Surname Petershofer - Meaning and Origin
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Petershofer: What does the surname Petershofer mean?
The last name Petershofer is a German surname derived from the name Peter which is derived from the Greek name "Petros" meaning "rock." The surname Petershofer also has various regional forms, such as Petter, Petters, Pettersen, and Pettershof. It's believed the name was originally used by a person whose profession revolved around stone or rock work, soil conditions, or quarrying. Alternatively, it may have been used from someone in the trade of stonemason, stone cutter, or quarryman.
The surname Petershofer is found primarily in Germany and Austria and is known to be a surname of some antiquity. Records of the name date back as early as 1503, when a Johannes Pettersof is recorded in Dresden. It was also popular among the nobility of Austria, with Rudolph Petershofer from Neidling listed as a high noble in 1588.
Today, people with the surname Petershofer are spread across the world, from the United States to Australia and beyond, forming a wide network of family members and friends. People with the surname might have a coat of arms, with the coat of arm of the Petershofer family featuring a fess dancette sable with a chevron or and two winged heads. The shield is often seen surrounded by two deer's head caboshed crowned with an aristocratic crown.
Order DNA origin analysisPetershofer: Where does the name Petershofer come from?
The last name Petershofer is most prevalent in Germany today. According to the German-based genealogy resource Ancestry, the last name is mostly concentrated in the Bavarian region of Germany, where it has roots dating back to the 1500s.
In the areas of Munchen, Regensburg, and Rosenheim, the last name Petershofer is particularly common. The Petershofer family experienced a surge in numbers and migration throughout the 1800s and today, the name is not only found in Germany.
In the United States, the name Petershofer is most common in historically German-American states such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, and North Dakota. However, it is also found in other states, where it is likely that members of the Petershofer family emigrated during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The surname is also present in other countries around the world, particularly in Australia, Austria, and Canada. Generally, the surname Petershofer is found in German-speaking countries, as well as countries of German heritage or those with large German-speaking populations.
Overall, the last name Petershofer is mostly associated with the historical regions of Bavaria and Austria, and today its presence can be found around the world.
Variations of the surname Petershofer
The surname Petershofer is a German-based surname, derived from the name Peter. It is a variant spelling or a patronymic name, which has many other variants and spellings, including but not limited to:
Petershofer, Petshofer, Pettershofer, Petersofer, Petzscheffer, Petzschfer, Petzschferer, Petschfer, and Peteshofer.
The surname is also associated with many other surnames which have similar origins. One of these variants is Petershofer's diminutive, which is spelled 'Petshofer' and is a shortened version of the longer 'Petershofer'.
Another surname with a similar origin is 'Petzschaler', which is derived from the German word 'Petsch' meaning 'hemp' and can be traced back to a man who lived near a village where hemp was grown.
The variant Petzscheffer is derived from the word 'petzsche', a Saxon name meaning 'small oak'. In this case, the surname was given to a person from the area where small oak trees were found.
Finally, the variant Petzschferer is derived from the word 'petz' meaning 'to cut' or 'chop', likely given to a person who was a woodcutter.
In summary, the surname Petershofer has many different variants, spellings, and associated surnames with similar origins. It is a patronymic name derived from the given name Peter, and is also associated with similar variations such as Petshofer, Pettershofer, Petersofer, Petzscheffer, Petzschfer, Petzschferer, and Peteshofer.
Other surnames associated with this root include Petzschaler and Petzscheffer, as well as Petzschferer, which are all similar in origin to Petershofer.
Famous people with the name Petershofer
- Matthias Petershofer: German Politician and Member of Parliament
- Andreas Petershofer: Austrian Historian
- Bernd Petershofer: German Organist and Composer
- Pascal Petershofer: German Footballer
- Florian Petershofer: Austrian Entrepreneur and CEO
- Michael Petershofer: Austrian Professional Painter
- Paul Petershofer: Austrian Physician and Medical Professor
- Barbara Petershofer: Austrian Translator and Author
- Christoph Petershofer: German Film Producer
- Gregor Petershofer: Austrian Professional Skier