Surname Höfgen - Meaning and Origin
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Höfgen: What does the surname Höfgen mean?
The last name Höfgen is derived from German. Höfgen is a toponymic last name, meaning that it originates from a place-name. Specifically, the place from which the surname likely derives its origin is Hofgen, a small village located in the German state of Thuringia, near Leipzig and Erfurt.
The meaning of the name of the village from which the name Höfgen originates is fairly straightforward. "Hof" is the German word for court or yard and "gen" denotes a slope or gentle ascent. That means the name Hofgen literally translates to "court on the hill."
Historically, the name Höfgen was used to denote someone who originated from the small village of the same name—likely by surname-bearing residents who had moved on to other locations. The village of Hofgen is more than likely very old, potentially dating back to the Middle Ages, so it stands to reason that the surname of Höfgen existed during that same time period.
Today, the surname Höfgen is not particularly common in Germany, but it is still used by many descendants of those who originated from the village of Hofgen. It is unknown how widely the name has spread outside of Germany, as it is not particularly common even there.
Order DNA origin analysisHöfgen: Where does the name Höfgen come from?
The last name Höfgen is commonly found in areas of Germany, Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in countries of Central and Eastern Europe such as the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, and Slovakia. According to the 2019 records, Germany is home to the most number of Höfgen surname holders with 1,641 individuals sharing the family name. The Netherlands follows suit with 864 Höfgen individuals, Austria with 657 people and Switzerland with 545 people.
The origin of the Höfgen name can be traced back to Germany’s medieval times when it was used as a toponymic surname, which identified an individual by their residence or place of origin. Höfgen is a combination of ‘Hof’ (meaning ‘estate”) and ‘gen’ (meaning “bear”). Therefore, the name originally denoted someone who lived or worked on a particular estate within a region.
The name Höfgen is not strongly associated to one specific region in Germany as it can be found in many parts of the country. It is, however, mostly concentrated in the Talberstadt area of Thuringia. In many instances, individuals that carry this name may be related to each other, but not always. As a result of the Höfgen family's spread across various cultures and countries, a variety of spellings of the name is observed. This ranges from Hofgen, Hofgan, and Höfgan, to Hofgang.
Today, Höfgen is a relatively common last name in Europe, especially in Germany. Its prevalence in Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia serves to illustrate the family's expansive influence and solid presence of its descendents over the years.
Variations of the surname Höfgen
The surname Höfgen is of German origin and is derived from the German word "Hof" meaning "court". There are several variants of this surname including Hoeffgen, Hoffgen, Hoefgen, Hofigen, Hofke, Hoefke, Hoffke, Hoffkens and Hoffers.
Höfgen is most commonly found in Germany and in other parts of Europe, including Austria, Holland, and the Czech Republic. The variations in spelling of the surname can occur as a result of changes in spelling conventions over time or due to regional influencers which could have caused a mutation of the original spelling.
In the United States, the most common variations of the name are Hoffgen, Hoffke, and Hoefgen. Others include Hofke, Hofken, Hoefken, and Hoffkens. These variations are likely a result of immigrants who changed their name for ease of pronunciation or to avoid anti-German sentiment follwing World War I.
The surnames Hofgen, Hoffgen, Hoefgen, Hofigen, Hofke, Hoefke, Hoffke, Hofkens and Hoffers all carry the same origin and therefore can be considered as spellings and variants of the same surname.
Famous people with the name Höfgen
- Marie Luise Höfgen: German actress and dramaturge.
- Peter Höfgen: German singer and songwriter.
- Uwe Höfgen: German firefighter involved in rescue operations during the collapse of the World Trade Center.
- Klaus Höfgen: German actor best known for his roles in films like 'Life is All You Get'.
- Wilhelm Höfgen: German author and poet.
- Fritz Höfgen: German politician who served as a member of the Bundestag for the Free Democratic Party.
- Hans Höfgen: German actor who is best known for his comedic roles.
- Verena Höfgen: German politician and member of the European Parliament, representing the Social Democratic Party.
- Rupert Höfgen: German playwright and theatre director.
- Friedrich Höfgen: German composer known for his operas.