Surname Inhof - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'I'
Inhof: What does the surname Inhof mean?
The last name Inhof is of German origin. It originated in a region of central Bavaria, called the Frankenalb and is derived from the Middle High German word “inhove”, which literally translates to “farmer”.
The name could also be a variation of the lower German spelling of “enhus” or “ienhus”, which are also derived from the Middle High German word “inhove”, but with a slightly different meaning. In this case, the name Inhof is thought to mean “a person who lives or works on a farm”.
Inhof is a patronymic surname, meaning that it was initially created to distinguish the offspring of a specific father from other families of the same area who bore the same name. It is believed that the original bearer of the name Inhof would have been a man who lived and worked on a farm in the Frankenalb region of Bavaria, hence the meaning of the surname.
Inhof may also be found written as Inhofer or Endhofer. These variations are merely spelling differences, and all are derived from the same original meaning.
Today, the name Inhof is most prevalent in the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, though it may also be traced back to the United States of America and other parts of Europe. The name could also be found in numerous other countries due to immigration and diaspora.
Order DNA origin analysisInhof: Where does the name Inhof come from?
The last name Inhof is a fairly uncommon name, and is mostly found in German-speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. According to Der Deutsche Familiennamenatlas, the name Inhof has its origin in the German word "inhofen," which means to live outside the city walls and denotes a settlement near the city. The Inhof name appears in documents from Austria back in the 16th century, and is a relatively old German family name.
In Germany, the last name Inhof is most popular in the Bavarian region, especially in the city of Nuremberg, which is the historical center of the Inhof family. Studies show that the Inhof name concentration in this region is even higher than the average of Germany as a whole.
Outside of Germany, family names ending with "hoff", like Inhof, can be found predominantly in certain areas of the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and New York. These usually have a German or Dutch origin. Possibly, the Inhofs left Germany and moved to the U.S. in pursuit of better opportunities or during the era of European immigration to the Americas.
To sum up, Inhof is a relatively old German surname, mostly found in countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but also in the areas of Pennsylvania and New York in the United States.
Variations of the surname Inhof
The surname Inhof is likely a Germanic name, originating in either Romania or Austria. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are:
Inhofe: This is the most popular variant spelling of the surname, mostly used throughout the United States.
Inhoff: Another variant of the surname Inhof, this spelling is less frequently used.
Inhoffen: This variant of the surname is mostly found in Austria and Germany.
İnhof: This is a Turkish variant for the surname, likely coming from Austrian immigrants to the area.
Inhoof: A rare variant of the surname, mostly found in Belgium.
Enhof: This is a Dutch variant of the surname, mostly found in the Netherlands.
Inhofen: This is likely a variation of Inhoffen, and mostly found in Austria and Germany.
Inhoffer: Another rare variant to the surname, this spelling is mostly found in Austria and Germany.
Inhofner: This is another version of the surname, mostly found in Austria and Germany.
Inhofer: Also found primarily in Austria and Germany, this is yet another variation.
Finally, there are multiple spelling variations from other countries, including İnhof from Turkey and Enhof from the Netherlands.
Famous people with the name Inhof
- Robert Inhof: Austrian goldsmith
- Ray Inhof: Canadian songwriter
- Peter Inhof: American artist
- Heidi Inhof: American champion swimmer
- Ed Inhof: Netherlands artist
- Eric Inhof: Dutch field hockey player
- Jackie Inhof: German motorcycle racer
- Georg Inhof: German author
- Olaf Inhof: German cinematographer
- Marie Inhof: German author