Surname Preißkorn - Meaning and Origin
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Preißkorn: What does the surname Preißkorn mean?
The last name Preißkorn is German in origin and derived from the Middle Low German ‘preskorn’, meaning ‘priest corn’ or ‘priest groats’. It is believed to have originally been used as an occupational name for someone who worked in a mill to grind corn. This would have been especially useful for those located in religious settings such as a church or monastery that required grains to be milled for use in religious ceremonies.
The name is also linked to the ‘Preisser’, a regional office holder responsible for the maintenance of the local mill and gathering of taxes. This individual played a key role in ensuring the grinding of grain was consistent and that payments and taxes were paid in a timely manner.
In addition to the original meaning of the name, it is also believed to have been given to farmers with rent-paying duties or to individuals serving as bailiffs. Another account suggests that the name could have been a nickname for someone considered to possess great wisdom or acumen, synonymous with the Biblical phrase ‘precious corn’.
This name can also be found in other variants, such as Preisser, Preyser, Preisse and Preissecorn, all connected to the same origins. Over time, the name has evolved by various spelling changes across the immigration process, exemplified by American versions of the surname, which can be found written as PURSEGERN, PURSEGORN, PERSKORN, PRESSKORN, PREEZGERN and PREESGORN.
Order DNA origin analysisPreißkorn: Where does the name Preißkorn come from?
The surname Preißkorn is primarily found in Germany and the surrounding countries. It is a habitational name derived from a location in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is now most commonly found in the Rhineland, northern Germany and southwestern Poland. It is also found in Austria, eastern Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
The name Preißkorn may have originated from the Middle High German “prise” (price) and “Korn” (grain) and the meaning of the name may imply it was an area where grain was sold or in demand. The “Preiß” (price) element may also refer to the owner of the land or a landlord, suggesting that the family originated as a peasant class.
The first recorded instance of the Preißkorn family was a Rudolfus dictus Preischorn, who was recorded in the year 1267. Over time, the name has changed its spelling, taking on variations such as Prößkorn and Presskorn, to name a few. Today, the spelling is most often seen as Preißkorn.
In Germany, the number of people with the Preißkorn surname has decreased in the last few decades. At the time of the 2011 census, only around 1,000 people had the name. There are also some with the name in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand due to German immigration during the 1800s.
Variations of the surname Preißkorn
The Preißkorn surname originates from the Middle High German term Priesskorn, and it is derived from the Latin phrase prespistus. The name originally referred to someone who was the keeper of a spice store.
The variants, spellings, and surnames that stem from this name are Preisskorn, Preisskornn, Preisscorn, Preist, Preiske, Preisk, Priest, Priestke, Priess, Priesske, Priestcorn, and Present.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name dates back to 1690 in a town called Schwenningen in the Bauerbach-Vöhringen region of Germany. The surname was used to refer to several people: Jost Preißkornns was mentioned in 1690; the marriage of Jost Preißkorns and Anna Fauth was registered in 1698; and on a 1719 list of baptisms in the same region, several peasants including Hans Preißkorns were recorded.
In the following centuries, the surname branched out to other parts of Germany. The surname appeared in several other regions, including Frankfurt am Main, in 1734 (Jochim Preißkorn), as well as in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1754 (Michael Preißkorn).
The surname’s spelling has also been subject to various changes in the 18th and 19th centuries. For instance, the 1840-1847 listing of family names in a Mecklenburg directory included Preiskorn, Priest, Preist, Preiske, and more.
The Preißkorn surname is now also to be found in other countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the US, and the UK.
Famous people with the name Preißkorn
- Alexander Preißkorn: German football player
- Maximilian Preißkorn: German composer, choirmaster, and cultural manager
- Alexander Preißkorn: German linguist
- Florian Preißkorn: German footballer
- Diana Preißkorn: German journalist and television presenter
- Gert Preißkorn: German politician
- Max Preißkorn: German politician
- Helge Preißkorn: German professor and eminent scholar in classical philology
- Gregor Preißkorn: German politician
- Andreas Preißkorn: German footballer
- Martin Preißkorn: German footballer
- Christine Preißkorn: German sculptor