| ![Show Contents]() Hofs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Germany
Etymology of HofsWhat does the name Hofs mean? Nestled between the Rhine and Wesser rivers is the ancient German region of Westphalia. Westphalia, the home of the name Hofs. Hereditary surnames were adopted in this region after the 12th century, and surnames were derived from localities were common. 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. The Hofs family originally lived on a farmstead. The name Hofs is derived from the Old German and German word hof, which means settlement, farm or court. Early Origins of the Hofs familyThe surname Hofs 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 Hofs familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hofs 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 Hofs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Hofs Spelling VariationsOne 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 Hofs include Hof, Hoff, Hoffe, Hofer, Hoefer, Hoeffer, Hoffer, Hofle, Hoefe, Hofler, Hoefler, Hofner and many more. Early Notables of the Hofs familyMore information is included under the topic Early Hofs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Hofs 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 were:
Hofs Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Karl Friedrich Hofs, who landed in America in 1845 1
- Cornelia Hofs, aged 36, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1875 1
- Cornelius Hofs, aged 48, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1875 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)
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