Surname Hofelich - Meaning and Origin
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Hofelich: What does the surname Hofelich mean?
Hofelich is an German surname, originating from the area of what is now Germany and Austria. The word Hofelich itself is derived from the German words “Hof”, meaning yard, and “elich”, likely referring to an unknown person's first name. Therefore, Hofelich translates to “belonging to the yard”.
This indicates that the family members were likely servants of a noble family, as it was not uncommon for noble households to have their servants living with them in the family’s residence. Even today, Hofelich descendants are found primarily in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, where historically, most of the nobles and their households resided.
In America, the name is oftentimes misspelled or changed due to language barriers. However, the more common of those spellings is Hufleisch. Finally, Hofelich is a unique surname, as there are currently fewer than 500 individuals with the last name, showing that it is a rare but meaningful surname.
Order DNA origin analysisHofelich: Where does the name Hofelich come from?
The last name Hofelich is believed to have originated in southwestern Germany, likely in the historic region of Baden-Württemberg. The name is still common there, particularly in and around the city of Stuttgart, the capital of the Baden-Württemberg region.
During the 19th to 20th centuries, the name spread to other parts of Germany. It is now found in Bavaria, Saxony, and various other German states. It is also spread throughout the former German territories, such as East and West Prussia, Posen, Silesia, and other locations that were part of what was formerly East Germany.
In the United States, the name can be found across the country, though it is most frequently found in the Midwest. Particularly in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. It is estimated that there are 4,000 to 8,000 Hofelichs currently living in the United States.
The name is also found in other parts of Europe, such as Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark and the United Kingdom. The name is also found in other parts of the world, such as Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Brazil.
Overall, the name Hofelich is still quite common today, with thousands of individuals bearing the Hofelich last name in various countries throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Hofelich
The surname Hofelich has several variations, spellings, and surnames of similar origin.
The most common variations of the surname are Hoflich, Hofflich, Hoffelich, Hofferlich, and Hoefflich. These are German surnames that come from the Middle High German word hofalich, which means “courtly” or “noble” in English.
The surname has also been spelled Hoffele, Hofeler, Hofele, Hofeler, Hofle, Hopfeler, Hofell, and Hofeller.
Surnames of similar origin include Haflich, Hafelich, Haefelich, Haefele, Häfelich, Haeflich, Hefelich, Heffelich, Heefele, and Hefller. These names come from the Middle High German word hafelich, which has the same meaning as hofalich described above.
Hofeld, Hofele, and Hofelen are also variants of the surname, derived from the Middle High German word hofhold, which means “gentleman” or “nobleman”.
In conclusion, the surname Hofelich has numerous variants, spellings, and surnames of similar origin. These include Hoflich, Hofflich, Hoffelich, Hofferlich, and Hoefflich, as well as Haflich, Hafelich, Haefelich, Haefele, Häfelich, Haeflich, Hefelich, Heffelich, Heefele, and Hefller, Hofeld, Hofele, and Hofelen.
Famous people with the name Hofelich
- Louis Hofelich: American opera singer who performed in numerous Broadway productions and was a recipient of a 1992 Tony Award.
- Frank Hofelich: American politician who served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1966-1972.
- Mario Hofelich: German storyteller, playwright, and actor, best known for his work in the German television series “Wir in Bayern”
- Harald Hofelich: German classical pianist and composer, who was the music director of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra from 2003 to 2008.
- Magda Hofelich: German film actress, who starred in the films “The Best Man” and “The Great Escape”.
- Ernst Hofelich: Austrian alpine skier, who competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway.
- Gertrud Hofelich: Austrian opera singer, who performed with the Vienna State Opera during the 1940s and 1950s.
- Raphael Hofelich: German contemporary figurative painter, who creates surreal scenes combining dream and reality.
- Hans-Peter Hofelich: German author, historian, and professor emeritus, known for his writing and studies on politics and education systems.
- Georg Hofelich: Austrian zoologist and professor at the University of Vienna, known for writing numerous scientific articles about the diversity of animal life.