Surname Hoefner - Meaning and Origin
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Hoefner: What does the surname Hoefner mean?
The last name Hoefner is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word “höf” meaning someone who owns and farms land. The Hoefner’s have been involved in farming and agronomy practices in Europe since the early 15th century.
In the centuries that followed, Hoefner’s helped lead the industrial revolution in their home country of Germany, later making their way to America to establish agronomy and horticulture businesses.
In America, Hoefner’s helped to expand the rural and farming communities of the Midwest with their knowledge of mulches, soil fertility, and gardening techniques. Since then, many Hoefner’s have continued to work in agricultural and forestry industries, even owning and managing farms and nurseries in the United States.
Today, the name Hoefner carries a great deal of respect within the farming and agricultural communities. The name is synonymous with hard work, determination, and a commitment to providing quality produce and goods to the public. Beyond that, the name Hoefner stands for a sound investment in a sustainable environment that preserves nature’s beauty for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisHoefner: Where does the name Hoefner come from?
The last name Hoefner is most common in Germany and Austria today. The name first appears in records from the late 18th century and was most likely derived from the Middle High German word "höfner," meaning a worker in a manor house. The earliest known instance of the name Hoefner is Friedrich Hoefner, who was born in the German city of Darmstadt in 1762.
In the 20th century, the name spread further around the world. During World War II, a number of Hoefners emigrated to the United States. Today, the name Hoefner can still be found in Germany, Austria, the United States, and to a lesser extent in other countries such as Canada, Australia and Argentina.
According to a 2019 analysis of the name Hoefner, it was the 455th most common name in Germany. In Austria, it was the 171st most common name. In the United States, it was the 10,179th most common name at the time of the study.
Overall, the name Hoefner is still quite common today, particularly in its original home regions of Germany and Austria. It can be found in various countries around the world, with the greatest concentrations in Europe and the United States.
Variations of the surname Hoefner
The surname Hoefner has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It is believed that the surname has its origin in Austria and Bavaria.
The most common variants are Hofer, Hoefner, Hoffer and Hofner. It is believed that these different spellings all come from the Middle High German word “hof” which means “court” and is related to a person who worked in a nobleman’s court.
Other variations of the surname include Höfner, Höfnerin, Hoepner, Hoepnerin, Hefner, Hefnerin, Hövner, Hövnerin, Höffner, Höffnerin, Höner, Hönerin, Hofener, Hofenerin, Hoffman, Hoffmann and Hoffmannin.
In German-speaking countries, the most common spelling is Hoefner. There are also versions of the surname in other European countries, such as Houlenar in France, Orfner in Austria and Schweinberger in Italy.
Additionally, the surname is often found with the Austrian diminutive surname ending “erl”. Variations of the name with this ending are Höfnerl, Hoefnerl, Hofferl, Hofnerl, Hoffnerl, Hönerl and Hofenerl.
In the United States, Hoefner has become Houfnar, as well as Houfenor, Huffner, Hoofner, Huffenor and Huffnar.
It is believed that the surname Hoefner is derived from the Old German “hupen” which means “to call” which is why variations of the name today have “erl,” “erin” or “ner” in them, as these words are derivations of “hupen.”
Famous people with the name Hoefner
- Robert Hoefner: Actor and Stunt-performer who has worked on films such as Shazam!, Ready Player One and Deadpool.
- Frank Hoefner: A Major League Baseball player from 1908 to 1916 with the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals.
- Paul Hoefner: A German Olympic swimmer who competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
- Louie Hoefner: An American professional basketball player who was a guard for the Louisville Colonels (1949-50) and Cleveland Rebels (1950-51) of the National Professional Basketball League.
- Tillman Hoefner: An American political candidate, Mayor of Philadelphia from 1947-51.
- Ira Hoefner: An American former professional football player.
- Brigitte Hoefner: An Austrian snowboarder who competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Olympics.
- Paul Hoefner: An American former competition swimmer, two-time Olympian, and former world record-holder in two races.
- Christine Hoefner: A former figure skater who competed in ladies' singles.
- Peter Hoefner: An American professional basketball player who was a center for Hero Trans-Tasman Champions League during the 2006–07 season.