Surname Pitroff - Meaning and Origin
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Pitroff: What does the surname Pitroff mean?
The last name Pitroff is a German surname meaning "rocker". The word "pit" is derived from Old Saxon, while "roff" is derived from Old High German, coming together to form the ultimate meaning of "rocker". It is by no means an especially common or rare surname, so it can originate from multiple regions of Europe.
The Pitroff surname likely originates from area that today make up northern Germany, Switzerland and Austria, although this ancestral origin is difficult to trace with any degree of certainty. That said, the surname can be found spread across many parts of Germany today, as well as in other parts of Europe. It does not appear to have gone further outside of Europe, and is uncommon in other countries across the world.
Despite its German roots, the Pitroff surname can come in many variations, stemming from different dialects and spellings. Examples of these include Pitrow, Petrow, Pittrow, Pitruff, Petrus, Petrof, Pritrock and Petry. All of these variations still retain the same meaning of rocker, but the most common version still appears to be Pitroff.
The Pitroff surname, in whatever variation, is an extremely old one, held by many families across Germany. It is a reminder of the connection between countries and cultures that have endured for centuries, and is also easily recognisable as one of the more common Germanic surnames.
Order DNA origin analysisPitroff: Where does the name Pitroff come from?
The last name Pitroff is most commonly found in the United States, but is also present in smaller numbers in other countries around the world. The earliest record of the Pitroff surname in the United States dates back to 1799, when Johann Jacob Pitroff Immigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany.
Today, the last name Pitroff is most commonly found across the Midwest and eastern U.S. states, such as Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The population distribution is also represented in lighter populations across Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri. Additionally, some of the other states in the United States with a small but measurable number of Pitroff’s include Arizona, California, Texas, Vermont and Washington.
International distribution shows a slight concentration in Armenia, where records date back to the 1800s. Pitroffs are also found across Canada, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom (UK).
While concentrated in a specific area, the last name Pitroff is distributed throughout the world and can be found in countries with varying population sizes and backgrounds. The Pitroff Family Association was started in 1971 and can provide further information about the name and its distribution.
Variations of the surname Pitroff
Pitroff is a surname of likely Swedish and/or German origin. Its variants include Petrov, Petroff, Petrovic, Petrow, Petro, Petrous, Petrusson, Petry, and Petrus. As Sweden was historically part of the German Empire during the Middle Ages, many Swedish surnames are of German origins.
In Swedish, the surname is sometimes spelled Pettersson, Pfetersson, or Petreson. In German, the surname may be spelled Pfeter, Pfiter, Petter, Pettr, Pitter, or Pitterssen. In Slavic languages, it can also take the forms of Petrash, Petrof, Petrova, Petrović, Petrovski, or Petrusson.
Given its German origins, there may have been some Anglicization of the surname. Common Anglicized spellings include Petrow, Petrus, Pettry, Patrow, Petruse, Petruzell, Pittrow, Pitroff, Petruff, Prentice, and Pettyross.
In the United States, the surname is far more common in the form of Pitroff. The meaning of the name is believed to be derived from the German 'peteren,' or 'to lie in wait.' It is most often found in the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio. There are limited numbers of families with the surname in Canada, England, and Scotland.
Famous people with the name Pitroff
- Nick Pitroff: Nick is the founder and CEO of the Vermont-based company RenewableNRG, Inc.
- Joe Pitroff: Joe is the Peace Corps Country Director for Bangladesh and has served in the Peace Corps in various capacities for over 25 years.
- Diana Pitroff: Diana is an actress best known for her role as Tess in the television series "Jane & Tess Do It All".
- John Pitroff: John is a former professional hockey player who spent his entire 11-year career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Jacob Pitroff: Jacob is a lawyer living in California and is known for his work on cases involving criminal defense and civil rights.
- Tawnee Pitroff: Tawnee is a photographer who has captured the stories of people and places from around the world.
- Michael Pitroff: Michael is an aerospace engineer currently working on projects for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- Madelynn Pitroff: Madelynn is a model and social media influencer based in New York City.
- Sarah Pitroff: Sarah is the founder and CEO of the clean energy start-up company Rapture Energy.
- David Pitroff: David is a composer and musician who has released several albums of original music.