Surname Pettenkofer - Meaning and Origin
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Pettenkofer: What does the surname Pettenkofer mean?
The surname Pettenkofer is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German words "pet" or "pedde" meaning a small footbridge and "kofer," which means a cask or barrel. It was originally a nickname given to a family or someone who lived by or near a bridge.
This name has spread to many parts of the world, including to the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe.
The Pettenkofer family were originally located in the northern part of Germany, in the town of Bremen. From there, the family spread to other parts of Europe.
In the United States, German immigrants bearing the Pettenkofer name first settled in Pennsylvania. From there, they gradually settled in other parts of the country, including New York, Illinois, California, and Ohio.
The Pettenkofer name has long been associated with strength, courage, and determination. It has also been linked to intelligence and mild-mannered personalities.
Today, the descendants of the Pettenkofer family are found around the world, and are proud of their heritage. They are a testament to the strength of their family name, and of the human spirit that helped them survive and thrive in a new culture and land.
Order DNA origin analysisPettenkofer: Where does the name Pettenkofer come from?
The last name Pettenkofer can be found in small numbers all around the world. In Germany, which is where the name originally comes from, the name is thought to be most common in the southern part of the country, particularly in Bavaria. The last name Pettenkofer is also found in the United States, due to immigrants who emigrated from Germany in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is mainly concentrated in the Midwest region, including Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Other locations where the name Pettenkofer is relatively common are Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
The Pettenkofer name can be traced back to at least the middle of the 16th century in Germany, when the family's first recorded ancestor, a certain Hans Pettenkofer, was recorded as a benefactor to the Church of St. Thomaskirche in Willmersdorf, Bavaria. The name is thought to have derived from a nearby farmstead, which was known as “Pattenköfer” at the time. It is believed that the family split up, with some giving rise to the “Pettenkofer” spelling, and the remaining families, with the slightly different spelling of “Pattenköfer”.
Today, if you are searching the internet for the name “Pettenkofer” you will find that it appear mainly in Germany and the United States. It is, however, a fairly rare name, and therefore is unlikely to be found in large numbers in any one location.
Variations of the surname Pettenkofer
The surname Pettenkofer is a German name, and is derived from the Latin word "pette", meaning "toom" or "measure". It is an occupational name that was originally used to describe brewers. Variations on this surname include Pettenkoffer, Pettenkoff, Pettankoff, Petankoff, Petencoffer, Pattenkoffer, and Penkoff. In some parts of German speaking countries, the surname may also be spelled "Pechenkoff".
The Pettenkofer surname is related to other surnames originating from the German word "pette", such as Speth, Specht, and Petz. These surnames are derived from "Petz", a variant of "pette", and are associated with metal smiths or coppersmiths. All of these surnames are commonly found in areas of Central Europe where German is spoken.
The Pettenkofer surname is also connected to other Germanic surnames such as Petri, Pawat, and Pettin. These names are similar in meaning to that of Pettenkofer, and are typically found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In some cases, Pettenkofer may also be found as a surname with the prefix "von". This prefix is typically associated with higher social status, and can indicate a prestige or noble lineage for the individual or family.
Overall, the Pettenkofer surname is quite common in German-speaking regions of Europe. It has a long and varied history, giving rise to a range of spellings of the same origin. There is no single correct spelling, but rather, various spellings that attempt to capture the essence of the original name.
Famous people with the name Pettenkofer
- Max von Pettenkofer (1818-1901) was a German chemist and hygienist, and a professor at the University of Munich.
- Karl Pettenkofer (1818-1901) was a German doctor of medicine and pharmacology who is considered the founder of tropical medicine and is also well known for introducing the Pettenkofer test, a test to detect septicemia.
- Franz Ludwig Pettenkofer (1788-1856) was an Austrian educator and founder of the first teaching university in Austria.
- Adolf Pettenkofer (1822–1901) was a German physician and professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
- Emil Heinrich Pettenkofer (1824–1908) was a German chemist and hygienist, and a professor at the Royal Frederick University in Berlin.
- Emil Wilhelm Gottlieb Leberecht Pettenkofer (1830–1909) was a German chemist and pharmacist, and a professor of pharmacy at the University of Tübingen.
- Max Karl Pettenkofer (1887–1951) was a German Generalmajor (major general) in the Wehrmacht during World War II.
- Gustav Pettenkofer (1869–1942) was a German chemist and former professor of Pharmacy at the University of Marburg in Germany.
- Johann August Ludwig Pettenkofer (1790–1857) was a German botanist and professor of botany at the University of Göttingen.
- Ferdinand Joseph von Pettenkofer (1803–1862) was a Bavarian court councilor and civil engineer who was responsible for the restoration of the Bavarian canal network.