Surname Peters - Meaning and Origin
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E. Peters
read morePeters: What does the surname Peters mean?
The surname Peters has a religious origin and is derived from the biblical name Peter, which comes from the Greek word "Petros" meaning 'rock' or 'stone'. Often, the name was given to individuals as a tribute to the apostle Peter, who is considered the founding figure of the Christian Church due to his rock-like faith in leading the early followers of Jesus. The addition of the suffix "s" signifies "son of," indicating a patronymic origin. Therefore, the surname Peters can be interpreted as "son of Peter". This surname is common in English-speaking countries and also has a strong presence in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of northwestern Europe. Historically, the surname was likely adopted by someone who was a descendant of a man named Peter or perhaps a person who exhibited qualities associated with the biblically significant name. Today, the surname is shared by many, regardless of their religious devotion or familial relation to an original namesake.
Order DNA origin analysisPeters: Where does the name Peters come from?
The name Peters originates from Greece, derived from the first name Peter, which means "rock" or "stone" in Greek. It was particularly common in medieval Europe as Saint Peter is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and is considered the first Pope of the Catholic Church. The surname, Peters, developed as a patronymic name, used to identify individuals by their fathers.
During the Middle Ages, it grew in popularity in countries like England, Germany, and The Netherlands, often rendered as Petrus, Pieters, or similar variations. The name also made its way into non-English speaking regions due to the influence of Christianity.
Today, the surname Peters is quite common in English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of the United Kingdom. It is also widely found in Germany and The Netherlands. According to recent statistics, it is one of the most common surnames in the United States and Germany. Its popularity today can be attributed to the widespread influence of British and European colonialism and emigration patterns dating back centuries.
Variations of the surname Peters
The surname Peters has several variation due to geographical distributions, cultural differences, and spelling changes over time. These include Peterson, since the "son" suffix is a common Scandinavian addition meaning "son of Peter", Piotrowski and Pietrzak which are Polish variations, Pierre and Pierri from France, and Pedro or Perez from Spain or Latin America.
In Germany, beside the obvious Peters surname, the surname can be transformed into Petermann or even Pätzold. Russia has Petrov, Czech has Petrak, while Italy boasts the surname Pietro.
In the Middle East, the surname is usually in the form of Boutros, which is the Arabic form of Peter. In the Netherlands, it's often Pieters or Pieterse.
Historically, the surname could also be found spelled as Peeters, Peterkin, Petrie, and Peadar.
As for the diminutives, we have Pete, Petey, and Pete's. Also, notice the surname could be altered according to the phonetic variations specific to each language, like stuttering or slurring.
Please note that not every person with these surnames necessarily shares an ancestor with someone else of the same surname or variant - origin, meaning, and lineage can differ widely.
Famous people with the name Peters
- Chris Peters: German professional basketball player
- Ryan Peters: British football player
- Charlotte Peters: French television presenter
- John Edward Peters: English businessman
- Walter Peters: American wrestler
- Max Peters: German racing driver
- Thea Peters: Norwegian actress
- Justina Peters: Dutch Olympic gymnast
- Jack Peters: British boxer
- Lance Peters: American sprinter
- Jay-Ann Peters: Canadian innovative scholar
- Rowan Peters: Australian Olympic triathlete
- Lucy Peters: South African artist
- Jimmy Peters: American jazz trumpeter
- Dorothy Peters: New Zealand politician
- Grethe Peters: Danish opera singer
- Harry Peters: Irish author
- Ingvild Peters: Norwegian discus thrower
- Garrett Peters: American football player
- Holly Peters: Canadian soccer player