Surname Pfab - Meaning and Origin
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Pfab: What does the surname Pfab mean?
The origin of the surname Pfab is German. The name has several possible meanings, including a reference to "pfäb," an old German word for a fence, or "pfarb," an old German word for a church leader. It is also possible that the name could have come from "Pfaff," a term of endearment meaning "dear one."
The earliest recorded use of the surname seems to have been in Germany, where records of those with the name can be found as far back as the mid-14th century. By the 16th century, variants of the name had appeared in other parts of Europe, including Austria, Hungary, and Russia.
The name Pfab was brought to the United States by German immigrants who settled in various parts of the country in the late 19th and early 20th century. The name is especially common in the Midwest, where many of the first Pfab immigrants settled. Today the name is found in various forms throughout the United States, and has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
The Pfab family today remains strongly associated with the German origin, and the name is a popular choice for German-Americans. It is also possible that other families may have adopted the name Pfab, due to the various meanings of the name, but the core of the family still remains linked to Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisPfab: Where does the name Pfab come from?
The last name Pfab is most common today in Germany, where it is ranked as the 632nd most popular family name. Pfab is usually a shortened form of the German last name Pfefferle, which is derived from the Middle High German word “pfaffel” meaning “little priest” and usually designated someone of a priestly or ministerial ancestry. The Pfab name is found mainly in southern Germany, with a higher concentration in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
The name appears to date back at least to the early 16th century, when Andreas Pfeiffer was mentioned in documents from Marbach am Neckar, a city in Baden-Württemberg. From there the Pfab family moved eastward to the states of Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. By the end of the 18th century, it had spread further across Germany, where it can be found today in all areas of the country.
Pfab is also a common last name throughout the region of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is particularly common in Hungary and in scattered pockets in Poland and Ukraine. It is likely that the name spread from the German-speaking regions of the empire to Austria and southeastern Europe, where Pfab descendants can still be found today.
Additionally, the Pfab name has been found in England since at least the early 20th century when Charles Pfab, an immigrant from Germany, settled in Portsmouth. As a result of emigration and international marriage, the name has spread to other countries, particularly in the Anglo-World, with people bearing the Pfab name now found in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Pfab
The Pfab surname originates from German-speaking regions and has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The prevalent spelling of the surname is Pfab, but there are many other variations, including Fab, Phab, Pfaff, Pfau, Pfabe and Pfaffing.
The original usage of this surname was eventually adapted into other languages, giving rise to even more variations. In Dutch, the surname has been rendered as Pfaaf, Fabbe, Pfaffe and Phauw. The Italian version of this surname is Pfeffa, and the Polish version is Pfaff. In Hungarian, the surname has been adapted to Pfafy and Pfeffer.
Some of those surnames which have been changed to a more English-sounding version include Phiffer, Pfeiffer and Feffer. Alternatively, some English language adaptations simply involve dropping the letter 'F', leaving the surname as Pab or Pau.
The Pfab surname is still supported by many who choose to spell it the original way, Pfab. All these variations of this surname share the same origin, and each of them has a unique significance and history.
Famous people with the name Pfab
- Scott Pfab: American Christian singer/songwriter
- David Pfab: German football defender
- Jenni Pfab: Dominican-American radio personality
- Karl Pfab: German footballer
- Tony Pfab: American professional golfer
- Robert Pfab: Austrian violinist
- William Pfab: American illustrator
- Peter Pfab: German writer
- George Pfab: American chemist
- Erich Pfab: Austrian civil servant
- Charles Pfab: American renowned sculptor
- Wolfgang Pfab: German ice hockey player
- Arnold Pfab: German composer and music pedagogist
- Karl Pfab: German World War I veteran
- Rebecca Pfab: American author
- Mike Pfab: American former NFL football player
- Erna Pfab: German painter
- Franz Pfab: Austrian sculptor
- Jean Pfab: French writer
- Johannes Pfab: German football coach