Surname Höffges - Meaning and Origin

Höffges: What does the surname Höffges mean?

The last name Höffges has German roots and is derived from the German verb hof, meaning “enclose” or “enclosure”. The ending -ges is a preposition indicating possession, making the surnamethe equivalent of “belonging to the enclosure”.

The name is likely derived from a location or area with a fence or other boundary, as in a hamlet, farm, or village. In those days, families usually took their last name from the locality where they lived or from the local landowner. Hence, those bearing the last name Höffges in the beginning may have been living or working onan enclosed property.

Over the years, this last name has been modified in various ways. For example, in some cases it has been shortened from Höffges to Höffgens or to Höflitz. It could also be spelled Hoffman, Hoffmann, Hoff, Hof, and Hoffen, among others.

Regardless of these variations, Höffges is considered a habitational name originally associated with the southwestern area of Germany. It is likely to have been adopted in the early 16th century by a family living in a locality enclosed by a fence, hedge, or wall.

Höffges: Where does the name Höffges come from?

The last name Höffges is common throughout Germany and other parts of Europe. It is particularly prevalent in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany, in places such as Bonn, Cologne, and Koblenz. The last name is also found in small but significant numbers in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Denmark. In the United States, there are a few scattered individuals with this name, but it is largely unknown.

The origin of the last name Höffges is uncertain. It may have derived from a personal name such as Höffo or Hoffo, or it could be related to a place name or topographic feature such as a hill. In Old High German, Höffges means “one who lives on or near a hill.” The presence of the Germanic suffix “-es” at the end of the name indicates that it is a patronymic last name, meaning that it likely was adopted by a family based on a male ancestor’s first name.

The last name Höffges has centuries of history behind it, and even today it is still used by many people in Germany and other European countries. Its presence in the United States is much less common, but there is a chance that if you look hard enough, you could find someone bearing this unique last name.

Variations of the surname Höffges

Höffges is a German surname. Variants, spellings, and surnames that have the same origin as Höffges include:

Hoffges, Hoffgis, Hoffgees, Höfges, Hoeffges, Hoefges, Hofges, Hofgis, Hofgees, Höffgen, Hoffgen, Huffges, Huffgis, Huffgees, Huffgen.

The surnames are all derived from the Middle German word “Hofgesse,” which means “a man from the court.” It is likely that the individuals who bore this surname had associations with nobility or the ruling class.

The suffix “-ges” is a patronymic, meaning “son of,” which suggests that Höffges may have begun as a nickname given to sons born from a father with the name Hof. Höffges was eventually adopted as a surname.

The various spellings and surnames are likely a result of the Alanic sound shift that occurred in Southern Germany during the 12th century; and because of the regional variety of the German language as it evolved.

The variants of Höffges are concentrated in areas where German dialects were spoken, specifically in Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland, and Northeast France. Today, Höffges is still a common surname throughout Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and all of German-speaking Europe.

Famous people with the name Höffges

• Michael Höffges: Former German footballer; former manager of the German national team.
• Susanne Höffges: German journalist and author
• Markus Höffges: Former German professional footballer
• Uwe Höffges: Former German professional ice hockey player
• Bettina Höffges: German artist, specializing in glass art
• Jürgen Höffges: Former German professional wrestler
• Claudia Höffges: German swimmer
• Fritz Höffges: German journalist and author
• Jürgen Höffges: German architect
• Bernd Höffges: German actor and director
• Hans-Jürgen Höffges: Former German professional cyclist
• Herbert Höffges: German physicist and particle physicist
• Harald Höffges: German scholar and professor
• Carsten Höffges: Former German professional footballer
• Josef Höffges: Former German professional golfer
• Fritz Höffges: German mathematician
• Matthias Höffges: German politician and member of the European Parliament
• Waldemar Höffges: German aerospace engineer
• Martha Höffges: German actress
• Heinz Höffges: German restaurateur, hotelier, and caterer

Other surnames

Höffgen