Surname Hockstetler - Meaning and Origin

Hockstetler: What does the surname Hockstetler mean?

The last name Hockstetler is of German origin, derived from the old German ‘Hock’ meaning ‘bottom’ or ‘hollow’ and ‘stetler’ meaning ‘stool’. This CREATIVE name could refer to a narrow valley or hollow below a mountain surrounded by a stool placed around the area. This patronymic was probably taken from a geographic or topographic feature found near the home of the original bearer of the name. It is likely that the family originated in the mountainous region of central Germany, with roots near the city of Erfurt.

In the UK, the name Hockstetler has been recorded in the country since at least 1619, when a William Hockstettler was mentioned in the Lancashire Parish Register. The name has also been found in other records in the US, including the early 1830s, when a Hockstetler family immigrated from Germany to Ohio.

It is thought that the original family were farmers and rural workers who settled down in these particular areas, and through the generations key holders of the name “Hockstetter” produced many cultures and subcultures, maintaining its own distinct set of customs and traditions.

The name is a reminder of the family's past and is typically found in rural and mountain regions of the US, with the majority of the Hockstetler’s found in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and a few other states. The name is also found in several other countries, including Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Russia, and even into Central and South America.

Hockstetler: Where does the name Hockstetler come from?

The last name Hockstetler is common today mainly in the United States, particularly in the south and midwest regions. The surname is most prevalent in Pennsylvania, where it is the 213th most common surname. It is also fairly common in Ohio and Indiana.

The name has German roots, derived from the town Hockstedt in Lower Saxony. It was probably brought to the US by German immigrants in the late 18th and 19th centuries, but only became more widespread in the 20th century, as more German families settled in the American Midwest.

The name appears most commonly as Hockstetler or Hochstetler, but also as Hoch,[stet]ler and Hochstatter, with the different spellings likely deriving from the various dialects spoken by immigrants in Germany.

The name is also shared by a number of prominent people, including professional rodeo riders and members of the Swiss-Amish church, a conservative Anabaptist denomination.

Today, the most common Hockstetlers in the US are found in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas, with other small concentrations in other southern states.

Variations of the surname Hockstetler

The surname Hockstetler is derived from either the Middle High German word “hohstetel” meaning a “crying out”, or from the Middle Dutch word “hochstetel”, meaning “high spot” or “high point”. Variants of this surname include Hochstetler, Hochsteiner, Hochstein, Hochstatter, Hohstetter, Hocksteller, Hockingsteiller, and Hockingsteler. It can also sometimes be seen spelled as Hocstetler.

The surname can also be found in multiple forms, depending on the country of origin. In Germany, the surname is more commonly spelled as Hochstetler, while in the Netherlands it is spelled as Hochsteiner. In Switzerland, they spell the word as Hochstatter, and in the French region of Alsace, it is spelled as Hohstetter.

In the United States, the surname is sometimes found spelled as Hochstetlet, a variation created by those with a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. It is also seen as Hockstutler, reflecting the anglicization of the name due to their immersion in Native American languages.

Since its German origin, many surnames that are derivatives of Hockstetler are widely used today. Some of these include Hochstetler, Hochstetter, Hohstetter, Hochsteiller, Hochstatter, and Hocksteller. It is important to note that all of these variations—regardless of the spelling—are seen under one umbrella as they all originate from the same name.

Famous people with the name Hockstetler

• Tex Hockstetler, former head coach of the Towson University football team.
• Ariel Hockstetler, former professional volleyball player.
• Martha Hockstetler, protagonist of the novel Copper Country Candy by Eric Lowery.
• Bryan Hockstetler, award-winning artist.
• Rebekah Hockstetler, Olympian in Rowing.
• Jake Hockstetler, professional golfer.
• Abigail Hockstetler, professional figure skater.
• Rick Hockstetler, noted wildlife photographer and guide.
• Cap Hockstetler, resident of Sedro-Woolley, Washington and renowned duct tape artist.
• Michael Hockstetler, NFL quarterback with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Other surnames

Hockstetter