Surname Pelzer - Meaning and Origin

A Discovery Beyond Boundaries: Unearthing the Pelzer Family Roots Through the iGENEA DNA Test

Most remarkable was the realization that my surname Pelzer holds a rich history that I was not aware of. I grew up with stories of German roots featuring prominently in our family lore. My iGENEA DNA test, however, revealed much more.

S. Pelzer

Pelzer: What does the surname Pelzer mean?

The last name Pelzer is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "Pelz" which means fur or a fur pelt. This suggests that the original bearers of this name were fur traders or trappers, likely of Middle High German descent.

The name is most common in Germany, with the earliest known reference to the name dating back to 1038 in Cologne where records show a member of the Pelzer family. Since then, the Pelzer surname spread across Europe and eventually to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Today, the Pelzer surname appears in Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, and many parts of the United States. In the United States, the Pelzer family can be traced mostly to South Carolina and the Upper Midwest.

The meaning of the Pelzer surname holds an interesting history. For centuries, fur trading and trapping was an important industry and an integral part of life in many parts of Europe and later on, in the United States. The origins of the Pelzer family capture a part of this history and serve to connect it with the present.

Pelzer: Where does the name Pelzer come from?

Pelzer is a surname which is most common in Germany, but it is also found in other countries around the world. It was first recorded in the early 13th century in the eastern German region of Silesia, and is believed to have been derived from the Old German word "pilz", meaning mushroom. Since then, the name has spread throughout Europe and beyond, particularly in countries with large German-speaking populations, such as the United States, Canada, Austria, and Switzerland.

In the United States, the last name Pelzer is particularly common in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, particularly Pennsylvania, as well as in the South. The states with the highest concentration of the surname are reported to be Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Georgia. The name is also found in substantial numbers in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

According to World Names Public Profiler, there are over 9,000 people in Germany with the last name Pelzer, and the number of people with the name has been increasing in recent years. Over 1100 people through the world bear the surname, although exact numbers vary slightly depending on the source.

Most modern individuals with the last name Pelzer likely descend from the original German roots, although the many historical migrations of the surname-holders have likely resulted in a more diverse set of origins in modern times.

Variations of the surname Pelzer

The surname Pelzer has a variety of variants, spellings and surnames derived from the same origin. This includes spelling variations of the name such as Peltzer, Pellzer, Pelter, Pellter, Pelzer, Peltzer and Peltzer.

The surname is also used in a number of German-speaking countries, particularly in former German-speaking territories such as Czech Republic and Poland. The variants of the surname in these areas include Pletzer, Pletzerin, Pleteser, Peltzer, Pelz or Peltz.

The earliest form of the surname originated in Germany. The earliest known variant is Pellzer, believed to have derived from the old High German word "Pelzere" which indicates a furrier or fur-trader in small villages and towns. The variations began in more recent times, when participants in migration process travelled from Germany to other parts of Europe, the United States and South America. Each variant is associated with different geographical origins, which have given rise to unique variants such as Paler, Pelisek, Pletz and Pletzke.

Pelzer is also used as a first name in Germany, where it has been recorded in various church books since the 16th century. The surname is widely used in Germany and other parts of Europe, as well as in North and South America, where previous generations emigrated from Germany in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In conclusion, the surname Pelzer has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. This includes a range of variants in different languages, areas and dialects, as well as different geographical origins that have given rise to unique variants.

Famous people with the name Pelzer

• Dave Pelzer: Author of A Child Called “It” and other autobiographical books detailing his experiences of child abuse.
• Ken Pelzer: Professional baseball player for the Oakland Athletics.
• Sarah Pelzer: Professional volleyball player and NCAA champion with the University of Texas at Austin.
• David Pelzer: Journalist, writer, and war correspondent.
• Mark Pelzer: Actor who has appeared in several TV shows and films.
• Philip Pelzer: 1940s Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Diane Pelzer: Lifestyle consultant and author.
• Arnold Pelzer: Professional basketball player and coach.
• Harold Pelzer: Leading voice of the Twin Cities German American community.
• Marion Pelzer: Creative Director and Costume Designer, winner of several prestigious awards.

Other surnames

PelzelPelzers