Surname Hockstadder - Meaning and Origin

Hockstadder: What does the surname Hockstadder mean?

The surname Hockstadder is an uncommon and unique name, originating from Germany. It is believed to be a variant of the name Hochstetter, which is derived from the German word "hoch" meaning “high” and the word “stetter” meaning a “steadfast person.” The combination of the two words can be translated to mean a loyal person who stands tall, or is held in high regard.

The name has continued to evolve over time and is now found in various forms, including Hochstadt, Hochstasson, Hockstaedter, and Hocksteadder. It is likely that those carrying the name have German ancestry or are of German-speaking origin, due to their unique family name.

The Hockstadder family name may have come from multiple sources and have multiple meanings, depending on where and when it was used. However, the overall sentiment remains the same: The Hockstadder family name is a representation of loyalty, strength, and stature.

Hockstadder: Where does the name Hockstadder come from?

The last name Hockstadder is not particularly common today. It appears to be found in various parts of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

In the United States, Hockstadder appears to have originated in Pennsylvania, where it is presumably the German-American variant of the German-American name Hochstedder. It is still found most frequently in Pennsylvania, as well as in Ohio, especially in the northwest corner. It is also found in other Midwest states like Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin.

In the United Kingdom, it appears to be derived from the more traditional German surname Hochstädter, and is found primarily in England and Scotland.

In Canada, it appears to be derived from a variant of the German surname Hochstädter, typically seen as Höchstetter. This variant appears to be found only in Ontario, mainly in and around the city of Toronto.

While Hockstadder is not common worldwide, the name does still appear to exist in various places and is still seen in small numbers. Its rarity may be due to its relatively recent arrival in North America, and its overall low population count.

Variations of the surname Hockstadder

The surname Hockstadder is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the two Middle High German words, hoc and stader, and literally translates to ‘block or pin head’. Historically, the name was used to describe someone who resided in a wooded area. Spellings of the name include Hochstadder, Hochstatter, Hockstader, Hochstatder, Hochstat, and Hockstadder. Variants of the name, with similar or related meaning, commonly found in records include Hochstetter, Hockstetter, and Hocksteatter.

In some instances, the surname has been anglicized or modified by other cultures, resulting in alternative spellings such as Hackseder, Hackseter, Hacksatter, Hacksetter, and Hachstetter. These spellings can represent either direct descendants of the original family, or families who simply adopted the name in some form or fashion, i.e. due to an ancestor's migration from the original homeland.

Many families of German origin also changed the spelling of their name during the 17th and 18th centuries due to regional war and religious persecution. Regional variances in the spellings and pronunciations of the name also exist. For instance, Hochstader and Hochstatter can respectively be pronounced as harshly as HOCH-stater and HOCH-Stode-ter, respectively.

While the surname Hockstadder was originally confined to a certain region or group of people, it has now become more widely distributed and can be found in many countries, including the United States, Germany, Holland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand among others.

Famous people with the name Hockstadder

• Catharine Hockstadter-Former United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative
• Fred Hockstadter-American actor
• Robert Hockstadter-Austrian ornithologist and photographer
• Ernestine Hockstadter-American comedian and actress
• Christian Hockstadter-German deep-sea diver
• Richard Hockstadter-American former Major League baseball player
• Paul Hockstadter-British locomotive engineer
• Peter Hockstadter-American eco-orchardist and farmer
• August Hockstadter-German theologian and philosopher
• Karl-Otto Hockstadter-German air force pilot

Other surnames

Hockstadter