Find out how popular the last name Pfankuch is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Pfankuch.

Pfankuch, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Pfankuch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pfankuch in America

Pfankuch is the 101737th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pfankuch surname appeared 177 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Pfankuch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pfankuch to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Pfankuch

The surname Pfankuch is of German origin, with roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, specifically around the city of Munich. The name is derived from the Old High German word "pfanne," meaning "pan," and "kuoche," meaning "cake" or "pastry." This suggests that the original bearers of the name may have been bakers or pastry makers by trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pfankuch can be found in the Bavarian town records from the late 13th century. These records mention a certain Hans Pfankuch, a baker who owned a small shop in the heart of Munich. Unfortunately, no exact dates of birth or death are available for this individual.

By the 16th century, the Pfankuch name had spread to other parts of Germany, with notable mentions in various church records and municipal documents. In 1542, a Johannes Pfankuch was listed as a member of the local guild of bakers in the city of Nuremberg. Another prominent figure was Matthias Pfankuch, a merchant and landowner from the town of Weimar, who lived between 1570 and 1638.

As the centuries passed, the Pfankuch name continued to appear in various historical records across Germany. In the 18th century, a notable figure was Johann Pfankuch, a renowned clockmaker from the city of Augsburg, who lived from 1698 to 1772. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy merchants of the time.

Another significant individual was Katharina Pfankuch, a woman who gained recognition for her involvement in the German Resistance movement during World War II. Born in 1901 in Berlin, she played a crucial role in helping Jewish families escape persecution by providing them with safe haven and forged documents. Tragically, she was captured and executed by the Nazis in 1944.

Lastly, a more recent figure worth mentioning is Hans-Joachim Pfankuch, a German physicist and inventor who lived from 1920 to 2012. He is best known for his contributions to the development of radar technology, which played a crucial role in both military and civilian applications during and after World War II.

While the Pfankuch name may not be as widely recognized as some other German surnames, its rich history and origins can be traced back to the baking and culinary traditions of medieval Bavaria. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this name have left their mark in various fields, from craftsmanship and commerce to resistance movements and scientific innovation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pfankuch

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Pfankuch.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Pfankuch was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Pfankuch has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Pfankuch was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Pfankuch, please contact us.

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