Surname Timmerhoff - Meaning and Origin
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Timmerhoff: What does the surname Timmerhoff mean?
The last name Timmerhoff is of Germanic origin. It is derived from the personal name "Timmer", which itself is derived from the Old High German words for "timber" and "heap". The latter in this case would likely have referred to a large storage facility for wood supply. As a surname, Timmerhoff then would originally have indicated that the person who bore it worked as an overseer of wood production or supply.
Over the centuries, the name has come to be an alternative spelling of a variety of more common surnames such as Damme, Dietmeier, Dohm, Timm, Tolm, Tom, and Tomme. It also has no fewer than six potential coat of arms that are associated with it, one more uncommon than the other. The most common of these is a shield divided between two sides in black and silver, with a green pine tree growing at the top and an odd-looking bow at the bottom.
At present, people bearing the Timmerhoff name can be found primarily in Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Occupations associated with the name today range from farming and ranching to carpentry and professional services. The name has an air of rugged strength and reliability; it bears on its bearer an expectation of hard work, loyalty, and trust.
Order DNA origin analysisTimmerhoff: Where does the name Timmerhoff come from?
Timmerhoff is a surname that can be found mostly in Germany and the Netherlands today. It is particularly prevalent among German-speaking populations in Germany, Austria, and some regions of Switzerland. The United States also hosts a fair population of Timmerhoffs, particularly in the midwestern and Great Lakes states. Smaller population pockets of the surname can also be found in the Czech Republic, Poland, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Timmerhoff is a habitational name derived from towns in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. A couple of the places named Timmerhoff are located on the Dutch-German border, in the modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia area. Since the 16th century, the surname has been found most commonly in these border areas, as well as the surrounding regions.
Analysis of government records indicates that the the most common form of the surname in Germany in the early 20th century was Timmerhoff, and in the Netherlands, it was Timmerhoffen. Therefore, while the name may have started differently in other countries, the standard form became Timmerhoff as it spread throughout the German-speaking world and beyond.
Although the name is not particularly common, it is to be found today in many countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Timmerhoff
The most common variants of the surname Timmerhoff are Temerhof, Temerhofe, Timerhof, Timerhofe, Timmerhom, Timmerhohm, and Timmerhohme. These spellings may vary slightly and are all used interchangeably.
The spelling of the surname may have changed over the course of time due to language influences and regional customs. It is possible to find spellings of the surname which have been adapted with the changing language. Additional surnames derived from Timmerhoff include Timmerhomes, Timmerhoffs, and Timmerhofs. It is also possible to find regional variations such as Timmerhoef in the Netherlends and Timmerhofen in Germany.
The meaning of the surname seems to suggest an individual who lived in or operated a mill. In German, the word Timmer refers to a carpenter or miller and Hoff is derived from Hof which means a manor or house.
Overall, Timmerhoff and variants form part of a large group of surnames that indicate an individual who either worked in or owned a mill. Later generations may find slight variations of this surname associated with their ancestral roots with the spelling adapted according to language preferences or even as a result of regional custom.
Famous people with the name Timmerhoff
- Pete Timmerhoff: NFL footballer and Defensive End for the Houston Texans
- Emil Timmerhoff: German motorsport driver of the 1950s
- Chris Timmerhoff: Dutch athlete who represented the Netherlands at the 2012 Summer Olympics in athletics
- Harold Timmerhoff: American Cinematographer
- Chris Timmer: Dutch musician and record producer
- John Timmerhoff: American member of the Minnesota constitutional convention
- Harry Timmerhoff: German adventurer, author and television presenter
- Georgia Lee Timmerhoff: American author and actress
- Lennart Timmerhoff: Dutch football player
- Gaby Timmerhoff: German sculptor and ceramist