Surname Hoffeld - Meaning and Origin
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Hoffeld: What does the surname Hoffeld mean?
The last name Hoffeld is of Anglo-German origin, and is a variant of the name Hoffmann which is derived from the German surname “Hoff” which means “court” or “royal courtyard”. Hoffeld likely comes from the German given names “Hoff” and “Held” which combine to mean “court hero” or “royal hero”. This combination of the two German names was a way in the past of expressing honor and reverence toward a specific family.
The Hoffeld surname is one of the more common Anglo-German surnames found in America, where it has been present since the 17th century, when German immigrants began arriving in the US. American immigrants were sometimes known to drop one of the two German words and make the most of their new language. As a result, the name was changed from Hoffmann to Hoffeld.
Hoffeld is also found in various countries across Europe, such as Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. There it is sometimes spelled as Hofeld, Hofel, Hoffel, Hoffman, Hofman, Hoffmann, or Hoffmana.
The Hoffeld name is now found in a number of English-speaking countries throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, where it’s still spelled with just the single “f.”
Order DNA origin analysisHoffeld: Where does the name Hoffeld come from?
The last name Hoffeld is a relatively uncommon name today, and can be found in both the United States and Europe. In the United States, the most common place to find the name Hoffeld is located in New Jersey. In Europe, the name is most commonly found in the Netherlands and Germany.
In the United States, Hoffeld is a relatively uncommon last name, no matter the region. However, the highest concentration of people with the name is located in the northeastern region, most notably in the state of New Jersey. According to the United States Census Bureau, New Jersey has the highest number of Hoffelds out of the entire country. This is primarily due to the large German immigrant population in the state.
In Europe, Hoffeld is seen much less, but still has a presence in certain countries. The most common countries to find citizens with this last name are in the Netherlands and Germany. This is likely due to the long-standing Germanic roots of the name. Dutch names often contain ‘-feld’ as a suffix, and Germany still has a large population descended from Germanic speakers.
Overall, the last name Hoffeld is found in very few places in the world. It is most common in the United States in New Jersey, and is more widely distributed across Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands. Regardless of the region, the name is still uncommon and not widely seen.
Variations of the surname Hoffeld
The Hoffeld surname is a German and Dutch surname, and its variants include Hoffeldt, Hoffelt, Hofffeld, Hofffeldt, Hofeld, Hofeldt, Hoffalt, Hoffaltz, and Hoffold.
The spelling of the surname is also commonly seen with a double "f" (i.e. Hofffeld or Hofffeldt). In Dutch, the surname is also sometimes spelled with a "V" replacing the "F" (Hovfeld).
The suffix "-feld" used in this surname means "field or open area" in German, so the surname literally means "someone from a field". Its similar surnames derive from the same root word, such as Hofmann (field man), Hofmeister (field master), Hofstetter (field settler) and Höfer (field dweller).
The origin of the surname Hoffeld has Germanic origin and is used in many countries including Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
In some countries, it is sometimes used as a Jewish surname, although the name has no Jewish origin. It is most common among the German-Jewish population of Eastern Europe, who were given the surname during the 18th century by the Prussian government as a form of identification. It is also common among Dutch Mennonites who immigrated to the United States and Canada during the 18th and 19th century. Its use has been recently recorded in the newly formed country of East Timor.
Famous people with the name Hoffeld
- Stefan Hoffeld: professional footballer from Germany
- Karl Hoffeld: German politician
- Ulrich Hoffeld: former German athlete in bobsleigh
- Hermann Hoffeld: German Air Force officer during World War II
- Edgar Hoffeld: German violinist
- Ludwig Hoffeld: Austrian psychiatrist and psychoanalyst
- Alfred Hoffeld: German composer
- Friedrich Hoffeld: German theologian, composer, and organist
- Elke Hoffeld: German photographer
- Monika Hoffeld: German portrait painter and photographer