Pfeffel family
The Pfeffel family is a Bavarian-German noble family whose documented history extends from early modern Neuburg an der Donau to aristocratic, diplomatic, literary, and public-life connections across Germany, France, Britain, and Russia.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Pfeffel family is a Bavarian-German noble family originally associated with Neuburg an der Donau in Bavaria. The family’s documented ancestry begins with Johannes Pfeffel, a watchman who lived from 1580 to 1634. His son Conrad became a tailor in Augsburg, while a later descendant, Johann Conrad Pfeffel, became a pastor first in Freiburg im Breisgau and subsequently established the family in Colmar in Alsace. This movement across Bavarian, German, and Alsatian communities became characteristic of the family’s later history. Johann Conrad Pfeffel of the early eighteenth century served as mayor of Colmar for part of 1727. His sons included Christian Friedrich Pfeffel von Kriegelstein, a historian, lawyer, and diplomat, and Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel, a writer. Christian Friedrich’s career brought the family into the diplomatic service of the Kingdom of Bavaria. His son Christian Hubert Pfeffel von Kriegelstein served as Bavaria’s envoy to the United Kingdom and was elevated to the rank of Freiherr, or baron, in Bavaria during the nineteenth century. The family is therefore described as having been ennobled in the Kingdom of Bavaria during that period, with the noble form “von Pfeffel” or “Pfeffel von Kriegelstein” appearing in different branches and contexts. The family also formed alliances with other European aristocratic and cultural families. Ernestine von Pfeffel, daughter of Christian Hubert, married the Russian poet Fyodor Tyutchev in 1839. Another descendant, Karl Maximilian Friedrich Hubert Pfeffel von Kriegenstein, married Karoline von Rottenburg, described as a natural daughter of Prince Paul of Württemberg. These marriages connected the Pfeffel line with German, Russian, and wider European noble networks. A later branch settled in France. Christian Hubert Theodor Marie Karl von Pfeffel, born in Munich in 1843, married Hélène Arnous de Rivière and later changed his name to de Pfeffel after settling in France. Their children included Marie-Louise de Pfeffel, an ancestor of British politician Boris Johnson, and Yvonne de Pfeffel, who became the first female French Open doubles champion. Boris Johnson’s full name, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, reflects this family connection. The family’s public visibility increased through genealogical and historical media. Its history was examined in the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? in connection with Boris Johnson. The family has also appeared in historical discussions concerning the identification of Anna Catharina Bischoff, whose mummified remains were discovered in the Barfüsser Church in Basel and identified in 2018, decades after their discovery. Bischoff was the mother-in-law of Christian Friedrich Pfeffel von Kriegelstein. The Pfeffel family is not a commercial brand, company, or consumer product line. It is a historical family designation and noble lineage. Its significance lies in genealogy, European social history, diplomacy, literature, sport, and the public careers of descendants rather than in products, services, or market activity.
History
The Pfeffel family’s recorded origins lie in Neuburg an der Donau in Bavaria, where Johannes Pfeffel was a watchman in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. His son Conrad Pfeffel, born in 1605, worked as a tailor in Augsburg. Conrad’s descendant Johann Conrad Pfeffel, born in 1636, became a pastor in Freiburg im Breisgau. The pastor had four marriages and a large number of children, establishing several branches of the family. A later Johann Conrad Pfeffel, born in 1682, moved from Freiburg to nearby Colmar in Alsace. He served as Colmar’s mayor for approximately half a year in 1727. His sons included Christian Friedrich Pfeffel von Kriegelstein, born in 1726, and Gottlieb Konrad Pfeffel, born in 1736. Christian Friedrich became a historian, lawyer, and diplomat, while Gottlieb Konrad was known as a writer. The family’s activities consequently extended beyond local administration into scholarship, law, literature, and public service. Christian Friedrich’s son Christian Hubert Pfeffel von Kriegelstein, born in 1765, served as the Kingdom of Bavaria’s envoy to the United Kingdom. He was later raised to the rank of Freiherr in Bavaria. His children included Ernestine von Pfeffel, who married the Russian poet Fyodor Tyutchev in 1839, and Karl Maximilian Friedrich Hubert Pfeffel von Kriegenstein, born in Dresden in 1811 and later resident in Munich. Karl Maximilian married Karoline von Rottenburg, who was a natural daughter of Prince Paul of Württemberg. Karl Maximilian’s descendants continued the family’s movement through European aristocratic and diplomatic circles. His son Christian Hubert Theodor Marie Karl von Pfeffel was born in Munich in 1843 and died in Paris in 1922. After marrying Hélène Arnous de Rivière, he settled in France and adopted the form “de Pfeffel.” Their descendants included Marie-Louise de Pfeffel, who became the great-grandmother of Boris Johnson, and Yvonne de Pfeffel, born in Paris in 1883. Yvonne later lived in Cornwall and became the first female French Open doubles champion. The family’s genealogy has also intersected with archaeological and historical identification. Anna Catharina Bischoff, whose mummified body was buried in Basel’s Barfüsser Church, was identified in 2018 after 43 years of uncertainty. She was the mother-in-law of Christian Friedrich Pfeffel von Kriegelstein, linking the discovery to the family’s eighteenth-century Alsatian and Swiss historical environment. In modern popular culture, the family’s ancestry was investigated in the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? through the genealogy of Boris Johnson, whose full name includes “de Pfeffel.” The family is best understood as a historical lineage rather than as a unified legal entity or commercial organization. Its history illustrates the movement of educated and noble families across Bavaria, Alsace, France, Britain, Russia, and other parts of Europe through public service, marriage, migration, and cultural activity.
- 2018
Identification of Anna Catharina Bischoff
[1]A mummified woman found in Basel’s Barfüsser Church was identified as Anna Catharina Bischoff, the mother-in-law of Christian Friedrich Pfeffel von Kriegelstein.
- 1843
Birth of Christian Hubert Theodor Marie Karl von Pfeffel
[1]Christian Hubert Theodor Marie Karl von Pfeffel was born in Munich. He later settled in France and used the name form de Pfeffel.
- 1839
Ernestine von Pfeffel marries Fyodor Tyutchev
[1]Baroness Ernestine von Pfeffel married the Russian poet Fyodor Tyutchev, linking the family with the Tyutchev noble family.
- 1765
Birth of Christian Hubert Pfeffel von Kriegelstein
[1]Christian Hubert Pfeffel von Kriegelstein was born. He later represented the Kingdom of Bavaria as envoy to the United Kingdom and received the rank of Freiherr.
- 1727
Pfeffel family member serves as Colmar mayor
[1]Johann Conrad Pfeffel, born in 1682, served as mayor of Colmar for part of 1727 after moving there from Freiburg.
- 1636
Johann Conrad Pfeffel enters the pastoral line
[1]Johann Conrad Pfeffel was born and later became a pastor in Freiburg im Breisgau, continuing a family line that subsequently moved into Alsace.
- 1580
Birth of Johannes Pfeffel
[1]Johannes Pfeffel, described as a watchman in Neuburg an der Donau, was born. He is identified as the earliest documented ancestor in the family’s published genealogy.
Products and positioning
Historical Bavarian-German noble family and genealogical lineage; not a commercial brand.
Recent events
- 2018
Anna Catharina Bischoff identified through historical and genealogical research[1]
Other
Researchers identified a mummified woman found in Basel’s Barfüsser Church as Anna Catharina Bischoff, the mother-in-law of Christian Friedrich Pfeffel von Kriegelstein. The identification came 43 years after the remains were discovered.
Pfeffel family history examined on Who Do You Think You Are?[1]
Other
The BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? explored the Pfeffel family history in connection with Boris Johnson and his ancestry.
Sources1 sources
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