Surname Kirchhöfer - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling The Intricacies of My Kirchhöfer Heritage Through iGENEA DNA Test
Taking an iGENEA DNA test to explore the familial roots of the surname Kirchhöfer, led to an emotional journey of self-discovery. The process awakened new perspectives about family heritage, bridging the divide between the past and the present, and deepening my connection to the Kirchhöfer lineage.
N. Kirchhöfer
read moreKirchhöfer: What does the surname Kirchhöfer mean?
Kirchhöfer is a surname of Germanic origin. It derives from the Germanic 'Kirchhöfer', meaning ‘church farmer’. People who bore this name likely originated in areas of Germany in which a large number of churches existed. Historically, churches in Germany and other parts of Europe were often owned by wealthy landowners who employed their own servants and peasants to help tend the land and the church.
The surname Kirchhofer can be found in many parts of Europe, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Its earliest known use in Germany dates back to around 1750. By the 19th century, it had expanded to other European countries and even to the United States.
The spelling of the name has varied over the years in different regions and countries. In the United States, where many German immigrants settled, the spelling is often written as 'Kirchhoefer'. In some other countries and regions, it might appear as 'Kirchhoffer'.
Regardless of regional variations in the spelling of the name, all variants of Kirchhöfer share one thing in common - they all refer to a person who is descended from a family of small farmers who worked with and around churches in Germany and other parts of Europe.
Order DNA origin analysisKirchhöfer: Where does the name Kirchhöfer come from?
The last name Kirchhöfer is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in the eastern states such as Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt. According to the national statistics of 2020, it is the 72nd most common surname in Germany, with an estimated 16,731 people carrying the name.
Outside of Germany, people with the last name Kirchhöfer mainly originate from countries in the European Union or other German-speaking countries such as Switzerland and Austria. There have also been a number of people with the name who have traveled to the United States and Canada. A search of the United States Census returns yields over 400 individuals with the name.
Aside from Europe and North America, individuals with the surname Kirchhöfer are known to have moved to countries around the world, including South Africa and Australia. It is possible to even find individuals with the name in the Middle East, India, and other places in Asia.
The most likely source of the surname is the German given name of Kirchhofer, as the name was likely adapted from a family's first name. The name is derived from the German word "Kirche," which means "church," combined with the suffix "hofer," which means "a person who lives near a certain location." Therefore, the last name Kirchhöfer likely refers to a person who lived near a church or chapel.
Variations of the surname Kirchhöfer
The surname Kirchhöfer is of German origin, and it is derived from the situation of the first bearers near a church or from the occupation of a church caretaker. Variants of the surname Kirchhöfer include Kirchhofer, Kirchhoefer, and Kirchefer. Spellings of the surname Kirchhöfer range from Kirchhöffer, Kirchhaffer, Kirchhoffer, Kircheffor, Kircheffer, Kirchefer, and Kirchhaffor to names like Khorshofer, Kharfahfer, and Khershafer.
Surnames of similar origin, but with varying spellings, can also be seen in different parts of Germany, such as Kirschhofer, Kirschföhr, Kirchebauer, and Karchheimer. In some parts of Germany, the same surname could even be found in its original form, with the ö replaced by an o. This would make it Kirchhofer instead of Kirchhöfer.
Variations of the surname Kirchhöfer can also be found in a few other countries, such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Variations of this surname in Austria include Kirchenhofer, Kirchhofen, and Kirchenhover, while variations in Switzerland include Kirchhofer, Kirchhöri, and Kirchehöfer.
Overall, the surname Kirchhöfer is quite common in Germany and other European countries. It is easily recognizable by its similarity in spelling and its connection to a church or church caretaker.
Famous people with the name Kirchhöfer
- Marc Kirchhöfer: professional racing driver who competes in the Formula E series.
- Kevin Kirchhöfer: German football player who currently plays for Arminia Bielefeld.
- Guido Kirchhöfer: German triple jumper who was the European Indoor champion in 2012 and holds the German record with a jump of 17.32 meters.
- Robert Kirchhöfer: German musicologist who works as a professor of music theory at the Technical University of Dresden.
- Alexander Kirchhöfer: German lawyer and legal expert specialising in public law, corporate law and competition law.
- Michael Kirchhöfer: German economist and professor of business leadership at the Hasselt University in Belgium.
- Johannes Kirchhöfer: German rower, who won gold medals at the Olympics in 1964 and 1968, and set the world record in the coxless four event in 1966.
- Katrin Kirchhöfer: German political scientist, associate professor of comparative politics and public management at the University of Bremen.
- Christian Kirchhöfer: German film director who won the Gold Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for his 2010 feature 'Killing Jesus'.
- Christian Kirchhöfer: German doctor, lecturer in medicine and research assistant at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf.