Surname Hofsäss - Meaning and Origin

Hofsäss: What does the surname Hofsäss mean?

The last name Hofsäss is of German origin and is derived from two elements: hof and säss. Hof translates to mean “court” or “manor” and säss is a kind of administrative officer. Thus, Hofsäss literally translates to “manor officer” and could refer to someone who carries out administrative duties related to a manor house.

The name Hofsäss first appeared in records during the Middle Ages in Germany. It was a common surname given to people who occupied various court related roles at local and royal courts throughout the region. Such roles might include scribes, record keepers, tax collectors or accountants.

Overall, the surname Hofsäss is a representation of a common occupation amongst men in the Middle Ages. The “hof” part of the surname captures the power of land and nobility found in the Germanic culture at that time. Meanwhile, “säss” symbolizes the responsible and authoritative positions people with this name often occupied. Nowadays, the name Hofsäss is still a widely used and respected German surname.

Hofsäss: Where does the name Hofsäss come from?

The last name Hofsäss is predominantly found in Germany today. It is a fairly rare name, with only an estimated 2000 people globally carrying the family name.

The Hofsäss surname originates from Germany, where it is still most common today. Records of German census data indicate that the name is mainly found in two regions; Bamberg and Upper Franconia in Bavaria. A public database of German settlers in North America also indicates that there is a small number of families of the surname in Canada and the United States.

The name has several variations, including Hofsaess, Hofsaß, and Hofsaes. All variants share a similar meaning, as the prefix ‘Hof’ translates to ‘court’ or ‘manor’ in English, while ‘saess’ denotes a man with a sword or a nobleman.

The Hofsäss Clan is a small, tight-knit clan that is believed to have originated in the 15th century. It is thought that the Hofsäss family had its roots in the Thuringia region of western Germany and held an official court. In more recent times, the family has produced renowned German theologians, authors, entrepreneurs, and statesmen.

Perhaps the most famous member of the Hofsäss family is Raimund Hofsäss, the former President of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany. Today, the Hofsäss name is still highly respected in Germany and its members continue to strive and make their mark in the world.

Variations of the surname Hofsäss

Hofsäss is a German surname originating from Bavaria and Austria. It is derived from the Old German term ‘hof’ meaning courtyard and ‘sass’ meaning magistrate or steward. The variants and spellings for this surname in Europe are Hofsass, Hofsas, Hofsassen, Hofsassen, Hofsasser, Hofsause, Hofsässer and Hofsäussen. This surname has several variants in England, such as Hausass, Hausasse, Hausasser, Hausausen and Hausaussen.

In the United States, the variants and spellings for this surname are Hossas, Hossass, Hossassen, Hossasser, Hossause, Hossause, Hossässer, Hossäussen, Hoceas, Hovsass, Hovsause, Hovsässer and Hovsäussen. In Australia and New Zealand, the name is spelled Hofsas, Hofsasse, Hofsassen, Hofsasser, Hofsause, Hofsässer and Hofsäussen.

The surname is also found in its various spellings in South America, such as Hojsass, Hosas, Hosass, Hosassen, Hosasser, Hosause, Hosässer and Hosäussen.

In Europe, this occupation-based surname is widespread Topographical surnames, because they were identified with particular places, were often taken on by a large percentage of the local population. Therefore, many of the modern families can trace their origins back to different spellings of the same original name Hofsäss.

Famous people with the name Hofsäss

• Robert Hofsäss: Robert Hofsäss is a German actor who has appeared in Sonnenallee (1999), Wo ist Fred? (2006), and Alles auf Zucker! (2004).
• Dietrich Hofsäss: Dietrich Hofsäss is a German artist known for his work in painting, installation art, sculpture and photography.
• Stefan Hofsäss: Stefan Hofsäss is the managing director of a German-based company in the construction industry, Hofsäss GmbH.
• Christoph Hofsäss: Christoph Hofsäss is a German football player who is currently under contract with SV Ramlingen-Ehlershausen.
• Jörg Hofsäss: Jörg Hofsäss is a German author and journalist, known for his work on topics such as German history, culture and identity.
• Ralph Hofsäss: Ralph Hofsäss is a German architect who is known for the rehabilitation and renovation of rural properties.
• Kurt Hofsäss: Kurt Hofsäss was a German film composer and jazz musician. He was an important figure in early German music and composed music for many films, including Der Große Kater (1929).
• Karl Hofsäss: Karl Hofsäss is a German film director and screenwriter, best known for his work on films such as The Nibelungen (1924) and Die Lüge (1925).
• Jürgen Hofsäss: Jürgen Hofsäss is a German journalist and talk show host, renowned for his work on the German radio show WDR 2 and the talk show Taraskowitz.

Other surnames

Hofsäs