Show ContentsHoffmann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The German state of Silesia is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Hoffmann. This name is derived from the German word "hof" meaning "settlement" or "farm" and "mann" meaning "man." The name may have originally been born by someone who owned their land as opposed to working someone else's land, or perhaps by the manager, or steward of such an estate.

Early Origins of the Hoffmann family

The surname Hoffmann was first found in Silesia, where the family became noted for its many branches within the region. Ancient chronicles first mention Otten Buzwoys Hoveman of Liegnitz, Silesia (1383), Hans Kosche Hoffman of Liegnitz (1558), and Nickel Hofeman the belt-maker of Goerlitz (1425.)

Early History of the Hoffmann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hoffmann research. Another 373 words (27 lines of text) covering the years 1540, 1616, 1627, 1640, 1653, 1669, 1679, 1683, 1685, 1692, 1712, 1715, 1716, 1719, 1750, 1778, 1789, 1803, 1827 and 1845 are included under the topic Early Hoffmann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hoffmann Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hoffmann, Hofmann, Hoffman, Hofman, Hoeffmann, Hoefmann, Hoeffman, Hoefman, Hofemann, Hofeman, Hovemann, Hoveman and many more.

Early Notables of the Hoffmann family

Notables of the period with the surname Hoffmann were

  • Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau (1616-1679), a German poet of the Baroque era
  • Martin Hoffmann (1653-1719) a German luthier, based in Leipzig
  • Melchior Hoffmann (1685-1715), director of the Neukirche opera house in Leipzig and a friend of Bach's

Hoffmann World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hoffmann is the 2,862nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Hoffmann is ranked the 542nd most popular surname with an estimated 8,541 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Hoffmann is the 958th popular surname with an estimated 4,140 people with that name. 3


United States Hoffmann migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hoffmann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Conrad Hoffmann, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 4
  • Gabriel Hoffmann, who landed in New York, NY in 1710 4
  • Hans Leonhard Hoffmann, who landed in Frederick County, Maryland in 1719 4
  • Hans George Hoffmann, who arrived in America in 1730 4
  • Hanss Peter Hoffmann, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1732 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hoffmann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Dorothea Elisabeth Hoffmann, aged 32, who arrived in America in 1839 4
  • Franz Jakob Hoffmann, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1842 4
  • Mr. Gustav Hoffmann, from Germany who arrived in Galveston, Texas aboard the ship "Joh. Derhardt" in 1844
  • Mr. John Peter Hoffmann, aged 33, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
  • Mrs. Catharina Hoffmann, aged 31, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Garonne"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hoffmann migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hoffmann Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Friederike Hoffmann, who landed in Quebec in 1850
Hoffmann Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Gustav Hoffmann, who arrived in Ontario in 1954

Australia Hoffmann migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hoffmann Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • J. Samuel Hoffmann, aged 52, a farmer, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Gellert" 5
  • Carl Hoffmann, aged 38, a blacksmith, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Alfred" 6
  • J. Hoffmann, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Steinwaerder" 7
  • Christian F. Hoffmann, aged 27, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Victoria"

Contemporary Notables of the name Hoffmann (post 1700) +

  • Stanley Hoffmann (1928-2015), Viennese-born, American Paul and Catherine Buttenwieser University Professor, emeritus at Harvard University, winner of the 1996 Balzan Prize for political science
  • Roald Hoffmann (b. 1937), Polish-American chemist, winner of the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
  • Ernst Hoffmann (1899-1956), American symphony conductor of the Houston Symphony
  • Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (1776-1822), born Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann, a German Romantic author of fantasy and Gothic horror, a jurist, composer, music critic and artist, his stories form the basis of Jacques Offenbach's opera The Tales of Hoffmann
  • Hilmar Hoffmann (1925-2018), German film and culture academic
  • Georg Hoffmann, German two time sliver Olympic medalist for swimming at the 1904 games
  • August Heinrich Hoffmann (1798-1874), known as Hoffmann von Fallersleben, a Professor of Literature at Breslau in 1830, and author of the poem "Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles," which was made into Germany's national anthem
  • E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822), German theater director, composer, conductor, and writer of short stories, largely responsible for introducing the world to Beethoven
  • Heinrich Hoffmann (1885-1957), German photographer
  • Heinrich Hoffmann (1809-1894), German author
  • ... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Werner Hoffmann (1917-1941), German Matrosenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
  • Karl Hoffmann (1920-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
  • Johannes Hoffmann (1921-1941), German Matrose IV-Fk. who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
  • Johann Hoffmann (1922-1941), German Matrosengefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
  • Fritz Hoffmann (1908-1941), German Obermaschinist who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GELLERT 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Gellert.htm
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ALFRED 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Alfred.htm
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEINWARDER 1849 aka STEINWAERDER. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Steinwarder.htm
  8. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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