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

Nordhoff, 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 Nordhoff surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nordhoff in America

Nordhoff is the 45959th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nordhoff surname appeared 464 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Nordhoff.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nordhoff 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 Nordhoff

The surname Nordhoff is of German origin, originating in the northern regions of the country. It is derived from the Old German words "nord" meaning north and "hof" meaning court or estate, suggesting a connection to a northern estate or manor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nordhoff name can be found in the Codex Traditionum Westfalicarum, a medieval manuscript from the 9th century, which documents land transfers and property ownership in the region of Westphalia. This suggests the name's roots can be traced back to this area during the Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the city records of Lübeck, a prominent trading hub in northern Germany. A merchant named Johann Nordhoff is mentioned as a member of the city's guild of traders, indicating the family's involvement in commerce during this period.

The Nordhoff name also has historical ties to the town of Meldorf, located in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. In the 16th century, a family by the name of Nordhoff held a prominent position in the town's governance and is documented in local records from that time.

One notable individual bearing the Nordhoff surname was Martin Nordhoff (1853-1926), a German-American businessman who served as the president of the Packard Motor Car Company from 1916 to 1923. He played a significant role in the company's growth and success during his tenure.

Another prominent figure was Charles Nordhoff (1887-1947), an American novelist and travel writer. He is best known for his works on the South Pacific, including the novel "Mutiny on the Bounty" and the non-fiction book "The Bounty Trilogy," which chronicled the famous mutiny and the settlement on Pitcairn Island.

In the field of academia, Walter Nordhoff (1904-1981) was a German-American scholar and professor of German literature at Duke University. He made significant contributions to the study of German language and literature throughout his career.

The Nordhoff name can also be found in the historical records of the Netherlands, where it is believed to have been introduced by German immigrants. One notable Dutch figure was Martin Nordhoff (1624-1683), a Protestant minister and theologian who played a significant role in the religious debates of his time.

Throughout history, the Nordhoff surname has been associated with various professions and walks of life, from merchants and businessmen to scholars and religious figures, reflecting the diverse experiences and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nordhoff

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

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

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

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