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

Hofflander, 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 Hofflander surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Hofflander in America

Hofflander is the 150436th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Hofflander surname appeared 100 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 Hofflander.

The history of the last name Hofflander

The surname Hofflander has its origins in Germany, dating back to the medieval period. This surname is composed of two parts: "Hoff" and "Lander." The term "Hoff" or "Hof" in German stands for a courtyard or farmstead, often associated with a place of significant agricultural activity. "Lander" derives from the Middle High German word "lant," which means land. Thus, the name Hofflander could be interpreted as "one who is from the farmstead" or "a person of the land."

Historically, the name Hofflander would have been used to denote individuals who owned or worked on farms, particularly in rural German regions. It is likely that the name originated in small villages or agricultural hubs where such occupations were common. The spread of the surname would have correlated with migration patterns of the time, particularly movements within German-speaking areas.

The earliest documented instances of the surname Hofflander are found in various German legal and property documents from the 14th and 15th centuries. One significant record is the 1425 Land Registry of Hesse, where a Hans Hofflander is mentioned as a notable landowner. This early reference indicates that the name was already established by this period, further emphasizing its rural and agrarian roots.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as Europe underwent significant social and political changes, the Hofflander name continued to appear in public records. Notably, in a 1563 church registry from Bavaria, a Wilhelm Hofflander is recorded as having donated land to the local church. His contribution highlights the continued prominence of the Hofflander family within rural communities.

In the 18th century, the name Hofflander is found in immigration records as German families moved to other parts of Europe and even the Americas. One notable emigrant was Johann Friedrich Hofflander, born in 1721 and known to have settled in Pennsylvania in 1753. His journey is documented in the Ship Lists of Philadelphia, underlining the diaspora of German names during that era.

The 19th century also saw notable figures with the Hofflander surname. Karl Hofflander, a prominent figure in Bavarian agricultural reform, was born in 1809 and contributed significantly to modern farming methods until his death in 1883. His work is still referenced in historical treatises on agronomy and rural development.

By the early 20th century, the Hofflander name gained international recognition due to the accomplishments of Max Hofflander, born in 1887, who was a respected engineer in Berlin before fleeing to the United States during World War II. His innovations in mechanical engineering are celebrated in early 20th-century industrial journals.

Throughout history, the surname Hofflander has maintained strong connections to its Germanic agricultural roots, while also adapting and spreading across the world through various migrations and occupations. The name serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of rural livelihoods and their impact on societal development.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Hofflander

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Hofflander 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.

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

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

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