Surname Platzbäcker - Meaning and Origin
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Platzbäcker: What does the surname Platzbäcker mean?
The last name Platzbäcker is derived from the German word Platzbäcker which means “place baker”. This refers to someone who made bread at a public market or “platz”. It is likely that the family who adopted this last name worked as bakers or had a bakery in a public market, such as at a city or larger town, where many people frequented to buy fresh baked goods. Historically, the public bakeries had restorative powers; they acted as civic markers and were key players in shaping the local topography.
This was especially true in Germany, where the Patisserie (“Bäckerei") formed a vital part of the local social fabric. The Platzbäcker surname likely indicated that the family had strong connections to the public bakeries, providing fresh bread, pastries, and other baked goods to the community. That connection to the public markets or platz meant that the Platzbäcker family was respected and admired for their skill and craftsmanship.
The Platzbäcker surname is one of many names in Germany that refers to the traditional crafts and professions of the country. These surnames often suggest a strong connection to a particular trade – in this case, baking. The surname has likely been passed down for generations in a particular area, helping to consolidate its legacy and importance throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisPlatzbäcker: Where does the name Platzbäcker come from?
The last name Platzbäcker is common in southwestern Germany, especially in the former Duchy of Swabia and parts of Austria. Its literal meaning translates to "bread-baker," suggesting that at one time most Platzbäckers may have been bakers. The most populous regions of Platzbäcker residence today are the metropolitan city of Stuttgart, Germany, and the Austrian states of Lower Austria and Styria. The name Platzbäcker is also scattered throughout southeastern Switzerland, as well western Czech Republic and northeastern Hungary.
The surname is highly concentrated in Germany, where it is ranked 6,764th in population, and Austria, where it stands at 10,912th on the list. It is especially numerous in the city of Bietigheim-Bissingen, situated in southwest Germany, where it is ranked at 477th by population. In all, about two thousand individuals bear the last name Platzbäcker in 21 countries worldwide.
In addition to contemporary countries, the surname is Thought to have originated from an old Swabian family of bakers. This is corroborated by the literal meaning of the name and its high prevalence in southwestern Germany. The first recorded occurrences of the last name in German tax documents date as far back as 1618. This suggests that the Platzbäckers have been living in southwestern Germany for centuries.
Variations of the surname Platzbäcker
The surname Platzbäcker is an occupational surname, deriving from the word 'Platz', meaning 'market' or 'square', and 'bäcker', meaning 'baker'. It originated in Germany and Austria and is seen in a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variant of Platzbäcker is Platzbecker, which is the spelling seen in Germany and Austria. Some Picker surnames may also be of the same origin; in Germany, the word 'Bäcker' can also be spelled 'Picker', so the nicknames 'Picher' and 'Picker' have been used interchangeably, suggesting that some Platzbecker families may have adopted those surnames over time.
Other variations of Platzbäcker include Plötzbacker and Plöszbacker. These variants are seen most often in western Europe, particularly in Switzerland, so it is likely that some families with the Platzbäcker surname migrated to Switzerland at some point.
Some less common variations of the Platzbäcker surname include Pletzbacher, Plätzbäcker, Plätzbacker, Platzbach, Platzberg, Plätzberger, Platzbecker, Plattbacher, Plattbacker, and Platzvogel. It is possible that some of these surnames may have begun as spellings of the original Platzbäcker name that were then adopted and kept by the families who bore them.
Finally, Plötzer is another surname of the same origin as Platzbäcker, derived from the Old German word 'plöz', meaning 'small'. It is speculated that some Plötzer families may have been linked to the Platzbäcker surname, as Plötzer was once an occupational name for a street porter.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as the surname Platzbäcker. Platzbecker is the most common variant, with some Picker surnames also likely of the same origin. Other variants include Plötzbacker, Plöszbacker, Pletzbacher, Plätzbäcker, Plätzbacker, Platzbach, Platzberg, Plätzberger, Plattbacher, Plattbacker, and Platzvogel. The surname Plötzer is also derived from the same origin as Platzbäcker.
Famous people with the name Platzbäcker
- Erika Platzbäcker: German film and television actress, best known for playing Marlene Baumgartner in the ARD television series Der Laden and Mirror Mirror.
- Manfred Platzbäcker: German historian, professor emeritus at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, known for his research into the history of Plauen and the Vogtland region.
- Wolfgang Platzbäcker: Former professional German football player, who most recently played as a midfielder for ASV Veitsbronn.
- Alex Platzbäcker: Award-winning German playwright and theatre director, currently Artistic Director and Founder of the theatre collective FRINgEarts.
- Hans Platzbäcker: German painter, born in 1940.
- Lore Platzbäcker: Children's book author and illustrator, best known for Gigi und Grobi.
- Jan-Christoph Platzbäcker: German pianist and keyboardist, touring member for the Grammy Award-winning group OK Go.
- Gudrun Platzbäcker: Award-winning Swiss sculptor, known for her large-scale works such as the Debugger installation in Berlin.
- Astrid Platzbäcker: German actress, best known for her roles in the soap opera Marienhof and the television series Skandal.