2000
#132,259
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Hoeflein
A surname indicating a small agricultural landowner or farmer.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Hoeflein. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hoeflein surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Hoeflein in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hoeflein, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.3%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hoeflein
The surname HOEFLEIN is of German origin, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the German word "hofe," which translates to "farm" or "estate," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been landowners or farmers in rural areas of German-speaking regions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the HOEFLEIN name can be found in the town records of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a historic city in Bavaria, Germany. In the year 1587, a certain Hans HOEFLEIN was listed as a resident of the town, indicating the name's presence in that region during the late 16th century.
The HOEFLEIN surname has also been associated with the town of Hofheim, located in the state of Hesse, Germany. This place name, which shares a similar root with the surname, could potentially hint at the name's geographic origins. However, it is important to note that surname derivations are often complex, and the connection between the name and the town may or may not be direct.
One notable figure in history who bore the HOEFLEIN surname was Johann HOEFLEIN, a German composer and organist born in 1683 in Nuremberg. Johann HOEFLEIN is known for his contributions to the Baroque music tradition, particularly his compositions for organ and other sacred works.
Another individual of historical significance was Gottfried HOEFLEIN, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1721 to 1801. Gottfried HOEFLEIN was a prominent figure in the Age of Enlightenment and is remembered for his writings on ethics, morality, and the relationship between religion and reason.
In the realm of literature, the name HOEFLEIN is associated with the German writer and poet, Helene HOEFLEIN (1848-1923). Born in Mannheim, Helene HOEFLEIN's works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earning her recognition as a notable figure in late 19th-century German literature.
The HOEFLEIN surname also has ties to the world of art, with one of its bearers being the German painter and printmaker, Wilhelm HOEFLEIN (1857-1932). Born in Nuremberg, Wilhelm HOEFLEIN was known for his landscapes and cityscapes, capturing the essence of his native Bavaria through his artistic works.
While the HOEFLEIN name has a rich history in Germany, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, records and references to the name in other countries are relatively scarce compared to its German roots, suggesting that the name has maintained a strong connection to its origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hoeflein
Among Census respondents with the surname Hoeflein, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.3%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Hoeflein bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hoeflein surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White83.9% · 99
- Hispanic or Latino9.3% · 11
- Two or more races4.2% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.7% · 2
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Hoeflein
Hoeflein appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#151,532
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
-10 bearers (-8.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 19,273 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+10 bearers (+9.3%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 8,021 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #132,259 | 118 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #151,532 | 108 | 0.04 | -10 bearers (-8.5%) | Down 19,273 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +10 bearers (+9.3%) | Up 8,021 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Hoeflein surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #151,532 | #143,511 | 5.3% |
| Count | 108 | 118 | 9.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Hoeflein bearers went from 108 to 118 (+9.3% change). The surname moved up 8,021 positions in the national ranking, going from #151,532 to #143,511.
FAQ
Hoeflein surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Hoeflein?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Hoeflein. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Hoeflein?
Hoeflein ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Hoeflein. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Hoeflein.
Has Hoeflein become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Hoeflein went from 108 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 10 (+9.3%). In the national ranking it rose from #151,532 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Hoeflein?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hoeflein, the largest self-reported group is White at 83.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (9.3%) and Two or More Races (4.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Hoeflein in the 2020 Census, accounting for 83.9% (99 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Hoeflein appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (83.9%), Hispanic (9.3%), Two or More Races (4.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Hoeflein (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Hoeflein mean?
A surname indicating a small agricultural landowner or farmer. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Hoeflein (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Hoeflein?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.