An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Pfarrer

by Friedrich Kluge

Pfarrer, masculine, ‘clergyman, minister,’ Middle High German pfarrœre, Old High German pfarrâri, a German derivative of pfarra. Note that the word is not based on Middle Latin parochus (Italian parroco), ‘priest.’ There also exists a later variant, Pfarr, Middle High German pfarre, masculine; hence the derivative Pfarrei (Suabian and Bavarian).