Surname Hogrefe - Meaning and Origin

Hogrefe: What does the surname Hogrefe mean?

The last name Hogrefe is of German origin. It is a habitational name which derives from the cities of Hogefe in Westphalia and Hoferich in Bavaria. This surname is mainly found in Northern Germany, where it was borne by a prominent family of merchants and landowners in the late Middle Ages.

The literal meaning of Hogrefe is thought to be either "hog fence" or "hog yard", most likely referring to either an enclosure for hogs or a place where hogs were raised. It could also be derived from the words hagna, meaning a hedge or surrounding grassy area, and reif, meaning an enclosed area, thus literally translating to "enclosed place of bushes/hedge".

The Hogrefe surname is not particularly common, however there are some prominent people who bear it. For example, the notable German journalist and author Adam Hogrefe authored many books about German cultural and political phenomena such as the European Union and Germany's reunification. The Nobel Peace Prize winning human rights lawyer and policy maker Hans Hogrefe has also been an important figure in international politics.

Overall, the Hogrefe surname is associated with a prominent German family who have achieved notable success in many different fields. It is thought to derive from either a place where hogs were raised or a "enclosed place of bushes/hedge".

Hogrefe: Where does the name Hogrefe come from?

The last name Hogrefe is most common today in Germany and the Netherlands, although it is also occasionally encountered in other parts of Europe and the United States.

In Germany, Hogrefe is a Germanized version of the Dutch surname “Hogerheide,” which means “high heath.” In the Netherlands, the name Hogrefe is most commonly found in the region of Overijssel. It has spread to other regions, but is still relatively uncommon.

In the United States, Hogrefe is a surname most commonly found among American citizens of German, Dutch, Swiss, and Austrian descent. It is believed that the first instances of the Hogrefe surname appearing in the United States stem from the mid-1800s, when German immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania. Since then, it has spread to other states, primarily along the East Coast and Midwest. There are records of Hogrefe family members having lived in New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Massachusetts.

Worldwide, the Hogrefe surname can also be found in countries such as Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It is likely that the descendants of the original early German immigrants have migrated with the name Hogrefe and have since established families in these countries.

Therefore, the last name Hogrefe is most common today in Germany and the Netherlands, but can also be found in pockets around the United States and other countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Hogrefe

The surname Hogrefe has a few variants and spellings, including Hogriff, Hograffe, Hograth, Haugroth, Hogerath, and Hoghrath. The name is of German origin and means “hog” or “pig man” because it was many times given to people with large, round faces. The Hogrefe surname connects with the noble families of Saxony and Bavaria, and was popular among the nobility.

Variations in the spelling of this surname are common, especially when researchers go back several generations. The most common versions of the surname are Hogrefe and Hogriff. Both of these variations claim to stem from the same ancestral roots. Hograffe is also a variation of this name.

The next most common spelling of this surname is Hograth. This variant is usually found in documents originating from the northern parts of Germany, and it is also common in the United States, where the spelling has been modified throughout the years.

There are also some peptide surnames related to the Hogrefe family, such as Haugroth, Hogrefeh, Hogerath, and Hoghrath. These are all quite uncommon and are mainly found in very old German records. All of these variants of this surname are typically derived from the same German dynasty, though spelling variations have made them more difficult to trace through the ages.

No matter what the spelling of the surname, it is likely to have the same meaning and be a derivative of the Hogrefe family lineage. It is important to keep in mind when researching this particular surname that there are many variants, but all share the same origins.

Famous people with the name Hogrefe

• Miles Hogrefe: Son of Craig R. Hogrefe, an American journalist, and manager in the information industry
• Craig R. Hogrefe: American journalist, and manager in the information industry
• Carol Hogrefe: Former U.S. national figure skater
• Wolfgang Hogrefe: Emeritus professor at the ecole des sciences politiques de L'university de Louvain and the University of Vienna
• Stephen Hogrefe: Music professor at Fresno Pacific University
• Vincent Hogrefe: Professional American football defensive lineman
• Dwight Hogrefe: Baseball player in the minor leagues
• Lynn Hogrefe: American farmer, philanthropist and author
• Craig D. Hogrefe: U.S. District Court Judge from Oklahoma
• Steven Hogrefe: American professional racecar driver

Other surnames

HogrebeHogreveHogrewe