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

Pfannenstein, 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 Pfannenstein surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pfannenstein in America

Pfannenstein is the 78316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pfannenstein surname appeared 244 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 Pfannenstein.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pfannenstein 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 Pfannenstein

The surname Pfannenstein is of German origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German words "Pfanne" meaning "pan" and "Stein" meaning "stone," suggesting a connection to an occupation or place related to metalworking or stonework.

The name is believed to have originated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where metalworking and quarrying were prevalent industries. Some early records indicate that the name may have been associated with families who lived near or worked at foundries or stoneworks.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Pfannenstein can be found in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of Freiberg, Saxony, from the late 16th century. These records mention individuals with the surname Pfannenstein engaged in various trades, including metalworking and mining.

In the 17th century, the Pfannenstein name appeared in the tax records of the town of Schwarzenberg, in the Erzgebirge region of Saxony, which was known for its rich deposits of tin and silver. This suggests that some Pfannenstein families may have been involved in the mining and processing of these precious metals.

Notable individuals with the surname Pfannenstein include:

1. Johann Pfannenstein (c. 1590-1655), a German metalsmith and engraver from Dresden, renowned for his intricate designs on armor and weaponry.
2. Gottfried Pfannenstein (1650-1723), a Saxon architect and stonemason who contributed to the construction of several churches and castles in the Saxony region.
3. Anna Maria Pfannenstein (1675-1742), a German botanist and naturalist from Leipzig, known for her extensive collection and cataloging of plant specimens.
4. Heinrich Pfannenstein (1798-1879), a German philosopher and professor at the University of Jena, who wrote extensively on ethics and metaphysics.
5. Wilhelm Pfannenstein (1840-1912), a German engineer and inventor, credited with developing early prototypes of the internal combustion engine.

While the surname Pfannenstein may have evolved or been altered over time, its origins can be traced back to the historic regions of Germany, where it was associated with occupations and industries related to metalworking, stonework, and mining.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pfannenstein

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

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 Pfannenstein 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 Pfannenstein 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 Pfannenstein was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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