Surname Hofbuhr - Meaning and Origin

Hofbuhr: What does the surname Hofbuhr mean?

The last name Hofbuhr is German in origin, and has been present in Germany since at least the 15th century. Hofbuhr is derived from the Old High German words “hoh”, meaning “high”, and “buhren”, meaning “farm”. This suggests that the original bearer of the surname was a large landowner of some kind in the medieval period.

Hofbuhr is still a quite common surname in Germany today. The surrounding region of the Rhineland, where the surname originates, is strongly Catholic, and the Hofbuhr family is likely to have had Catholic roots. One branch of the family, the Freiherren von Hofbuhr, was elevated to nobility in 1711, and were based in Leipzig. The third president of the Weimar Republic, Paul von Hindenburg, was descended from this family.

Moving into the modern day, there are very few people with the Hofbuhr surname outside of Germany. Those who do exist likely descended from German immigrants to the countries they live in. Nowadays, those with the surname Hofbuhr can generally be found in Germany, and, to a lesser extent, in France, the Netherlands and the United States of America.

The meaning of the surname Hofbuhr is significant to the family, as it ties them back to their ancestral homeland, and gives insight into the origins of the family. It is likely that the original bearer of the name was a powerful landowner, and that it has since been passed down through generations. The family’s noble roots are a testament to the success of their ancestors, and a source of pride for modern descendants of the Hofbuhr family.

Hofbuhr: Where does the name Hofbuhr come from?

The last name Hofbuhr is most likely of German origin and is still in use today, although it is a relatively rare surname. In Germany, the Hofbuhrs are mainly concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia, with numerous other spread out in Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg.

It has also been recorded in Poland, Austria, and the United States as well.

In the US, particularly, the highest concentrations of this name are found in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The 2000 US census recorded only 67 individuals with this surname, although it is believed that the number has grown since then.

Hofbuhr is an occupational surname, deriving from the Middle High German ‘hofburi’, meaning "farmer of a freehold estate", and often presupposes a certain degree of wealth or property.

Those who share the last name could have been related generations ago, but unlikely today. A famous German Hofbuhr is the writer, Albert Hofbuhr.

Regardless of origin, it is easy to assume that those with the name Hofbuhr are alluringly adventurous.

Variations of the surname Hofbuhr

The surname Hofbuhr is a German or Dutch topographical surname derived from the Old High German words Hof, meaning “court” or “settlement”, and buhr meaning “fortified house”.

The variants of this surname are: Hofberger, Hofbauer, Hofbower, Hofboer, Hofboor, Hofbour, Hofbauer, Hofbur, Hofburr, Hofburre, Hofbyr, Hofbeyer, Hofbeeer, and Hofbeehr.

The alternate spellings for Hofbuhr are Hofbur, Hofburr, Hofburer, Hofburre, Hofbuhr, Hofbyer, Hofbiry, Hofbyr, Hofbeyer, Hofbeer, Hofbeer, Hofbeyr, Hofbeehr and Hofbehr.

The surnames of similar origin are: Heubur, Heufur, Hufbur, Heufurr, Heufburr, Heufbur, Heufurre, Huenburr, Heunfur, Hofburger, Hoefburg, Huenbuhr, Hoefburr, Hoefbur, Heufburer, Heupbeur, Heupbur, Hoefbour.

Hofbuhr is also used as a given name in some places. It's not very common but is used as a first name for girls, especially in Belgium. The alternate spellings for this name are Hofbur, Hofburr, Hofbuhr, Hofbury, Hofbyr, Hofbeyer, Hofbeer, Hofbeyr, Hofbeehr, and Hofbehr.

The Hofbuhr surname is also found in some non-German countries, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, but is much more common in Germany. In the Netherlands, the surname is usually spelled Hoffbauer or Hofboer. In Switzerland, it is sometimes spelled as Hofbuhr or Hofburr.

Overall, the surname Hofbuhr and its variants/spellings, Hofbur, Hofburr, Hofbuhr, Hofbury, Hofbyr, Hofbeyer, Hofbeer, Hofbeyr, Hofbeehr, and Hofbehr are used predominantly in Germany and some effect areas like Netherlands and Switzerland. This surname is also found among some non-German countries, but is less common. In some cases, Hofbuhr is also a given name for girls, in Belgium.

Famous people with the name Hofbuhr

• Eric Hofbuhr: famous actor who starred in "Dodsworth" (1936).
• Jan Hofbuhr: Dutch film director and actor.
• Richard Hofbuhr: German-born American film actor and director.
• Marcus Hofbuhr: German surgeon and physician.
• Eberhard Hofbuhr: German painter and sculptor.
• Dieter Hofbuhr: German mathematician and physicist.
• Peter Hofbuhr: former Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Ulrike Hofbuhr: German-born actress known for “Metropolis” (1927).
• Nils Hofbuhr: Swedish composer and conductor.
• Reinhard Hofbuhr: German author and poet.

Other surnames

Hofbur