Hoefner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Nestled between the Rhine and Wesser rivers is the ancient German region of Westphalia. Westphalia, the home of the name Hoefner. When hereditary surnames were adopted in this region, after the 12th century, names that were derived from localities were quite common. These "local" surnames originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. When coupled with the German preposition von, which means from or of, local names can indicate that the initial bearer of the name was an aristocrat. However, in modern times, the use of the preposition has often long since been dropped from use. The Hoefner family originally lived on a farmstead. The name Hoefner is derived from the Old German and German word hof, which means settlement, farm or court.

Early Origins of the Hoefner family

The surname Hoefner 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 Hoefner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoefner 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 Hoefner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoefner Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Hoefner include Hof, Hoff, Hoffe, Hofer, Hoefer, Hoeffer, Hoffer, Hofle, Hoefe, Hofler, Hoefler, Hofner and many more.

Early Notables of the Hoefner family

More information is included under the topic Early Hoefner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoefner migration to the United States +

Many Germans emigrated across the Atlantic to seek better lives in North America. This great migration began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century. Resettlement was particularly attractive to those from Westphalia as a means of escape from poverty and religious persecution. For many Westphalian farmers, the chance to own one's own land was also a major incentive. The process of the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlements centered around Ontario and the Prairie provinces. Among them:

Hoefner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Christian Hoefner, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Everhard"
Mrs. Hoefner, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Everhard", mother to Christian