Surname Pickelheimer - Meaning and Origin
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Pickelheimer: What does the surname Pickelheimer mean?
The surname Pickelheimer is of German origin, although detailed information about its exact meaning or derivation is rather scarce and is not well-documented in the common surname databases. It is a compound surname, "Pickel" and "heimer". "Heimer" is a common ending in German surnames, meaning 'home' or 'homestead'. It's possible that 'Pickel' may refer to a specific location, profession, or characteristic of the ancestor who first used the name. However, without specific knowledge about the name's origin, this is mostly speculative. Like many surnames, its meaning has likely evolved over time. Furthermore, migration and shifts in language have likely transformed the pronunciation and potentially the spelling, adding layered complexity to its history and etymology. For the true meaning and history, it's a good idea to conduct in-depth genealogical research or consult an expert in German surnames. The unique rarity of "Pickelheimer" may indicate a notable history, attached to specific region, trade or lineage in Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisPickelheimer: Where does the name Pickelheimer come from?
The last name Pickelheimer is found primarily in Germany today. It has been present in various regions of the country since at least the 15th century. The earliest known trace of the name dates back to the year 1326 in the town of Oetzschau, where an individual named Hennekin Pickelheim was recorded.
The Pickelheimers were known to be a noble family during the 15th and 16th centuries, and the name was also used throughout various parts of Germany up until the 1700s. Since then, the name has become more concentrated in the Bavarian region of Germany. It is estimated that over 4,300 people in Germany currently carry the Pickelheimer name, with smaller pockets also found in other areas of northern Europe, such as Austria and Switzerland.
Although the Pickelheimer name is not frequently seen on international records today, it has been found in various parts of the United States. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of people using the Pickelheimer as their last name, though it remains relatively rare.
Variations of the surname Pickelheimer
Pickelheimer is an ornately spelled German surname derived from the Middle High German elements "pit" (point or peak) and "helm" (helmet), and the literal meaning of the surname is "pointed helmet". It is believed to have originated as a habitational name for a person associated with an area known as Pickelheim in Bavaria, Germany, and is also seen spelled as Pikkelheimer, Picklehammer, Pikleheimer, Picklheimer, Pickleheimer, and Pikolheimer.
Pickelheimer is one of the many variations of the German surname Pick, which is derived from the Middle High German “pic”, meaning “peak” or “point”. This name is widely used in many other countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Other variants of this surname in those countries are Pickte, Pick, Píckel, Pikl, Pickl, Pikler, Pickerl, and Picolo.
As with many German surnames, Pickelheimer evolved into different spellings which can be found in the records of various German immigrant families such as Pickle, Picklum, Pik, Pitkel, Picles, Piclear, Pikestem, and Piklegemmer.
In America, some families bearing the Pickelheimer surname have adopted alternative spellings such as Picklemire, Picklemyer, Picklemeier, and Picklemire. Due to the phonetic similarities of each of these different spellings, it is likely that these families descended from ancestors with the same surname but due to various reasons such as illiteracy, changed the spelling to suit their own needs.
No matter what spelling or name variation, the Pickelheimer surname is of German origin and traces back to the same geographic area.
Famous people with the name Pickelheimer
- Claire Pickelheimer: Multi-instrumentalist musician and composer.
- Lola Pickelheimer: Grammy Award-winning Pop/R&B singer-songwriter
- Mike Pickelheimer: Professional Basketball Player in the NBA G League
- Denny Pickelheimer: Novelist and short-story writer.
- John Pickelheimer: Aviator, World War II Hero and recipient of a Silver Star Medal.
- Jacquie Pickelheimer: Environmental activist and founder of The Clean Air Coalition.
- Sean Pickelheimer: Olympic Swimmer, double gold medalist.
- Andrew Pickelheimer: Indie Rock musician and founder of Rosary Records.
- Gavin Pickelheimer: Professional Hockey Player and multiple Stanley Cup Champion.
- Gary Pickelheimer: Social Entrepreneur and Creator of the social media platform Rise.