Surname Höker - Meaning and Origin
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Höker: What does the surname Höker mean?
The last name Höker is a Germanic surname originating from medieval German. It is derived from the Middle High German word “höke” which means “to hawk” and could have referred to a person who was an itinerant peddler or pedlar who sold goods from door to door.
Alternately, it could have been associated with “hocken” which means “to crouch” and refer to someone who was particularly short in stature.
The surname Höker was first established in the German states, especially Bavaria, but quickly spread to Austria and Switzerland and then to the United States. It is sometimes spelled Hoecker, Hoeckr, Höcker, or Hoekr in records, but all Variations of the name have the same origin.
The Höker family is known for its distinctive traditional garb which includes a long black coat, heavy black boots, and a hat with a feather. This wardrobe has its origins in the Renaissance era, when the family established itself as a prominent German merchant family.
Today, the Höker surname is found throughout the world, with some variations having been changed from the original spelling. You may find it spelled as Hoeker, Haeckers, Hoecker, Hoecher, Hockers, or even Hooker. In some locations, a more Anglicized version of the name, such as Hocker, is more commonly used.
No matter how the name is spelled, the Höker surname remains a distinct and proud part of Germanic heritage.
Order DNA origin analysisHöker: Where does the name Höker come from?
The last name Höker is most commonly found today in Germany. It is a German surname derived from the old German word "hoker" which means "hawker," and it was originally used to denote individuals who made their living as peddlers of goods.
The surname is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages and it spread to other countries as people emigrated in search of better lives. The name is particularly common in the east and the north of Germany, where it is said to be among the top 30 most common surnames.
It is also very common in Scandinavian countries, especially Finland and Sweden, where it is spelled "Höker." It is believed that many Scandinavians with the name are descended from Germanic families who emigrated in the 17th and 18th centuries.
In addition to Europe, the last name Höker can also be found in some other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. This is because of German emigration in the 19th century, when many people left the country to settle in these countries.
Today, the last name Höker is most commonly found in both Europe and North America. There are many people with this last name living in both these regions, who are either descended from immigrants or are more recently changed their names to adopt the surname.
Variations of the surname Höker
The surname Höker is of German and Scandinavian origin and is also spelled Hoeker or Hoecker. It is a topographical name for someone living at the edge of a forest, deriving from the Middle High German word "hoker", meaning "hook" or "z-shaped bend". Variants of the surname vary between regions, including variants such as Höcke, Höck, Hoecke, Hoek, Hök, Hock, Höke, Hökk, and Hökere.
In Germany, the surnames Höker or Hoecker most often have their origin in the central east German state of Saxony. The name is also common in Scandinavia, especially Denmark, where it is spelled Hoecke and Hoek. In the Netherlands, the surname Hoek is found in North Brabant and Zeeland, and the surname Høk is found in Norway.
In the United States, variants of the surname have been changing through the generations, as immigrants adopt the Americanized spelling of Hoeker. In addition, Hoeker can also be found as Hooker, Hookor, Hoker, Hockere, Hoecker, Hoeck, Hoecke, Höck, Höke, Hökk, and Hökere.
The surname Höker is most often an occupational name for a farmer or woodsman, and many people with the surname have held positions in forestry or agricultural service over the centuries. The surname Hoeker is also derived from the Dutch word "hoker", which refers to a hook or a shepherd's crook.
Famous people with the name Höker
- Karl Höker, a German military officer who served as the chief of the Berlin Gestapo from 1936 to 1945.
- Anke Höker, a German actress.
- Friedrich Wilhelm Höcker, a Prussian statesman who served as a Member of the Prussian House of Representatives from 1804 to 1814.
- Maria Höker, a German photographer and photojournalist.
- Matthias Höker, a German novelist and politician.
- Georg Höker, a German track and field athlete who competed at the 1912 Olympics.
- Adolf Höcker, a German Nazi SS officer and an Obersturmbannführer in the SS-Reichssicherheitshauptamt.
- Wilfried Höker, a German theologian and former Bishop of Aachen.
- Adolf Höker, a German operatic tenor.
- Richard Höker, a German swimmer who took part in the 1924 Olympic Games.