Surname Hoyer - Meaning and Origin

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R. Hoyer

Hoyer: What does the surname Hoyer mean?

The last name Hoyer (or Hoier, Hoeyer, Hoir, Hoyar, Hoir, Hoire or Hoyer) is of German, Dutch, and northern European origin. The name is generally considered to be derived from the Middle Low German word "hoier," meaning "woodcutter" or "woodman." This occupation is reflected in the family coat of arms which bears a tree-cutter's cross-cut saw.

Hoyer is an occupational surname, referring to those who earned their living in the forestry or lumber industry. Early records of the family name mention a Hanna Hoyer, who lived in 1427 in the city of Strasbourg.

Hoyer is most common in the Netherlands, Germany, northern France and Austria. It has spread to the United States and Canada where the Hoyer surname is found mainly in these countries’ German, Dutch and French-speaking areas.

Hoyer families are still found today in Europe and the USA following occupations of forestry, lumber, wood production, forestry management, carpentry, and woodworking. The Hoyer name has been preserved over the centuries; a tribute to those generations of hardworking people who made their living by tending the woods and felling trees to supply the growing need for lumber and fuel.

Hoyer: Where does the name Hoyer come from?

Today, the last name Hoyer is commonly found throughout Central and Northern Europe, especially in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

In Germany, the last name Hoyer can be traced back in the early 1600s and has grown significantly over the centuries. It is most heavily concentrated in the northern states of Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia with some distribution found in the western region of Schleswig-Holstein and the southern state of Bavaria.

The Hoyer surname can also be found in Denmark, specifically concentrated in the northeast Jutland region. In Danish records, the surname dates back to the late 1600s and appears to be largely confined to a specific region around the towns of Ringkobing and Aarhus.

In the Netherlands, the surname is also found and often written as Hoeyers. Records for the last name in the Netherlands date back to the 1720s. It has been regularly found in records from Zeeland, Gelderland, and Utrecht.

Overall, the Hoyer last name is most common in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands with distribution stretching from Northern Europe to Central Europe. The surname does not appear to be heavily concentrated in any one particular country, but rather is widely dispersed throughout these European nations.

Variations of the surname Hoyer

The surname Hoyer is a derived from a German occupational surname. It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, possibly from “Höver”, which translates to a farmer from the Höver region. The origins of the occupational surname may have come from the practice of a farmer being hired by other landowners during the busy growing or harvesting season.

The surname Hoyer has several variants and spellings, such as Heyer, Hoyer, Heiar, Heyar, Hiyer, and Hiyar. Although the spelling may differ, these surnames are of the same origin.

In addition, the surname Hoyer is often seen with additional surnames, such as Hoey, Hoeyer, Hoyerhausen, Hiebering, Höhring, and Hohringer. All of these surnames are derived from the Middle High German word "hovere", to hire.

The spelling of the surname Hoyer, as well as its variants and related surnames, may have been altered over time due to the various languages and dialects used across Europe. Despite these changes, the core meaning of the surname has largely remained the same.

Famous people with the name Hoyer

• Steve Hoyer: Major League Baseball pitcher
• Luke Hoyer: NBA player
• Brian Hoyer: NFL quarterback
• Glenn Hoyer: NBA reserve player from the 60s and 70s
• Paul Hoyer: Olympic silver medalist shot putter
• Brian Hoyer: MLB pitcher
• Adam Hoyer: International soccer player
• Imagine Hoyer: Professional skateboarder
• Vandyke Hoyer: Former NFL defensive back
• Ron Hoyer: NFL punter
• Joe Hoyer: Former NFL offensive lineman
• Paul Hoyer: Former Swedish Olympian triple jumper
• Dominic Hoyer: Three-time Olympic swimmer
• Edward Hoyer: Award-winning composer and violinist
• Jürgen Hoyer: German former professional soccer player
• Chris Hoyer: MMA fighter
• Hayley Hoyer: Professional tennis player
• David Hoyer: Replica and contemporary furniture maker

Other surnames

Hoye