Surname Höfle - Meaning and Origin

Höfle: What does the surname Höfle mean?

The last name Höfle is a German surname, likely originating from an area known as Höfe. The origins of this name can be traced back to Germany's Middle Ages era, when many noble families used to live in the large farmsteads in the Bavarian area of Höfle. The concept of having such a large estate was also referred to as Hof, and hence this gave rise to the surname ‘Höfle’.

The Höfle surname has multiple meanings, depending on how it is written. ‘Höfle’ is associated with a large estate run by nobility, while ‘Hofle’ is linked with a light and spacious living space.

The Höfle surname is still fairly common amongst people in German-speaking regions today. It is often written with a ‘ö’, and occasionally with a ‘oe’.

In many cases, when a family with this surname moves away from the area of Höfle, its members may change the spelling of their surname to avoid confusion. For example, those moving to the United States might spell it ‘Hoefle’ or ‘Hoeffle’, while those going to England might choose ‘Hoathly’ or ‘Hofley’.

Overall, the last name Höfle has some interesting roots in German culture, and it has been spread around the world as many families have moved away from their homeland. Today, the name is still very recognized, as a sign of nobility and distinction.

Höfle: Where does the name Höfle come from?

The surname Höfle is found today primarily in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and surrounding countries. The surname dates back to the late Middle Ages, which saw the first record of the name in 1237. The Höfle's were originally a noble family living in modern day Bavaria and Austria. The family later branched out throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Today, the most common Höfle families are found in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria. According to Germany Census results, the highest percentage of those sharing the Höfle surname live in the city of Unterschleißheim in Bavaria, where the noble family first took residence in the 12th century.

In addition to these regions, the Höfle surname is found across Europe and Scandinavia, as well as in the US, Canada, and some parts of Mexico. In the US, the highest concentrations of Höfle's are in California and Minnesota, but the surname is prevalent across the nation.

The Höfle family has been part of the European landscape for several centuries and continues to remain a prominent surname in Europe and across the Americas. It's likely that we'll find the Höfle surname thriving for many more generations to come.

Variations of the surname Höfle

The surname Höfle is the German version of the English name Huffle. The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Hofel, Hoefele, Höfel, Höfling, Höflich, Hofmeier, Hauffle, Haffle, Haffeld, Haffley, Haffeler, Hafelle, Haffeler, Hafler, Haufler, Hoefler, Höfler, Hoefl, Höfl, Hoffer, Hoffmann, and Hoffmeister.

The surnames Höfle and Huffle are both derived from the Middle High German word “hupfel”, meaning a puff. The suffix of this word “-le” or “el” was added to create a descriptive nickname and eventually a family’s surname.

The suffix of “-le” or “el” is often found in Central and North German dialects. It is also found in some Low German dialects, where it is pronounced as “-el”. It is believed that this suffix was added to the Höfle surname when it moved from Bavaria to other parts of Central and North Germany between the 12th and 18th centuries.

The various spellings of the surname can also be attributed to different laws regarding name changes, as well as attempts by some immigrants to change their name to better fit the culture of their new home. With the addition of other suffixes such a “-meier”, “-mann”, and “-meister” the family name could also become Hofmeier, Hoffmann, and Hoffmeister.

Overall, the surname Höfle, as well as its variants, spellings, and surname of the same origin, are derived from the Middle High German word “hupfel”, meaning a puff, as seen in the suffix of “-le” or “el”, and can be used to trace the family’s origins back to Bavaria during the 12th to 18th centuries.

Famous people with the name Höfle

• Martin Höfle: Martin Höfle is a German business manager and executive, most notably the former CEO of GMT Communications Partners, a European private equity firm.
• Günther Höfle: Günther Höfle was a Nazi SS commando famed for playing a major role in the "Einsatz Reinhard Death Squads" at the Belzec extermination camp in 1941 and 1942, and his involvement in the mass murder of over 1,000,000 Jews.
• Bernhard Höfle: Bernhard Höfle was a Nazi SS Obersturmbannführer who was responsible for the deportation of dozens of thousands of Jews to the concentration and death camps of World War II.
• Marietta Höfle: Marietta Höfle was an Austrian diva, opera singer and soprano in Vienna during the 19th century.
• Mark Höfle: Mark Höfle was a German professional footballer, who played at defender for FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga.
• Rudolf Höfle: Rudolf Höfle was an Austrian writer, primarily known for his poetic works in the early 20th century.
• Anton Höfle: Anton Höfle was an Austrian Olympic skier and regional ski trainer in the 1920s.
• Marcel Höfle: Marcel Höfle was an Austrian photographer active in the 1930s and 1940s, during the Anschluss period under Nazi rule.
• Werner Höfle: Werner Höfle was a German Wehrmacht officer and member of the SS during World War II, who was sentenced to life in prison by the Nuremberg Trials.
• Robert Höfle: Robert Höfle was a Swiss-German operatic tenor active in the early 20th century. He was a soloist at Zurich Opera House, and eventually went on to sing in international venues, such as Covent Garden in London, and the Opéra de Paris.

Other surnames

HöfleinHoflerHöfler