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![Show Contents]() Heftel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany
The Heftel surname comes from the Middle High German words "hafner," or "hafen," meaning "pot," or "dish." As such, Heftel was originally an occupational name for a potter. Early Origins of the Heftel familyThe surname Heftel was first found in Austria and southern Bavaria, where the family made a considerable contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early modern Europe. The family became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses. These played important roles in local political conflicts, in which each group sought power and status in an ever changing territorial profile. Chronicles first mention Hugo Hafinare of Constance in the year 1158, Uli Hafner (Haefeli) of the Aargau region in 1490, and Hueglin Haffner of Kirchheim in 1406. Chronicles also mention an ancient branch of the family whose members were knights of the Kingdom of Styria from 1310 to 1478. Early History of the Heftel familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heftel research. Another 231 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1629, 1630, 1631, 1640, 1702, 1735, 1741, 1759, 1764, 1776, 1782, 1833 and 1861 are included under the topic Early Heftel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Heftel Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Haffner, Hafner, Haafner, Hafener, Haffener, Haeffner, Heffner, Haefner, Hefner, Haefeli (Swiss) and many more. Early Notables of the Heftel familyDuring this period prominent bearers of the name Heftel were Enrico Haffner (1640-1702), an Italian painter of quadratura during the Baroque period, his father was from Switzerland. Phillip Hafner (1735-1764), was an Austrian lawyer who later became a dramatist. His numerous plays introduced good-humored farce to Viennese comedy and their influence was felt well into the next century. Otto Titan von Hefner, the son of Georg von Hefner, became famous as an authority on heraldry and related studies. In...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heftel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Heftel familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Nickel Heffner, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1738. Hans Jacob Haffner came to Philadelphia in 1743; while Friedrich Hafner arrived in 1748. Wolfgang Hefner landed in Philadelphia in 1752.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Heftel (post 1700) | + |
- Cecil Landau Heftel (1924-2010), American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Senator from Hawaii, 1970; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Hawaii, 1972; U.S. Representative from Hawaii 1st District, 1977-86 1
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