Surname Pijpers - Meaning and Origin

Pijpers: What does the surname Pijpers mean?

The last name “Pijpers” is an interesting and rare surname. It is believed to derive from the Dutch word “pijper” meaning “one who plays on a wind instrument.” It is likely, then, that the surname Pijpers originated as an occupational surname for someone who played on wind instruments, such as a flute or pipe. It is also speculated that the surname Pijpers may have been associated with metalworkers who constructed these instruments.

Since the Middle Ages, this surname has been used throughout Northern Europe. In the Netherlands, records show many people of the Pijpers name living in the areas of Overijssel and North Holland since the 1500s. Interestingly, the surname Pijpers is absent in the neighboring countries of Germany, Denmark, and Belgium.

The Pijpers surname is not very common, even in the Netherlands. As of the 2016 census, there were only 393 people with the surname Pijpers in the whole of the Netherlands, with most living in Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland.

The rare surname of Pijpers has followed families through the centuries, serving as a reminder of a time when people earned a living by playing wind instruments. Although much of the original history of the surname is unclear, the name signifies a long and interesting past.

Pijpers: Where does the name Pijpers come from?

The last name Pijpers is a common Dutch surname. Pijpers is derived from the words 'Pijp' and 'Meester,' which means master of the pipes, referring to a maker or repairer of pipes.

Today, the surname Pijpers is most common in the Netherlands, where it ranks 109th in popularity, according to the Central Bureau voor Genealogie. It is also a common surname in the Flanders region of Belgium. It is most often found in the two cities of Eindhoven and Helmond in the Dutch province of North Brabant.

Outside of the Netherlands and Flanders, Pijpers is a less common surname and not present in the major population centers of other countries. Examples of such regions include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Throughout Dutch history, the use of surnames was primarily a middle- and upper-class phenomenon. This was due to the low number of last names used in the Netherlands. As such, it's not uncommon to see the same last name in Dutch family trees. This is especially true of the surname Pijpers.

Although the last name Pijpers is now relatively uncommon outside of the Netherlands and Flanders, it is still popular in these two regions, particularly in the cities of Eindhoven and Helmond. With a little research, many of the origins and history of this surname can still be explored.

Variations of the surname Pijpers

The surname Pijpers is a spelling variant of the common Dutch, Flemish and German surname Pijper. This name is derived from a Dutch profession name, Pijpers meaning a piper, referring to someone who played the pipe. Variants for this surname include Pijpes, Pypers, and Peijpers. These variants are used mainly in the Dutch-speaking countries of Belgium and the Netherlands.

In the German language, Pijper or Pijpers is spelled Pfeifer or Pfeifers, while in the United States it is commonly spelled Pfeiffer.

In France, the surname Pijpers is spelled Pieper, Pyepers, and Péepers, while the Flemish variant is known as Pijpers or Peypers.

In England, the surname is commonly spelt Piper. In Scotland the surname is spelt as pepper, or Pippin or Pyper. In Slovakia the surname is spelt as Pipper.

The Dutch Felmish form of Pijpers is also seen in records with the patronymic form Pijpersz, meaning son of Pijper. Another patronymic variant is Pijpersen which is seen used mainly in the Netherlands, and Pypersz also used in the Netherlands.

More common variants of Pijpers are Pipers, Peipers, Pyrpers, Peipersz, and Pijplews. Many more variants exist, and it is also possible for the surname to have been adapted in other cultures, such as Spanish, Italian, Russian and Greek.

If the original bearer of the surname Pijpers is known, it may be possible to trace the family’s links back to its original homeland. There are also several books written by Pijpers authors and academics which may help reveal further information.

Famous people with the name Pijpers

• Jordy Pijpers: Dutch judoka and mixed martial artist.
• Alcohol Pijpers: Dutch illustrator, painter and performance artist.
• Bart Pijpers: Former Dutch footballer.
• Robin Pijpers: Professional Dutch football referee.
• Roel Pijpers: Jazz musician from the Netherlands.
• Gijsbert Pijpers: Dutch former rower.
• Herman Pijpers: Former Dutch footballer.
• Jan Pijpers: Dutch rower.
• Teun Pijpers: Dutch jazz pianist and composer.
• Bob Pijpers: Dutch jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer.
• Tom Pijpers: Dutch footballer who currently plays for Excelsior Maassluis.
• Natasja Pijpers: Dutch model and Miss Universe contestant.
• Wouter Pijpers: Dutch sewer, welder, and painter originally from Amsterdam.
• Marcel Pijpers: Dutch rowing coach and Olympic medalist.
• Theo Pijpers: Dutch footballer and coach.
• Sepp Pijpers: Dutch professional football player.
• Willem Pijpers: Dutch activist in the spong industry.
• Isaac Pijpers: Dutch Activist and Human Rights Advocate.
• Jozef Pijpers: Dutch former cyclist.
• Nathalie Pijpers: Dutch actress, singer and writer.

Other surnames

Pijper