Surname Hochster - Meaning and Origin
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Hochster: What does the surname Hochster mean?
The surname 'Hochster' is of German origin and is a topographical name for someone who lived near a high place; from the German 'hoch' meaning high, and 'ster' meaning place.
Hochster can be classified as a locational surname, meaning a name given to someone based on the area or town they came from. This type of surname is the second most popular type of surname after those derived from patronymic names.
The area of origin for the surname Hochster is uncertain. It is likely to have originated in the German-speaking areas of northern and Central Europe, and may still be found predominantly in these areas today. However, it is also found in other parts of the world, including the United States.
Due to its geographic and cultural roots, the name Hochster may have a variety of meanings; from someone who lived in a particularly elevated area, to someone with an inner strength or courage. Whatever the original meaning of the name was, it is now used as a badge of honour, a way for families to identify themselves and proudly remember their German heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisHochster: Where does the name Hochster come from?
The last name Hochster is most commonly found in Austria and Germany, as well as in other German-speaking countries, such as Switzerland. The German word for tall or high is 'hoch', which is how this surname came to be. The Hochstetler variation is more common in America and Canada, particularly among those of Amish or Mennonite descent. This spelling is derived from a combination of 'hoch' and 'Stetler', meaning altar.
Hochster is a relatively uncommon last name even within countries of Germanic origin. In Austria, for instance, the surname is present but rare—of the more than 8 million people in the country, only 2,500 shared the last name in 2020. Similarly, it is estimated that only 6,500 Germans were registered under the surname in 2020. Hochster is also distributed widely but sparingly across other parts of Europe, such as France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States and Canada, the surname has become more common. According to estimates from 2020, more than 60,000 Americans shared the surname, while more than 13,000 Canadians with the Germanic surname were recorded in the same year. This is mainly due to the large German community that has shifted to North America to seek economic opportunities in the region.
Variations of the surname Hochster
The surname Hochster is believed to have origin in German and is a variant of the surname Hochstadt. It is a noun that is derived from the Middle High German words “hoch” which means “high” and “stadt” which means “city”. Common variants of this surname are Hochstatter, Hochstaedter, Hochsetter, Hochsetter, Hochszetter, and Hochsatter. Generally, the variants of this surname are spelled differently and have changes in the vowels and consonants. For example, Hochstatter has a different double consonant spelling to Hochsatter and Hochsetter has altered vowels compared to Hochstaedter.
Other similar surnames are Hochkoeppler and Hochschwender which have similar origins. Hochkoeppler is a surname derived from Middle High German words “hoch” meaning “high” and “köppel” which means “small hill”. Hochschwender is also derived from Middle High German words “hoch” and “schwenden” meaning “to swing”. These two surnames may have descended from a personal name meaning “swinger on the high hill”.
The variations of Hochster surname also include Hochman, Hockenberger, Hockenbauer, and Hochfried. The German word “hoch” meaning “high” is a part of many of these names. Hochman is a form of the German surname Hofmann which means “farmer on the hill”. Hockenberger is derived from the German words “höke” and “berg” which mean “hill” and “mountain”, respectively. Hockenbauer is derived from the German words “höke” and “bauer” which mean “hill” and “farmer”, respectively. Hochfried is derived from the German words “hoch” and “fried” which mean “high” and “peace”, respectively.
Famous people with the name Hochster
- Abe Hochster: Founding partner of Hochster, Picken, Kamin & Sutker, a law firm based in Chicago.
- Nathan Hochster: A renowned character actor for stage and television, he has been seen in True Blood, Bored to Death, and many others.
- Joanna Hochster: Chair of the board of directors for the Miami Design Preservation League.
- Lawrence Hochster: Senior executive at CBS News who served as Vice President of News Standards and Special Events.
- Stephen Hochster: Award-winning Detroit criminal defense lawyer.
- Robert Hochster: Founder of the Michigan-based law firm Faber & Hochster.
- Geoffrey Hochster: Editor-in-Chief of the legal publication Maryland Attorney.
- Richard Hochster: Award-winning puzzle constructor for the New York Times and other newspapers.
- Richard Hochster: Director of Windward Environmental, an environmental services firm.
- Howard Hochster: Professor of Economics at the State University of New York at Binghamton.