Hoffer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Israel

Etymology of Hoffer

What does the name Hoffer mean?

Hoffer is a local name from the German region of Westphalia. Local names came to Germany with other types of hereditary surnames after the 12th century. They were derived from the name of the place where the original bearer of the name lived. Sometimes local names bear the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". It was an indication of land-ownership, and was sometimes taken as a mark of aristocracy. The family originally lived on a farmstead. The name Hoffer is derived from the Old German and German word hof, which means settlement, farm or court.

Early Origins of the Hoffer family

The surname Hoffer was first found in Westphalia, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation. The name probably stems from the German word "Hof" meaning "court."

Early History of the Hoffer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoffer research. Another 359 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1378, 1440, 1629, 1662, 1684, 1773 and 1829 are included under the topic Early Hoffer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoffer Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Hoffer include Hof, Hoff, Hoffe, Hofer, Hoefer, Hoeffer, Hoffer, Hofle, Hoefe, Hofler, Hoefler, Hofner and many more.

Early Notables of the Hoffer family

More information is included under the topic Early Hoffer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoffer Ranking

In the United States, the name Hoffer is the 6,752^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Hoffer migration to the United States +

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:

Hoffer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Gideon Hoffer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
Jacob Hoffer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 2
Kattarina Dorte Hoffer, aged 42, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
Rosina Dorte Hoffer, aged 10, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 2
Hermanus Hoffer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hoffer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Hoffer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1809 2
John Rudolph Hoffer, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1814 2
Phennena Adelheid Hoffer, who arrived in America in 1846 2
Theodor Herm Hoffer, who arrived in America in 1847 2
Wilhelm Hoffer, aged 9, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hoffer (post 1700) +

Eric Hoffer (1902-1983), American social writer, philosopher and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Charles R. Hoffer (1929-2017), American music educator
Josephine Roe Hoffer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1956 3
Isaac Hoffer, American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives from Lebanon County, 1862-65, 1875-76 3
Arthur Hoffer, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 3rd District, 1974 3
Allen D. Hoffer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1888 3
Isaac Hoffer Doutrich (1871-1941), American Republican politician, Clothing merchant; U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 19th District, 1927-37

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 15) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html