Find out how popular the last name Forsthöffer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Forsthöffer.
A German surname derived from a combination of elements referring to a forester or forest keeper.
Forsthöffer, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Forsthöffer surname is from the 2000 census data.
Forsthöffer is the 148244th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Forsthöffer surname appeared 102 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Forsthöffer.
The surname Forsthoffer has its roots in Germany, likely emerging around the late medieval to early modern period. It originates from the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, areas known for their dense forests and agriculturally rich landscapes. The name is a compound of two German elements: "Forst," meaning "forest," and "Hoffer," derived from "Hof," meaning "farm" or "courtyard." Thus, Forsthoffer signifies "forest farm" or "one who farms in the forest."
Old records from the 16th century show the name appearing in various forms including Vorsthofer and Forstoffer in local church registers and land deeds. One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Forsthoffer comes from a 1584 parish register in the town of Ulm, where a Johann Forsthoffer was mentioned as a landowner. Variations in spelling were common due to the lack of standardized orthography at the time.
Another historical reference includes a legal document from 1621 mentioning Georg Forsthoffer, a local village head (Schultheiß) in the Swabian Jura. This indicates that the name was often associated with individuals of some standing in rural communities.
In 1657, a notable figure bearing this surname, Anna Maria Forsthoffer, appeared in regional court records in Württemberg, being cited as a witness in a boundary dispute. Her testimony helped to settle a long-standing conflict, underscoring the respect and trust afforded to the Forsthoffer family in the local community.
By the 18th century, the name began to spread to neighboring regions as families migrated. In 1742, Hans Peter Forsthoffer migrated to Alsace, which was then under French control, bringing the surname into a different cultural and linguistic context. Hans Peter later became known for his contributions to viticulture in the region.
Lastly, a figure worth mentioning is Wilhelm Forsthoffer (1758-1834), a jurist and academic who published influential works on local governance and agrarian law. His writings contribute significantly to our understanding of early modern German agrarian society.
These historical references provide a glimpse into the long-standing presence and gradual dispersion of the Forsthoffer surname, illustrating its strong ties to rural and forested areas of Germany.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Forsthöffer.
The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:
For the most recent 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Forsthöffer was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 99.02% | 101 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 0.00% | 0 |
| Hispanic Origin | (S)% | (S) |
Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.
The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.
The history and meaning of the name Forsthöffer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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