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

Pifer, 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 Pifer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pifer in America

Pifer is the 8623rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pifer surname appeared 3,814 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pifer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pifer 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 Pifer

The surname Pifer is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Bavaria. It likely dates back to the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "pfeifer," which means "piper" or "flute player." This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname given to someone who played a type of musical pipe or flute.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pifer can be found in the historical records of the town of Nuremberg, Bavaria, where a certain Hans Pifer was mentioned as a resident in the year 1397. Another early reference to the name is found in the archives of the city of Munich, where a man named Konrad Pifer is listed as a citizen in 1423.

As the name spread across Germany and Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including Pfeifer, Pfeiffer, and Pfifer. These variations reflect regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 16th century, a notable individual with the surname Pifer was Johann Pifer, a German composer and organist who lived from around 1520 to 1590. He was known for his contributions to the development of Protestant church music during the Reformation era.

Another significant figure was Johann Jakob Pifer, a German architect and engineer who lived from 1683 to 1754. He was responsible for designing and constructing several important buildings and fortifications in Germany during the 18th century.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the more prominent individuals with the surname Pifer was Friedrich Pifer, a German educator and writer who lived from 1812 to 1878. He is best known for his work on educational reforms and his advocacy for improved teaching methods.

In the United States, the name Pifer can be traced back to German immigrants who arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries, settling in areas such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other parts of the Midwest. One notable American with this surname was William Pifer, a politician from Ohio who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1855.

While the surname Pifer is not among the most common names globally, it has a rich history rooted in German culture and occupational origins, with various individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pifer

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

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

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

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