Pfaff (surname)

Pfaff is a surname of German origin. It derives from the Middle High German word "pfaffe," meaning "priest" or "cleric." The name was originally an occupational name for someone in holy orders, or perhaps for a servant of a priest.

The surname Pfaff is found primarily in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and has also been carried to other parts of the world through emigration, particularly to North America.

Variations of the name include Pfaffe, Pfaffmann, and Pfaffenberger.

Notable people with the surname Pfaff include:

• Alfred Pfaff (1926–2008), German footballer
• Günter Pfaff (born 1939), German sprint canoeist
• Johann Friedrich Pfaff (1765–1825), German mathematician
• Kristen Pfaff (1967–1994), American musician (bassist for Hole)
• Eva Pfaff (born 1961), German tennis player