Explore the Family Name Pfeiffer
The meaning of Pfeiffer
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from an agent derivative of Middle High German pfīf(e), German Pfeife ‘pipe’, hence an occupational name for a piper, whistler. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine), the Netherlands, Denmark, and some other European countries; see also 2 below. Compare Fifer, Peifer, Pfeifer, and Pfieffer. 2. Germanized form of various Slavic adaptations of the German surname (see 1 above), such as Slovenian Fajfar and Pfajfar, Czech Fajfr and Faifr. Compare Fifer.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pfeiffer in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Pfeiffer showed a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. The name's ranking dropped by 8.65 positions, moving from 2394 to 2601. The count of people bearing this surname also saw a marginal decrease of 0.14%, going from 13,870 to 13,851. Consequently, the proportion of individuals with the Pfeiffer last name per 100k population decreased by 8.56%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,394 | #2,601 | -8.65% |
| Count | 13,870 | 13,851 | -0.14% |
| Proportion per 100k | 5.14 | 4.7 | -8.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pfeiffer
The ethnic identity associated with the Pfeiffer surname experienced some changes from 2000 to 2010 as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. There was a significant increase in the Hispanic representation, which rose by 76.61%. Similarly, those identifying as Black or as having two or more races also saw substantial increases in their percentages, with changes of 94.44% and 62.03% respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander climbed modestly by 26.23%. The White ethnicity still dominated, making up 95.15% of the Pfeiffers in 2010, though this marked a slight decrease of 1.76% from 2000. Conversely, the American Indian and Alaskan Native category saw a reduction of 15.62% in its share.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.85% | 95.15% | -1.76% |
| Hispanic | 1.24% | 2.19% | 76.61% |
| Two or More Races | 0.79% | 1.28% | 62.03% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.61% | 0.77% | 26.23% |
| Black | 0.18% | 0.35% | 94.44% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.32% | 0.27% | -15.62% |
Pfeiffer ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Pfeiffer is French & German, which comprises 38.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (35.6%) and Eastern European (9.0%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Greek & Balkan.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 38.1% |
| British & Irish | 35.6% |
| Eastern European | 9.0% |
| Other | 17.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Pfeiffer
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Pfeiffer have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 71.30% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 71.30% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 71.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 70.80% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 70.60% |
What Pfeiffer haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Pfeiffer is R-U152, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-U152 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-L48, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Weber, Keller, Meier, Schafer, Schmidt, Mueller, Bower, Bauer, Kline, Wagner.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Pfeiffer surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Pfeiffer have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Pfeiffer" Surname 38.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Pfeiffer" Surname 23.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Pfeiffer" Surname 17.3%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Pfeiffer" Surname 14.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Pfeiffer?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Pfeiffer are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition