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

Pfeifer, 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 Pfeifer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pfeifer in America

Pfeifer is the 3533rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pfeifer surname appeared 10,109 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Pfeifer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pfeifer 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 Pfeifer

The surname PFEIFER is of German origin, deriving from the Middle High German word "pfifer" meaning "piper" or "flute player". This occupational surname emerged in the 13th century, referring to individuals who played wind instruments, particularly the pipe or flute.

The earliest recorded instances of the PFEIFER surname can be traced back to the late medieval period in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. Historical records from the 14th and 15th centuries, including town registers and tax rolls, have documented individuals bearing this surname.

One notable early reference to the PFEIFER name is in the Heidelberg Chronicles, a 15th-century manuscript that chronicles the history of the city of Heidelberg. It mentions a certain Hans Pfeifer, who served as a town piper in the year 1476.

In the 16th century, the PFEIFER surname gained prominence with the rise of the Pfeifer family of Nuremberg, a respected lineage of musicians and instrument makers. The most renowned member of this family was Hans Pfeifer (1493-1568), a highly skilled lutenist and vihuela player who served at the court of Emperor Charles V.

Another notable figure bearing the PFEIFER surname was Johann Baptist Pfeifer (1667-1736), a German composer and violinist who worked in the court of the Elector of Bavaria. His compositions, particularly his violin sonatas, were highly acclaimed during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, the name PFEIFER was further documented in various regions of Germany, as well as in areas where German immigrants had settled. One prominent individual was August Pfeifer (1808-1892), a German-American architect who designed numerous buildings in New York City, including the Old Chicago Post Office and the Astor Opera House.

The PFEIFER surname also has a presence in other German-speaking regions, such as Austria and Switzerland. In the 20th century, Theodor Pfeifer (1901-1983), an Austrian architect, gained recognition for his work on several notable projects, including the Austrian Pavilion at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair.

Throughout its history, the PFEIFER surname has maintained its association with music and the arts, reflecting its occupational origins as a name bestowed upon skilled musicians and pipers. While the name has dispersed across various regions and countries, its German heritage and connection to the world of music remain an integral part of its legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pfeifer

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

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

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

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