Surname Hoeffel - Meaning and Origin
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Hoeffel: What does the surname Hoeffel mean?
The last name Hoeffel (also spelled Hoffel, Hoefel, Höffel and Hoeflin) is of German origin and refers to someone who lived near a corner in a town or village. It is derived from the German words "höf" meaning corner, and "el" or "lin" meaning near or by. This is a common last name in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
In Germany, the name Hoeffel likely developed as an occupational surname for someone who lived in an area known as a "corner" or "neighborhood". In medieval Germany, land could be divided in various ways, but one of the most common methods was setting an outside corner of a property as a part of the town, separating it from adjoining fields and common areas. This "corner" became a recognized area, and the people living there could become known by the name Hoeffel.
The area in Germany that the Hoeffel name is most commonly associated with is the Rhineland, particularly the area around Bonn. Over time, the name spread across Germany and into other countries in Europe, especially through emigration.
Today, the last name Hoeffel is found throughout Europe, Canada, and the United States. Although it is not a very common name, it has been gaining popularity and attention in recent years. One prominent example is Hans-Werner Hoeffel, a German politician who served in the national Bundestag from 1990-2013.
Order DNA origin analysisHoeffel: Where does the name Hoeffel come from?
The surname Hoeffel is most commonly found throughout the German-speaking parts of Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. It is also popular among America's sizeable German-American population, especially in the Mid-Atlantic states, in the Midwest and in Ohio. In recent years, it has become increasingly common in other parts of the world, especially the United States and Canada, due to emigration.
In the United States of America, there are an estimated 48,000 people with surname Hoeffel. States with the highest population of Hoeffel are Pennsylvania, followed by Texas, New York, California, Ohio, Illinois, and Washington. The states with the highest concentration of Hoeffel families are Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio.
The Hoeffel surname is derived from the ancient Germanic word "Hof", meaning court or farm, and the root element for "Fel", meaning means hill or slope. Combined, it literally means the dweller on the court or farm hill or slope.T
As it is derived from a geographically localized area, the popularity of the name in its place of origin is not an indication of its frequency elsewhere. Where surnames with the same root are common, one can look for those surnames in the areas in which the ancestors of those with the surname lived before migrating. For instance, many of the people bearing the surname may have migrated out of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
Thus, the last name Hoeffel is now found in many countries around the world, although still most predominantly in German-speaking regions.
Variations of the surname Hoeffel
The surname Hoeffel has multiple variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Hoeffel is a German surname, deriving from the Germanic personal name Hoff, meaning court, and the suffix "-el." This suffix was added to the personal name to create a surname.
Variants of Hoeffel include Hooffel, Hoffel, Hofel, and Hoevel. These forms come from the combination of the German "hoff" and the common German suffixes "-el", "-er", "-en", and "-erl".
Spelling variations of Hoeffel include Hoefel, Hoffel, Hofel, Hubbel, Hummel, Huptel, Huberl, Hefel, and Heffel. Each spelling is a variation of the German "hoff" and either the suffix "-el", "-er", "-en", or "-erl".
Surnames of the same origin as Hoeffel include Hoffman, Hofmann, and Hoffmann. Additionally, other surnames such asHubbel, Hummel, and Huptel are derivative of the German "hoff" plus "-el".
The range of variations and spellings derived from the combination of personal names and suffixes means that the surname Hoeffel can be found all over the world, in Germany, United States, Canada, Australia, and more.
Famous people with the name Hoeffel
- Allyson Hoeffel — American politician and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Joe Hoeffel — American politician and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Albert Hoeffel — American Mormon leader and president of Ricks College
- Kent Hoeffel — American musician and member of the band Death Cab for Cutie
- Peter J. Hoeffel Jr. — American professor of economics
- Steve Hoeffel — American actor and comedian
- Barbara Hoeffel — American actress
- Frank G. Hoeffel — American medal of honor recipient
- Perry Hoeffel — American artist and photographer
- John Hoeffel — American journalist and editor