Surname Höft - Meaning and Origin

Exploring My Ancestry: A Personal Dive into The Historical Roots of the Höft Surname Through iGENEA DNA Test

Unraveling your genealogical roots can be a fascinating journey. This is a personal account of using iGENEA's DNA test to gain a deeper understanding of my lineage and the history of my surname, Höft. The innovative technology and the scientific credibility of the testing procedure can significantly augment our knowledge of our ancestry.

U. Höft

Höft: What does the surname Höft mean?

The last name Höft (or Hoeft) is a German surname that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the Rhineland region of what is now Germany, and is thought to be derived from the Middle High German word "höve," which means "plot of land.”

The name is likely to have been used as a locational name, which would suggest that those bearing the surname were farmers or had some other connection to the land. Over time, this name may have changed due to changes in pronunciation. That being said, the name could also have been a nickname, derived from "hoeve," meaning "high" or "noble.”

The name Höft and variations of it can still be found today in many German speaking countries, but it is also quite common in the Netherlands too. Due to its locational origins, it can be found in a variety of different spellings and forms, such as Hoft, Hoefft, Hoff, Hofft, Hofte, and so on.

In more recent times, the name Höft has been attributed to a number of different professions, including clergyman, lawyer, and official. It is also the name of a small village in the state of Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany.

Overall, the last name Höft is a common German surname that has a long history and can be found in many parts of the world. It likely originated from the Middle High German word meaning "plot of land” or "high,” and has been used to designate various professions over time.

Höft: Where does the name Höft come from?

The last name Höft is most commonly found in Germany today. According to the genealogical database FamilySearch.org, Höft is the 6,323rd most common surname in Germany, with an estimated 16,000 people bearing the name.

Höft is a particularly old German last name, and is thought to have originated from an area near modern-day Hamburg in Northern Germany. Many spellings of the last name are documented, including Hof, Hoff, Hoffe, Hoef, and Hofe. The coat of arms associated with the Höft name depicts a shield with a boat and two birds on it.

A great deal of Höft family members have been recorded in the cities and towns of Hamburg, Bremen, and Berlin since the 16th century. Furthermore, some people with the name Höft have been recorded in the cities of Frankfurt, Kassel, and Mainz.

Family members with the last name Höft can also be found scattered throughout the United States and Canada due to emigration from Germany, most prominently in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name Höft has also been recorded in numerous states in the United States, including New York, Ohio, and New Jersey, among others.

Variations of the surname Höft

The surname Höft is an ancient German name derived from Hoft, which refers to a court or a manor. It is also a habitational name for people who come from Höft, a place in Bavaria. Variants of the surname Höft include Hofst, Hoft, Hoefst, Hoefstede, Hoff, Hoffer, Hoffmann, Hofstad, Hoeft, Hoeftemann, Höfner, Höffener, Hopf, Hopp, Hopff, Huft, Höftemann, Hüft, Haft and Huift.

Hofst, Hoft and Hoefst are the most common variants of the surname Höft. They are all derived from the word 'Hoft', meaning a court or manor. Hoff, Hoffer, Hoffmann and Hofstad are other variants of the surname Höft which are derived from the same word.

Hoeft, Hoeftemann, Höfner, Höffener, Hopf, Hopp and Hopff are also variants of the surname Höft which are derived from a different root. These variants are derived from the German word 'Hoffen', meaning 'to hope'. Huft, Höftemann, Hüft, Haft and Huift are other variants which are derived from the Middle High German word 'huof', meaning 'mansion'.

Overall, the surname Höft has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. They are all derived from similar German terms which hold a similar meaning to the word 'Hoft', referring to a court or manor.

Famous people with the name Höft

• Jens Höft: Former German long track speed skater, who won eight gold medals at the World and European Championships.
• Hubert Höft: Former German cyclist who competed in the individual sprint event at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
• Erna Höft: Former German swimmer who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 4x100 meter freestyle relay.
• Wilhelm Höft: Former German footballer and manager who was part of the successful East German teams at the 1972 Olympic Games and the GDR championship in 1971.
• Axel Höft: German artist, photographer and musician; the founder of the music label "Axel Höft Music".
• Lars Höft: German novelist and poet, known for his work about the German author Karl May.
• Gert Höft: German historian and professor of European Studies at the University of Kent.
• Diedrich Höft: German philosopher and writer, considered an early expert on Kantian philosophy.
• Malte Höft: German ice hockey player, who competed for the German national team in three IIHF World Championship tournaments.
• Gustav Höft: German sprinter and cyclist who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal in the team sprint event.

Other surnames

Höfts