Surname Hofmeister - Meaning and Origin
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Unraveling the Legacy of Hofmeister: A DNA Analysis Journey with iGENEA
An incredible journey with iGENEA's DNA analysis unravelled the deep German roots of my family name, Hofmeister. This genealogical exploration unveiled the historical significance of my surname, its ties with medieval occupational titles, and the cultural context that shaped its narrative. The revelations deepened my understanding of my heritage, connecting me to a lineage that has been centuries in the making.
F. Hofmeister
read moreHofmeister: What does the surname Hofmeister mean?
The last name Hofmeister is derived from a German occupational surname that literally translates to "Court Master". This designation was likely given to a servant or official of a royal court prior to the mid-19th century.
The court master was responsible for managing the accounts and estates of those employed by the king or ruler. They were essentially the king's financial manager and responsible for collecting taxes, ensuring proper money circulation, and maintaining royal records.
The Hofmeister name is derived from either hof (short for hofmeister) or hofmeisterin, meaning "page" or "steward". This position was also charged with running the day-to-day operations of the court, such as organising the court staff, ensuring the court was well supplied with food and drink, and seeing to the care of any royal horses.
Today, the surname Hofmeister is not as commonly found as it was centuries ago. However, the legacy of this surname lives on in people bearing it, most likely still carrying the same kind of traits that allowed them to be successful court masters. These include organisational skills, financial savvy, and a sense of obligation to those in power.
Order DNA origin analysisHofmeister: Where does the name Hofmeister come from?
The last name Hofmeister is a popular surname in many countries throughout the world. It is most prominently found in Germany, where it was first recorded in the 13th century. According to the FamilySearch database, Hofmeister is the 83rd most common name in Germany. It is also common in the United States, ranking 778th in 2016, and the Czech Republic, where it is the 41st most popular name.
In the United States, Hofmeister is most commonly found in Texas, where the name is the 304th most popular surname. The name is also common in cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Omaha and Detroit.It is also found in other countries in Europe such as Austria, Switzerland, and Poland. In Canada, the surname is the 1,137th most common name and is primarily found in the province of Ontario.
Hofmeister is also a fairly common name in South America, most notably in Brazil, where it is the 655th most popular surname. It is especially prevalent in the state of Minas Gerais, where nearly eight out of every 10,000 people are named Hofmeister. It is less common in other countries in South America such as Argentina and Uruguay, though it is still found there as well.
Overall, the surname Hofmeister can be found in many countries around the world including Germany, the USA, Canada, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
Variations of the surname Hofmeister
The surname Hofmeister is believed to be of Germanic origin: “hof” meaning court or manor and “meister” meaning master. This name would have referred to someone who held a position of authority as an overseer of a court or manor.
Variants of the surname Hofmeister include Hofmiester, Hofmeijer, Hofemeyer, Hofmeyster, Hofmayer, Hofmeier, Hofmaister and Hofmaister. Alternate spellings of the surname include Hofmister, Hofmeyer, Hefmeyer, Hofmüller, Hofschneider, Hofmästerer and of course Hofmeister.
Other surnames of the same origin may include Hofmann, Hofberger, Hofbauer, Hofbacher, Hoffer, Hoffner and Hofbauer. There are also several Dutch spellings of the name, including Hofmaister, Hofmeijer, Hofmeyer and Hofmester.
The surname is common throughout Germany and the German-speaking regions of Europe and is also widely found in the United States, Canada and other countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Hofmeister
- Conway Hofmeister, American entomologist.
- Joe Hofmeister, former CEO of We Energies.
- Luis Augusto Hofmeister, Argentine Minister of Defense.
- Michael Hofmeister, German businessman and former CEO of Mercedes-Benz.
- Jörg Hofmeister, German entrepreneur and environmental activist.
- Richard Hofmeister, American astronomer.
- August Heinrich Hoffmeister, German composer and conductor.
- Christian Hoffmeister, German historian and theologian.
- Fritz Hofmeister, German lawyer and former mayor of Berlin.
- Paul Hofmeister, Austrian alpinist and radio producer.
- Friedhelm Hofmeister, German theater producer and director.
- Jutta Hoffmeister, German designer and furniture designer.
- Carl Hoffmeister, German painter and draughtsman.
- Carl Jung Reichardt Hoffman, German operatic bass-baritone.
- Peter Hofmeister, the modernist German Jewish architect and designer.
- Christoph Hofmeister, German physicist and entrepreneur.
- Robert Hoffmeister, American professional poker player.