Surname Althofer - Meaning and Origin
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Althofer: What does the surname Althofer mean?
The last name Althofer is a German name of occupational origin, meaning an individual from a place of alder trees. It is derived from the Germanic elements ald, meaning 'old' and hof, meaning 'cottage' or 'court'.
The surname has multiple regional variations including Aldhofer, Altohofer, Allthofer and Alderfer, to name a few. The name spread to many parts of the world in the Middle Ages, when people of the same surname moved out of their homeland to seek out new opportunities.
Originally, those with the Althofer surname were most likely farmers, living in rural areas and cultivating the land. Some of them also likely practised crafts such as blacksmithing, working with leather, tailoring or baking.
This surname can be found in records as far back as the 1300s in places including Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, and Germany. Some of the earliest patients of the name were Veit Althofer of Bremen, Germany in the year 1461, Johann Ulrich Althofer, a baker from Muenigen, Switzerland in the year 1562 and Hans Altohofer of Odenhausen, Germany in the year 1616.
The name is still quite common, although people of this surname have become increasingly geographically diverse over the centuries. The Althofer surname is the 50,401st most common surname in the world, with about 11,053 people having this surname in the United States.
Order DNA origin analysisAlthofer: Where does the name Althofer come from?
The last name Althofer is a German surname, and is most common still in Germany today, although it can be found in other parts of the world too. It has origins in the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany, specifically the region of Oldenburg, and is classed as a long-established German surname derived from the Old High German ‘Aldhof’, meaning “old court” or “old farm”.
The Althofer name can be found in countries outside of Germany, particularly in the US and Canada, where it is thought to have been brought over by late 19th-century, early 20th-century German immigrants. Although the number of Althofers outside of Germany is much smaller than those in their home country, the last name can also be found in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Argentina, Commonwealth countries and other parts of Europe.
It is thought that today, the majority of individuals with the Althofer name are direct descendants of medieval peasant farmers and craftsmen living in the Low Saxon area of Germany. The name has seen slight changes in spelling over the years – the alternative Althoff also has its origins in the same state.
In conclusion, the Althofer last name is most commonly found in Germany, and its usage has spread out to other parts of the world due to immigration and emigration. While it has likely been in existence for hundreds of years, its origins are bound to the humble beginnings of life in a rural area of Lower Saxony.
Variations of the surname Althofer
The surname Althofer is a German occupational name, deriving from the old German word ‘hoffer’, which means a 'landless, seigniorial tenant farmer’. As such there are several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.
The most common variants are: Alt Hofers, Alt höfers, Althorfers, Althofers, Althofer, Alt-hofers, Alt-höfers and its plural form, Althoferer. The spelling “Althofer”, however, is the most common form used today and is also the one most often seen in the United States.
In addition to the variants, there are some related surnames, which all originate from the same ancestor. These include, Alt Hofermann, Alt Hoffert, Alt Hoffernes, Alt Hoffreiter, Alt Hoffauser, Alt Hoffmann, Alt Hoffmeister, Alt Hoffner and Althofenberg.
Variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Althofer are a reflection of how the name has changed over time due to the migration of people and the reshaping of linguistic patterns. It is also an indication of how a single surname can be divided into several different families. As such, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Althofer are a testament to the history and evolution of this family name.
Famous people with the name Althofer
- Jessica Althofer: an American actress known for her roles in A to Z: The Web Series, Dig Two Graves, and Unfriended: Dark Web.
- Dan Althofer: a recurring character in the Werewolf RPG podcast, "The White Ash Chronicle".
- Phil Althofer: an American soccer coach who served as head coach of the Purdue University men's soccer team from 2001-2007.
- Lisa Althofer: an American athlete who competed in the women's pole vault event at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Jenny Althofer: an American country music singer who gained recognition in the early 2000s with her debut single, "A Little Too Much".
- Nicolai Althofer: a German ice hockey player currently playing for the Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
- Michael Althofer: an American-born German figure skater who competed in three Winter Olympic Games and placed as high as ninth with his partner, Caroline Norgren.
- Frank Althofer: a German-born American professional basketball player who completed a successful overseas career.
- Mark Althofer: a German table tennis player who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in the team event.
- Justin Althofer: an American music composer who has worked for television shows such as Victorious, Big Time Rush, and Sam & Cat.