Surname Goffmann - Meaning and Origin
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Goffmann: What does the surname Goffmann mean?
The last name Goffmann is of German origin. It is believed to be derived from the given name Godehans, which is composed of the German elements “godo” meaning “god” and “hans” meaning “God’s grace” or “God is gracious.” The Goffmanns were likely landowners in their area, with their surnames being adopted by their tenants and associates as an acknowledgement of their authority.
The Goffmann family are known to have immigrated to the United States in the mid-1800s. They arrived in Pennsylvania and soon spread to Ohio, Iowa and elsewhere.
Today, members of this family still hold strong ties to their German heritage. This is reflected in their traditional holiday recipes and their staunch loyalty to their religion and culture. They have an appreciation for a well-structured home and for creativity that expresses itself through the arts.
Overall, the Goffmann family is a close-knit group of people who value their religious traditions, hard-working spirit and close family ties. They take pride in their self-reliance and often express themselves through music and creativity. They’re proud of their German heritage and strive to uphold their values in whatever they do.
Order DNA origin analysisGoffmann: Where does the name Goffmann come from?
The last name Goffmann is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Most individuals with the name have traced their ancestral roots to Germany or Austria, with some ancestors arriving in the U.S. as far back as the 1700s.
The earliest recorded presence of a Goffmann in the United States was Johannes Goffman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 from Germany. After his arrival, other Goffmanns relocated to the United States, and the name spread to other parts of the country, including Texas, New York, California, and Ohio.
In present-day Germany, the name is relatively widespread. It's more common in northern regions, particularly Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. According to Germany's telephone directory, there are over 1,000 individuals with the name living in the country.
In Austria, the name is also quite common, particularly in the southern district of Carinthia. Individuals with this last name can be traced back to Austria's medieval period and, as the German and Austrian borders were fluid during the 18th and 19th century, the prevalence of the surname in both countries is similar.
In Switzerland, the name is present in all major cities, particularly Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne, Basel, and Bern. According to Switzerland's telephone directory, there are over 900 individuals with the name living in the country.
Overall, the last name Goffmann is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. While Germany and Austria boast the highest population of people bearing the name, the Goffmann surname is found throughout all four countries and in various other locations throughout Europe as well.
Variations of the surname Goffmann
Goffmann is a surname of German and Jewish origins. It originates from the Middle High German terms “Goff” and “Mann”, meaning “God” and “Man”, respectively.
Variations of the surname Goffmann include Gofman, Göfmann, Godman, Gofman, Giffman, Goffen, Goffain, Gofin, Goffin, Goffen, GOFEN, Gofin, Gofinen, Goffain, Gophman.
In English, the name also has alternate spellings and surnames, such as Goffman, Godfray, Goffrey, Guffman, Guffey, Goughman, Gough, Gottman, Godfrey, and Gottfried.
The variations of the surname can also be found in other languages such as Russian (Гофман), Czech (Gofman), Hungarian (Gofman), Dutch (Goffman) and Yiddish (דאפעמאן).
Goffmann is a relatively uncommon surname that can be found in countries all over the world. It is particularly common in Germany, Israel, the United States, Australia, and Canada. The distribution of the name is quite widespread throughout Europe. It can also be found in parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
Famous people with the name Goffmann
- Erving Goffman (1922–1982) was a Canadian-born sociologist and writer who spent his career in the United States. He is known for his studies of the relationship between individual and society and for his consideration of the ways that social structures constrain and enable individual behavior.
- Tali Goffman (born 1977) is a senior research fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington, DC, and a political scientist and author with a specialty in North Korea.
- Jay Goffman (1947–2004) was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of several books on managerial and organizational behavior.
- Rebecca Goffman (born 1974) is an American film producer and screenwriter best known for films such as The Spectacular Now (2013), 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016) and The Big Sick (2017).
- David Goffman (born 1967) is an American director and producer, best known for his documentary films The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh (1984) and The Gatekeepers (2003).
- Steven Goffman (born 1945) is an American architect, best known for his involvement in the design of the Sydney Opera House, and the architect of a range of other modern designs.
- Philip Goffman (born 1942) is an American psychiatrist, best known for his co-authorship of the book Abnormal Psychology (1974).
- Steve Goffman (born 1945) is an American musician, best known for his work in the folk-rock-psychedelic band Country Joe and the Fish (1966–1970).
- Jonny Goffman (born 1972) is an American television and film writer, best known for work on shows such as Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000).
- Stephen Goffman (1942–2013) was an American-born British playwright whose plays dealt with Jewish life, including A Lover of Not (1966), Molecules in Motion (1968) and The Homeric Trilogy (2008).