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

Phifer, 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 Phifer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phifer in America

Phifer is the 6051st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phifer surname appeared 5,671 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Phifer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phifer 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 Phifer

The surname Phifer is of German origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Bavaria, where it was initially spelled as "Pfeifer." The name is derived from the German word "Pfeifer," which translates to "piper" or "flute player." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been musicians or entertainers who played the flute or other wind instruments.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Phifer can be found in the Bavarian town records from the 14th century. One notable entry mentions a certain "Hans Pfeifer," who was a renowned piper in the court of Duke Ludwig VII of Bavaria-Ingolstadt in the late 1300s. This provides strong evidence that the name was already well-established in that region during the medieval period.

As the name spread across Europe, various spelling variations emerged, including Pfeffer, Pfeiffer, and Phifer. The latter spelling became more prevalent in certain regions, particularly in Switzerland and parts of southern Germany, where the name was often associated with families involved in musical professions or those who played wind instruments.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Phifer was Johann Phifer, a Swiss composer and musician who lived in the early 16th century. His works, though few in number, were highly regarded in his time and helped establish the Phifer name as a respected one within the musical circles of Renaissance Europe.

Another notable figure was Hans Phifer, a German architect and stonemason who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in the city of Nuremberg, including the iconic Peller House, which still stands today as a testament to his skills and craftsmanship.

In the 18th century, the Phifer name gained prominence in the United States, with several families of German and Swiss descent settling in various regions, such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Jacob Phifer, a German immigrant who arrived in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s and later became a prominent landowner and farmer in the region.

Another notable American with the surname Phifer was Caleb Phifer, a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1759 in North Carolina, he served in several campaigns and battles, including the Battle of Guilford Court House, where he reportedly displayed exceptional bravery and courage.

Throughout history, the surname Phifer has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including musicians, architects, soldiers, and farmers, among others. While the name may have originated from a humble profession of pipers or flute players, it has left an indelible mark across different cultures and epochs, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experience and the enduring legacy of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phifer

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

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

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

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