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My Paternal
Pfeffer
Family Ancestors
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An
Introduction
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Origins
of the Surname
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Variations
of the Surname
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Family
Name Index
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Family
Location Information
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Source
Documents
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Website
Resources
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Family
Images Gallery
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Contact
Information
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MY Pfeffer FAMILY
An Introduction
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The photograph to the right is of my
Pfeffer family ancestors taken c. 1902. In the center are my great-great
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grandparents Frederick and Catherine (Clement) Pfeffer
standing in back of them are their five sons and three daughters. My great-grandfather Frederick Lewis
Pfeffer is
standing
second from the right. His wife, my great-grandmother,
Elizabeth (Knecht) Pfeffer is sitting directly below holding my great-Aunt
Irene. My grandmother Florence is
the toddler in white sitting on the floor in the middle of the group.
Both
Frederick and Catherine were born in Germany. They are among the last of my ancestors to immigrate to the
New World.
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Frederick, age 23, entered America at the port of New
York on June 30, 1870 and became a citizen of the
United States upon swearing an Oath of Allegiance at the Philadelphia
Common Pleas Court on August 30, 1880.
My great-grandfather
Frederick Lewis Pfeffer was born at Philadelphia in 1875. Like his father he was a factory
worker. Upon the untimely death of
his wife Elizabeth in 1903 Frederick was left to raise his two daughters
Florence and Irene.
My
Grandmother Florence was also born in Philadelphia in 1899. By all accounts she had a typical
upbringing in a conservative German household in Philadelphia. In 1923 Florence married Sherman Silar
and shortly thereafter moved to New Jersey where she lived out the remainder
of her life.
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Pfeffer
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Origins of the Surname*
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The PFEFFER surname originates from the Middle High
German word. pfeffer. German Pfeffer ‘pepper’, is a metonymic
occupational name for a spicer; alternatively, it may be a nickname for a
small man (as if the size of a peppercorn) or one with a fiery temper, or
for a dark-haired person (from the color of a peppercorn) or anecdotal for
someone who paid a peppercorn rent.
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Source: Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press,
ISBN 0-19-508137-4 Family Facts (Ancestry.com)
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First found in Austria,
where the name could be considered to make a great early contribution to
the feudal society that became the backbone of early development of Europe.
Source: Historical Names.com;
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* Many German names have their roots in
the Germanic middle ages. The process of forming family names began around
the year 1100 and extended through 1600. All social classes and demographic
strata aided in the development of names. First Names (Rufnamen) identified
specific persons. Over time the first name began to be applied to the
bearer's whole family. At first through verbal usage, family names
(Familiennamen) were later fixed through writing. Until the 17th century,
first names played a more important role. The earliest family names derived
from the first name of the first bearer (Patronym). Later names derived
from the place of dwelling and location of the homestead. If a person of
family migrated from one place to another they were identified by the place
they came from. Of more recent origin are names derived from the vocation
of profession of the first bearer. These names comprise the largest group
and the most easily recognizable, for they tell what the first bearer did
for a living. Another group are names derived from a physical or other
characteristic of the first bearer. Finally, there are names that tell you
the state or region a first bearer and his family came from; the age old
division in tribes and regions (low German, middle German and upper German)
is often reflected in names.
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Pfeffer
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Variations of the Surname
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The complexity of researching records is
compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may have
been misspelled. This is especially
true when searching census documents. Spelling variations of this family
name include: Spelling variations of this family name include: Pfeiffer, Pfeifer, Pfeyffer, Pfeyfer and many more.
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The Soundex system was developed in
an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given
surname. Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and
1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research. The Soundex Code for Pfeffer is P160. Other surnames sharing
the P160 Soundex code are: PEIFFER | PEPPER | PFEIFER | PFEIFFER | PHIFER | PIEPER | PIFER | PIPER | PUFFER |
Source:
Surname Resources at ROOTSWEB
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Searching for more Information about this and other surnames?
Then take a look at our:
SURNAME
LOCATOR RESOURCES WEBPAGE
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Pfeffer
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Family Name Index
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Additional information
about my DIRECT ANCESTORS and their
families may be reviewed
by clicking on the name LINK(s) below.
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NAME
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BIRTH / DEATH / LOCATIONS
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PFEFFER, Frederick
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b: JAN 1846 in
Hesse, Germany
d: ABT 1906 in
Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania ?
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PFEFFER, Frederick Lewis
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b: 26 JUL 1875 in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
d: 2 APR 1951 in
Woodbury, Gloucester Co., New Jersey
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PFEFFER, Florence Elizabeth
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b: 31 MAR 1899 in
Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania
d: 14 JUN 1980 in
Mercer County, New Jersey
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The following LINK will
take you to a complete listing of individuals with this surname.
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Pfeffer
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Family Location Information
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Researching the
locations where my ancestors lived has provided us with valuable evidence
needed to fill-in the gaps in our family trees. It has also led me to many interesting facts that enhance the
overall picture of each family group.
The names of states and counties on the following list were derived
from the known places where the persons listed in the “Family
Name Index” where born,
married, and/or died.
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COUNTRY
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STATE
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COUNTY / SUBDIVISION
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GERMANY
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HESSE
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UNITES STATES
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PENNSYLVANIA
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Philadelphia
Co.
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NEW JERSEY
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Burlington
Co.; Mercer Co.
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Use this LINK to find
out more about the locations listed above.
ANCESTRAL LOCATIONS
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Pfeffer
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Source Documents
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The documents contained herein have been located
during my research of this family, and used as evidence to prove
many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.
Most of these documents
can be considered as primary or secondary.
Primary evidence is usually defined as the best
available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or
record. Secondary evidence
is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary
evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but
there is a greater chance of error.
Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original
record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents. Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary
evidence.
Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell
anything about its accuracy or ultimate value. This is especially true of secondary evidence. Thus it is always a good idea to ask the
following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it
is a copy)?; (2) What was the
reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and
(3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what
interest did they have in its accuracy?
SOURCE:
Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2nd
edition, Genealogical Publishing
Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63
You are welcome to
download any of the documents contained within this archive.
Should you encounter a problem obtaining
a copy you may get in touch with
me via the contact information found at
the end of this page.
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Use the following LINK
to view the source documents pertaining to this family.
SOURCE DOCUMENTS
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Pfeffer
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Website Resources
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The following search
engine and websites may provide you with additional information to
assist with your
research about persons with this surname. Source: Surname
Genealogy Search - SurnameWeb
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Recommended Links:
- Search
Ancestry now
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Research your ancestry and family history at the web's most popular
genealogy site. Resources for beginners and experts with family
history software, classes and genealogy databases.
- Pfeffer Resources at RootsWeb.com - The Internet's
oldest and largest FREE genealogical community. An award winning
genealogical resource with searchable databases, free Web space,
mailing lists, message boards, and more.
Homepage Links:
More Resources:
- Pfeffer Matches in the U.S. Immigration Collection
- Discover your immigrant ancestors' homelands and learn the details
of their journeys to America. Explore more than 10 million names from
passenger lists and naturalization records spanning the 1500s to the
1900s!
Search these Sites for
Pfeffer:
Ancestry.com - Genealogy.com - CousinConnect.com - DistantCousin.com - MyCinnamonToast
RootsWeb
Message Boards [ Pfeffer] - PFEFFER:
Genealogy Queries - PFEFFER
(P160) at ROOTSWEB - RootsWeb
List Finder: PFEFFER - Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family
Associations & Family Newsletters - "P" -
Linkpendium
> Genealogy > Surnames beginning with: P - Pfeffer Family Genealogy Forum
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Pfeffer
Genealogy and Family History Research
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Additional Sites That I Recommend
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Linkpendium Surnames - Web sites,
obituaries, biographies, and other material specific to a surname.
Surname Finder | Free Ancestry Search Resource
- online since 1998, providing easy access to free and commercial resources
for 1,731,359 surnames. On each surname specific "finder" page,
you can search a variety of online databases all pre-programmed with your
surname.
Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family
Associations & Family Newsletters Index - Sites or resources
dedicated to specific, individual family surnames.
Free Genealogy Search Help for
Google - This free genealogy site will
help you use Google™ for your research. It will create a series of
different searches using tips or "tricks" that will likely
improve your results. The different searches will give you many different
ways of using Google to find ancestry information on the Internet.
FamilySearch.org - Family History
and Genealogy Records - The largest collection of free family history, family
tree and genealogy records in the world.
Top
Genealogical Websites - These mighty roots resources compiled by “Family Tree
Magazine”, will give you the power to bust through research brick walls and
find answers about your ancestors—all from your home computer.
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Pfeffer
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Family Images Gallery
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During my
research Ihave collected images and photographs that are of general
interest to a particular family.
Some of them are presented on this website because I believe they
tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the
understanding of my ancestors past lives.
If you have any photographs or other images
relating to this
ancestral family I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
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Use the following LINKS
to ascertain whether I have any images that pertain to this family.
FAMILY
PHOTOGRAPHS and IMAGES
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Contact Information
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Email
Snail mail:
Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051
USA
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Email
Snail mail:
Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051
USA
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