famous people with the name Pfitzemaier
- René Pfitzmaier: a Swiss-born, Italian-raised French actor best known for his role in La Chiave (1983),
- Wilhelm Pfitzmaier: German painter from the late 19th century who specialized in marine artwork,
- Chloé Pfitzmaier: French actress who has appeared in films such as Coup de tête (1979),
- Mikelle Pfitzmaier: German actress, singer, and instrumentalist,
- Charles Pfitzmaier: a 19th century lawyer from Switzerland who is remembered mainly for his works on philosophy and political history,
- Heidi Pfitzmaier: Swiss-based actress and host known for such works as One by One (2000) and Prozent Chance (1999),
- Ella Pfitzmaier: Austrian-born journalist and literary critic who did work for Radio Wien,
- Thierauf Pfitzmaier: German sculptor and professor at the Institute of Arts and Crafts in Munich,
- Michael G. Pfitzmaier: a cetacean zoologist from Germany who conducted research on the behavior and ecology of North Atlantic sperm whales,
- Louise Pfitzmaier: German veterinarian who coined the term “Duramater” to describe the outer membrane of the spinal cord.