Hofmann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Israel

The name Hofmann is a proud symbol of ancient Jewish culture. Before the late Middle Ages, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Jewish hereditary surnames were adopted from a variety of different sources. The surname Hofmann is of two possible derivations. In the first case, it is an occupational surname, which derives from the German word hof, which means settlement, or farm. Many Jews in the Russian Empire held such managerial positions on non-Jewish estates. The other meaning of the surname comes from the Yiddish word hofn, which means hope. As such, it was taken as a symbol, and was given to someone who had hope for the future.

Hofmann Ranking

In the United States, the name Hofmann is the 5,000^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Hofmann is ranked the 5,354^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2

Hofmann migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hofmann Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Gabriel Hofmann, who landed in New York, NY in 1709 3
Peter Hofmann, who arrived in America in 1710 3
Johannes Hofmann, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 3
Hans Ulrich Hofmann, who landed in Carolina in 1734 3
Erhard Hofmann, who landed in Carolina in 1738 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hofmann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christina Hofmann, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 3
Anna Sabina Hofmann, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802 3
Magdal Hofmann, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 3
Friedr Theod Hofmann, who landed in North America in 1832-1849 3
Susanna Hofmann, who arrived in America in 1836 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hofmann migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hofmann Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

David Hofmann, aged 9, who arrived in Quebec in 1893
Hans Hofmann, aged 7, who arrived in Quebec in 1893
Jacob Hofmann, aged 5, who arrived in Quebec in 1893

Hofmann migration to Australia +

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

Hofmann Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

J.Gottfried Hofmann, aged 26, a gardener, who arrived in South Australia in 1848 aboard the ship "Pauline" 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Hofmann (post 1700) +

Kenneth Harry Hofmann (1923-2018), American builder, real estate developer and philanthropist, co-owner of the Seattle Seahawks from 1988 to 1997
Harold Hofmann (1932-2013), American politician, Mayor of Lawndale, California for 23 years
Josef Casimir Hofmann (1876-1957), renowned American pianist
Hans Hofmann (1880-1966), German-born American painter
Hasso Hofmann (1934-2021), German philosopher and jurist
Wolfgang Hofmann (1941-2020), West German silver medalist judoka at the 1964 Summer Olympics
Murad Wilfried Hofmann (1931-2020), German diplomat and author, German Ambassador to Algeria (1987-1990)
Fritz Hofmann (1871-1927), German two time gold, one time silver and one time bronze Olympic medalist for gymnastics in the 1896 games 5
Leopold Hofmann (1738-1793), Austrian classical composer
Józef Hofmann (1876-1957), Polish pianist and composer
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hofmann family +

Bismarck

Rudolf Hofmann (1919-1941), German Maschinenobergefreiter who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6
Johann Hofmann (1922-1941), German Matrose who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 6

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PAULINE 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Pauline.htm
Athletes - Famous Olympic Athletes, Medalists, Sports Heroes. (Retrieved 2014, February 20) Fritz Hofmann. Retrieved from http://www.olympic.org/content/olympic-athletes/generic-athlete-page/?athleteid=58104
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details