Find out how popular the last name Hoffer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Hoffer.

Hoffer, 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 Hoffer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Hoffer in America

Hoffer is the 5796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hoffer surname appeared 5,969 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Hoffer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Hoffer to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Hoffer

The surname Hoffer is of German origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the German word "Hof", which means "courtyard" or "farmstead". This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived or worked on a farm or courtyard.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Hoffer can be found in various German historical documents and records from the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, the name appears in the church records of the town of Rottweil in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the year 1587.

In the 17th century, the Hoffer name was also found in the records of the town of Bühl, located in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the name include Johann Hoffer, born in Bühl in 1632, and Hans Hoffer, born in the same town in 1649.

As the name spread across different regions of Germany, variations in spelling emerged, such as Hofer, Hoffer, and Höffer. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the conventions of record-keeping at the time.

One notable figure with the Hoffer surname was Johann Baptist Hoffer, a German Catholic priest and theologian who lived from 1611 to 1683. He was born in the town of Horb am Neckar in Baden-Württemberg and became a prominent figure in the Catholic Church during the 17th century.

Another historical figure with the Hoffer name was Johann Hoffer, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1668 to 1720. He was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, and is known for his portraits and religious paintings.

In the 19th century, the Hoffer name also appeared in the records of the town of Pforzheim, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg. One notable individual from this period was Carl Hoffer, a German industrialist and inventor who lived from 1828 to 1899. He is credited with developing the process of galvanizing iron and steel, which greatly improved their resistance to corrosion.

The Hoffer surname also spread beyond Germany, with some bearers emigrating to other parts of Europe and even to the Americas. For example, in the late 19th century, a family with the surname Hoffer settled in the United States, establishing themselves in the state of Pennsylvania.

Throughout its history, the surname Hoffer has been associated with various occupations and professions, including farming, religious vocations, artistry, and industry. While its origins can be traced back to Germany, the name has since become more widespread, with bearers of the name found in various parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hoffer

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Hoffer.

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:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hoffer was:

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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Hoffer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

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 Hoffer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hoffer, please contact us.

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