| ![Show Contents]() Hofner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany Israel Hofner is a local name from the German region of Westphalia. Local names came to Germany with other types of hereditary surnames after the 12th century. They were derived from the name of the place where the original bearer of the name lived. Sometimes local names bear the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". It was an indication of land-ownership, and was sometimes taken as a mark of aristocracy. The family originally lived on a farmstead. The name Hofner is derived from the Old German and German word hof, which means settlement, farm or court. Early Origins of the Hofner familyThe surname Hofner was first found in Westphalia, where the family contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation. The name probably stems from the German word "Hof" meaning "court." Early History of the Hofner familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hofner research. Another 359 words (26 lines of text) covering the years 1378, 1440, 1629, 1662, 1684, 1773 and 1829 are included under the topic Early Hofner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hofner Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Hofner include Hof, Hoff, Hoffe, Hofer, Hoefer, Hoeffer, Hoffer, Hofle, Hoefe, Hofler, Hoefler, Hofner and many more. Early Notables of the Hofner familyMore information is included under the topic Early Hofner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Hofner migration to the United States | + |
After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. Among them:
Hofner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Marten Hofner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "Molley John Hodgeson" 1
- Geo Hofner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
- Johannes Hofner, who landed in America in 1750 1
- Jacob Hofner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 1
Hofner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Christian Hofner, who arrived in Texas in 1840-1850 1
- Maria Hofner, aged 16, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name Hofner (post 1700) | + |
- Maria Hofner, professor, University of Graz
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Hofner migration to the United States 
