Pfister Explained
Pfister is a German surname.
Etymology
"Pfister" comes from the Latin word for "baker": pistor, via the High German Consonant Shift that transformed the "p" into "pf". The name is found principally in those parts of ethnic Germany that were part of the Roman empire, while the native German word "Bäcker" is found elsewhere.
The etymology is evident in old towns throughout these parts where a "Pfisterngasse" (Baker Street) is commonly found, and still containing bakeries, such as Pfisterngasse in Solothurn.
People
Notable people with the surname include:
- Albrecht Pfister, one of the first European printers to use movable type
- Albrecht Pfister (mathematician), a German mathematician
- Charles F. Pfister, a wealthy tannery magnate, bank financier, utility owner, newspaper publisher, hotelier, and philanthropist
- Christian Pfister, a French historian
- Christian Pfister (Swiss historian)
- Daniel Pfister
- George Pfister
- Hank Pfister, American tennis player
- Hanspeter Pfister
- Manuel Pfister
- Marcus Pfister, Swiss author, illustrator
- Nadia Pfister (born 1995), Swiss squash player
- Oskar Pfister
- Otto Pfister
- Otto Pfister (naturalist)
- Phil Pfister, strongman
- Wally Pfister, Academy Award winning cinematographer and director
Related names
- The "Feaster" surname was adopted by some Pfisters that immigrated to the United States. Pister was also used as misspelling of Pfister by German immigrants coming to the United States.
See also
