Surname Hofman - Meaning and Origin
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Hofman: What does the surname Hofman mean?
The last name Hofman is of German origin and is interpreted as "steward" or "manager/of the estate." The name likely emerged as a professional name for a person who was a manager of a large estate or property, including farms or households. The root words of this surname are 'Hof' meaning 'farm, estate, court' or 'yard' and 'mann' meaning 'man'. It denotes someone who was in charge of the administrative affairs of a feudal manor hence the Court official, Servant or the Steward. This name was often given to the caretaker of all the lands owned by a certain lord or nobleman. This surname is quite common in Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of central Europe. Variations of this name can include Hoffman, Hofmann, Hoffmann, Hofiman, Hoffaman, and Hofeman. In modern usage, it sometimes, though not often, converts to 'farmer'. So it could mean 'the man in the yard', 'farm man', or 'court man'.
Order DNA origin analysisHofman: Where does the name Hofman come from?
The surname Hofman has its roots in Central Europe and is primarily associated with Germanic origins. It is derived from two old German words "hof" meaning a farm or a court, and "mann" meaning man. So the surname 'Hofman' translates to 'farm man' or 'court man', commonly indicating someone who worked on a farm or served in a court.
The surname had various spellations such as Hoffmann, Hofmann, and Huffman, based on various regional inflections in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. These were places of the surname's prevalence.
Today, it remains most common in Germany, followed by the Netherlands, Austria, and the United States (due particularly to German immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries). Despite the spread, the highest concentration of people with the Hofman surname still resides in Germany. The Diaspora has also spread the name to countries like Poland, Israel, and South Africa. It is worthy to note that in certain regions, the name may also be of Jewish Ashkenazic origin. Overall, the Hofman surname, with its various spellings, continues to be widespread worldwide.
Variations of the surname Hofman
The surname Hoffman is of German origin and it means "steward" or "manager". It comes from two German words, "hof," meaning "farm" or "estate," and "mann," meaning "man." This is a common surname not only in Germany, but also in other countries, especially those with significant German-speaking populations, such as the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
The spelling of this surname can slightly differ depending on regional variations and modifications over time. Variations and alternate spellings of the surname include Hoffmann, Hofmann, Hofman, Huffman, Hoff man, Hauffman, and Hoffner.
The surnames Hofman, Hoffman, and its variants are patronymics symbols of the occupations carried out by the first bearers. So, parts of the original family that moved or changed their trade may have adjusted their names, or it might have been interpreted differently in the census or data records. This resulted in these variants. Note that in the Dutch and Belgian context, Hofman refers to a servant working on a farm while in German, Hoffman refers to a steward serving in a nobleman's court.
Other related surnames of the same origin include Hoff, Hoffer, Hofler, and Hoflerin.
Famous people with the name Hofman
- Kees Hofman: Former professional Dutch volleyball player.
- Jedidiah Hofman: Represented his country of Aruba at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Phil Hofman: Former professional American baseball player for the Chicago Cubs.
- Mathias Hofman: Professional Swedish footballer currently playing for Brommapojkarna.
- Jan Hofman: Czech tennis player who competed in the Davis Cup for Czechoslovakia.
- Claude Hofman: Former French professional basketball player.
- Chantal Hofman: Dutch Olympic swimmer who won the silver medal in the 4 x 100 Medley Relay event at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
- Christina Hofman: Former female Austrian handball player who was a member of the Austrian national team.
- Marinus Hofman: Former Dutch football player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
- Bernhard Hofman: Classical organist and composer from Germany.