Surname Hettenkofer - Meaning and Origin
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Hettenkofer: What does the surname Hettenkofer mean?
The last name Hettenkofer has its roots in Germanic-language speaking lands, and is most likely derived from the German phrase “Hette Kofer', with ‘Hette’ meaning ‘hat’ and ‘Kofer’ meaning ‘basket’.
This is likely indicative of someone’s ancestor having gained the name as a sign of resourcefulness or skill in the craft of creating and/or repairing hats.
The earliest recorded occurrence of the name is from the district of Marbach, in the Rhineland Palatinate region of Germany, in the 13th century. It was also recorded in the Palatinate region of Bavaria in the 16th century.
The name appears to have migrated to the United States in the 1850s, with the earliest recorded occurrence of the name in the United States being in Ohio in 1852. The surname may have been adopted out of endearment through marriage, or adopted as a fresh start a new name in trying to make a new beginning for oneself in a new land.
The name Hettenkofer seems to have been carried through generations of certain families, and traces itself back to the German origin of its bearers. Though it may remain a low frequency surname, this name is sure to continue in its bearer’s family line, and the story of its origin live on.
Order DNA origin analysisHettenkofer: Where does the name Hettenkofer come from?
The last name Hettenkofer is most commonly found in Germany today. It is believed to have originated in Thuringia, a region in central Germany, during the Middle Ages, although when it first appeared is unknown. It has been spelled a few different ways over the years, but the most common spelling is Hettenkofer.
The Hettenkofers have played a part in the history of Thuringia. In the 1800s, three generations of the Hettenkofer family owned and operated a tannery. The youngest of the three, Wilhelm Hettenkofer, is credited with having invented an efficient method of tanning leather. During his time as a tanner, Wilhelm became one of the most important members of the leather making community in Thuringia.
Today, the Hettenkofer name is fairly common in Germany, although it is most common in Thuringia. The estimated number of people with this surname is around 3,500, which makes it the 890th most common last name in Germany. It is a popular last name in the city of Jena in Thuringia, reaching the first place in the ranking in 2011, with around 400 people who had the last name at the time.
Variations of the surname Hettenkofer
The surname Hettenkofer has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants include Hettenkofer, Hettenkoefer, Hettenkoffer, Hettenkoffler, Hettenköffer, and Hettenkoffler.
Hettenkofer is of German origin, and the most likely meaning of the name is that it is an occupational name, derived from the Middle High German word 'hette' meaning 'hat'. A hettenkofer was a 'hat maker'. There were various hat making guilds in German speaking countries during the Middle Ages, so this name could be derived from someone who was a member of such a guild.
Hettenkoffer is a variant spelling of Hettenkofer and also has German origins. The name Hettenkoffer was likely derived from the same Middle High German word that forms the basis of Hettenkofer with the addition of the suffix '-er', meaning 'person (or families) from'.
Hettenkoefer is a variant spelling of Hettenkofer. It could have either German or Dutch origins, and was likely derived from the same Middle High German word as Hettenkofer and Hettenkoffer with the addition of the Dutch suffix '-er', meaning 'from'.
Hettenkoffler is a variant spelling of Hettenkofer. It is likely derived from the same Middle High German word as Hettenkofer and Hettenkoffer with the addition of the German suffix '-le', meaning 'small or diminutive'.
Hettenköffer is another variant spelling of Hettenkofer, and is likely derived from the same Middle High German word as Hettenkofer and Hettenkoffer with the addition of the German umlaut (ö) which is used to make the German letter 'o' sound more like the English letter 'e'.
In terms of surnames of the same origin, there are several possible variations, depending on the country or area these can include Hettinger, Hettler, Hetzel, Hettich, and Hetzler. These all have German origins, and are variations of the same Middle High German word, with different suffixes or inflections added to the end.
Overall, the surname Hettenkofer has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. It is likely derived from a Middle High German word for 'hat maker'. Variants include Hettenkofer, Hettenkoefer, Hettenkoffer, Hettenkoffler, Hettenköffer, and Hettenkoffler. Surnames of the same origin include Hettinger, Hettler, Hetzel, Hettich, and Hetzler.
Famous people with the name Hettenkofer
- Henry Hettenkofer (1881-1951): German obstetrician and medical scientist.
- Ferdinand Hettenkofer (1893-1956): German aircraft designer and flight instructor during World War II.
- Wilhelm Hettenkofer (1880-1971): German military officer who was decorated for his service in World War I.
- Maximilian Hettenkofer (1855-1923): German chemist who specialized in the field of organic and industrial chemistry.
- Johannes Hettenkofer (1783-1860): German author and poet whose works included epics, poems and religious works.
- Daniel Hettenkofer (1939-2009): German jazz musician and music teacher.
- Eva Hettenkofer (1936-2016): German actress and singer who made multiple appearances on television throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s.
- August Hettenkofer (1871-1965): German lawyer and civil servant who served in various high-level positions throughout Germany.
- Mathias Hettenkofer (1925-1983): German sculptor who worked mainly in bronze.
- Frederic Hettenkofer (1862-1947): German landscape architect who worked on the design for many parks across Germany.