Surname von Hoff - Meaning and Origin
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von Hoff: What does the surname von Hoff mean?
The last name von Hoff is an old high German name with an origin of two words: fon, which roughly translates to “of”, and Hoff, which translates to “hope”. It is originally thought to have been held by those of noble birth or position, as it alludes to the notion of being “of hope”— either as hoping for some kind of success or being a source of hope for others.
The last name is believed to be derived from such words as Hoffnung, meaning “hope”; Hoffens, meaning “hoping, looking forward to something”; or Hoffndor, which originally meant “daring” but came to symbolize “being of high hopes”. Historically, the surname had several variant spellings including v. Hoffen, van Hoff, von Hoff and van Hoffen.
The last name is common in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, and areas with large populations of German-speaking people. Today it is used by Germans around the world regardless of their social class.
The name von Hoff symbolizes an enduring, timeless sense of hope and courage. It is a mark of honor, of nobility, and of ambition. It may remind its wearers of the importance of being ambitious, of striving for success or just being someone who brings hope to others.
Order DNA origin analysisvon Hoff: Where does the name von Hoff come from?
The last name von Hoff is most commonly found in Germany and Austria today. It is an old and noble German family name that originated in the Middle Ages with the Hanseatic cities of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen.
The earliest known record of the von Hoff family was from a knight in 1238 by the name of Otto von Hoff. The von Hoffs were a noble family of German knights who served the Imperial court in Heidelberg in the 13th-century. Over the centuries, they expanded their holdings and became influential throughout the region.
The von Hoffs were a prominent family in the European nobility of the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in Prussia, where members of the family held important positions in the state.
The von Hoff family name is still popular in Germany today. While some members may have emigrated to other countries, their legacy lives on through the many people who still bear their name in Germany. The prominent von Hoffs of the past have been memorialized in plaque equestrian statues, a museum, and the naming of a street in Hamburg after one particular member of the family.
Variations of the surname von Hoff
Von Hoff is a German surname derived from the Middle High German word “Hoff”, which means “court” or “manor”. This surname is commonly found in Germany and other parts of Central and Eastern European countries.
Variants of the name von Hoff include von Hof, von Hofe, von Hoffmann, von Hoffe, von Hoffer, Hoff, Hofer, Hoffmann, Hoffer, Hoffe and Hofe.
The German spelling of the name is Höff.
The surname von Hoff can also be found with a variety of last name spellings in other countries. For example, in the Netherlands the name is spelled as van Hoff, in France it may be spelled as de Hoff, and in Hungary it is often spelled as Hofff.
In Germany and Austria, the surname von Hoff is usually followed by the traditional patronymic -s or -sen for sons and -datter or -dottir for daughters.
Von Hoff is a patronymic surname, meaning that it is passed down from the father. Variations on the name may occur depending on the dialect of the person using it. For example, the surname may appear as von Hoffen, von Hoffmann, von Hoffs or von Hoffers in some regions.
The surname von Hoff is also found in many English-speaking countries due to immigration and settlement from Central and Eastern European countries. Variations on the name in English-speaking countries may include Hoff, Hoffs, Hoffman, Hoffmann, Hoffman, Hoffer, Hoffe, Hofe, Hofer, or Hof.
Famous people with the name von Hoff
- Friedrich von Hoff (1798-1868), was a Prussian officer who served in several wars and rose to the rank of General Field Marshal.
- Johann Adolf von Hoff (1759–1822), German politician and publicist who served as a member of the Prussian National Assembly and the Prussian Diet.
- Baron Adolf Franz Wilhelm von Hoff (1780–1848), Prussian general who was wounded during the Battle of Waterloo.
- Count Charles Josef von Hoff (1792–1873), Austrian general and statesman, who served as Minister of War and Finance.
- Prince Alexander von Hoff (1793–1842), was an Austrian general who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.
- Baron Carl von Hoff (1797–1871), was a Prussian minister, politician and diplomat.
- Baron Max von Hoff (1828–1906), Prussian General and Iron Cross recipient.
- Baron Franz von Hoff (1845-1935), was a Prussian cavalry officer, diplomat and recipient of the Iron Cross.
- Baroness Helene von Hof (1831–1902), was a Prussian aristocrat, philanthropist and art collector.
- Count Konrad von Hoff (1899–1970), was a German diplomat and politician in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.