An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Pfarre
Pfarre, f., ‘parish, parsonage, living,’ from MidHG. pfarre, OHG. pfarra, ‘parish’; corresponding to LG. parre. The current assumption that Pfarre is derived from the MidLat. and Rom. parochia (Ital. parrochia), paroecia (Gr. παροικία, Fr. paroisse), and E. parish (borrowed from Fr.), is not quite satisfactory as far as the sound is concerned, since it assumes too great a modification of the word; note OIr. pairche from parochia. The later parra recorded in MidLat. is clearly an imitation of the G. word, and therefore the latter cannot be based on it. Perhaps the ecclesiastical division was connected with an OTeut. *parra, ‘district,’ which is similar in sound and is assumed by the derivative Pferch; the idea associated with Pfarre in historic times originated, of course, in parochia, παροικία. —