Surname Hoeppener - Meaning and Origin
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Hoeppener: What does the surname Hoeppener mean?
The last name Hoeppener is a German surname, originating from Bohemia and Bavaria. It is thought to be a combination of “Hof,” which is a German word meaning “court” or “estate,” and “Pfennig,” which is a German word for “penny.” Together, these two words form the meaning of “court pfennig,” which likely referred to a type of tax assessed on certain estates. The name could also be the name of someone who worked in a local court, or referred to a high status in the court.
The earliest known record of the surname is known to be from a Matthaius Hoeppener in 1437. By the early 1800s, the Hoeppener family had spread throughout Bavaria, Prussia, Silesia, and Austria. In 1835, Johann Hoeppener immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Muskego, Wisconsin.
Today, Hoeppener is still an active surname in countries like Germany and Austria, and is also still found in a small number of the United States. People bearing this name tend to be of German heritage, and likely trace their ancestry back to the noble courts of the Middle Ages. Additionally, there may be some significance tied to money, wealth, or court authority, as the name suggests those who were of a higher status.
Order DNA origin analysisHoeppener: Where does the name Hoeppener come from?
Today, the last name Hoeppener is primarily found in Germany. It is thought to be a name that originated in a small village in the west German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, near the Dutch border. The name appeared with increased regularity in the 1800s and is still found in this region today.
In addition, many people with the last name Hoeppener are found in surrounding German towns and cities as well as throughout Europe and the U.S. In particular, cities like Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg in Germany have larger concentrations of people with this surname.
More broadly, the last name Hoeppener is especially prominent in Germany. According to a survey of surnames conducted in the early 21st century, the surname Hoeppener was among the top 1,000 surnames in Germany.
Therefore, it is evident that although the name originated from a small village in North Rhine-Westphalia, the last name Hoeppener is now widespread across Germany and can be found in many other countries too.
Variations of the surname Hoeppener
The common spelling of the surname Hoeppener is Hopener, with some spelling variations such as Höpener, Hoppener, Hoeppener, Höppener, and Hoepener. The surname can also be spelled Höpenner, Hopenner, Hoppenner, Hoepenner, Höppenner, Hopener, Hophner, and Hopenere. The variant forms of Hoeppener are mainly of Low German origin, where it originated as a diminutive of the name Hoppe, meaning “born of a hop plant” or “hop-dweller”.
The variants of Hoeppener can be found in both Germany and the United States. In Germany, it is mostly present in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, with a small concentration in Lower Saxony. In the U.S., the variants of the surname are found in several states, including Texas, Oregon, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The surname Hoeppener is also associated with some other surnames and nicknames. These include Hoppenfeld, Hoepfenner, Hoepfner, Hopfenner, Höpfner, Hopenere, Höpenere, Hopnere, Hopenere, Hoechenere, and Hopfenere. Some other variants include Hoerfener, Hoepener, Hoepenere, Hoefenere, and Hoppfener. With so many variations, it is easy to find individuals with this surname in different parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Hoeppener
- Johanna Hoeppener: also known as Fräulein Doktor, Johanna Hoeppener was a German Benedictine nun who worked as a doctor during World War I. She was the first female doctor ever to be employed in the German army.
- Thomas Hoeppener: Thomas Hoeppener is a German television actor who has appeared in over 20 TV productions throughout his career.
- Sahra Wagenknecht-Hoeppener: Sahra Wagenknecht-Hoeppener is a German politician and Member of the Bundestag for Die Linke. She was formerly a leading member of the Left Party.
- Tom Hoeppener: Tom Hoeppener is a German footballer who currently plays for Mainz 05. He is a left-footed left-winger.
- Harro Hoeppener: Also known as "Harry" Hoppener, Harro Hoeppener was a Dutch Nazi war criminal who was active during the Holocaust.
- Jören Hoeppener: Jören Hoeppener is a German film composer who has scored a variety of films on the international cinema scene such as Aimée & Jaguar, Diving into the Unknown and Helium.
- Karl Hoeppener: Karl Hoeppener is a German professor and researcher in the field of physics. He is currently a visiting professor at Jacobs University Bremen and specializes in research on graphene-based photodetectors.