Show ContentsOffner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Offner surname is derived from the Middle High German word "oven," meaning an oven; and as such the name was probably originally an occupational name for a baker, or someone who made or used ovens.

Early Origins of the Offner family

The surname Offner was first found in Brunswick, where the name Offner was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Offner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Offner research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Offner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Offner Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Offner, Oeffner, Offen, Ofner, Ofener, Offener, Hoffner, Hoeffner, Hoffen, Hofner, Ovener, Hoverner and many more.

Early Notables of the Offner family

Notables of the time included

  • the Offner family of Brunswick


United States Offner migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Offner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan Martin Offner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
  • Peter Offner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 1
  • Martin Offner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1760 1
Offner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alois Offner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1848
  • Joseph Offner, who arrived in Mississippi in 1882 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Offner (post 1700) +

  • Elliot Melville Offner (1931-2010), American sculptor, painter and printmaker
  • Paul Offner (1942-2004), American educator, public health expert, and legislator from Bennington, Vermont
  • Paul Offner, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Wisconsin State Assembly 95th District; Elected 1974; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Wisconsin 3rd District, 1982 2
  • Raymond Offner (1927-1989), French silver medalist basketball player at the 1948 Summer Olympics


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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