Surname Höferling - Meaning and Origin
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Höferling: What does the surname Höferling mean?
The last name Höferling is typically a German last name, which is derived from the old Germanic word “hof” which means courtyard or estate. This type of name was typically given to people who lived on a certain estate or court.
The second part of the name, “erling”, is a patronymic surname, originating from the given name “Erl”. This name first appears in records dating back to the early 15th century, and it may derive from Old High German “erla” meaning “noble or princely”, or “erl” meaning “the male eagle”. This suggests that the bearers of the name had a noble background or may have been descended from a noble family.
The full name Höferling is therefore an indication, at least historically, of a family who have a distinguished and noble background. This may have been socially important in the Middle Ages, with people of such standing having a higher social status in many cities and regions.
In modern times, the social significance of the last name Höferling might not be as pronounced and many people may not be aware of the original meaning and origin of the name. Nonetheless, it is an interesting character of the family's heritage and holds an intriguing depth to its past.
Order DNA origin analysisHöferling: Where does the name Höferling come from?
The surname Höferling is most commonly found in Germany. Although it is not as prolific as some other German surnames, it has been present for centuries and can still be found concentrated in certain areas.
A search of online databases reveals that the last name is most common in the Westpfalz and town of Rockenhausen in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. It is also found in Bavaria, Lower Saxony, and other parts of Germany.
The surname may have begun with the Middle High German höfer, which means ‘peasant’ or 'farmer'. It is most likely derived from the occupation of Höferlings, or small-scale farmers in the Middle Ages.
Höferling is also found in Austria. It is more frequently used as a first name or a nickname there, rather than as a surname. The ethnic group known as German Sinti, a Romani people also known as Gypsies, use the name Höferling in Austria, Bavaria and the Czech Republic.
Overall, the surname Höferling is still present in some parts of Germany and Austria today, where it has been found for centuries. It is particularly common in certain regions, such as the Rheinland-Palatinate and Bavaria. It is also used by some with the German Sinti ethnic group as a first name or nickname.
Variations of the surname Höferling
Höferling is an German surname with a variety of possible spellings, variants, and other surnames of the same origin.
The most basic spelling of the name is 'Höferling', but other variants can be used too. These include 'Höffering', 'Höfeling', 'Hoferling', 'Höferlin', and 'Hofferling'. These spellings can be found in both Germany and areas of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The 'Höf-' spelling also appears in many surnames, including 'Höfner', 'Höfminger', 'Höffgen', 'Höfer', and 'Höfert'. In some cases, 'Hoefner' could be a variant too.
The surname can also be found as the hyphenated ‘Höf-erling’, as well as 'Hoeferling', 'Hoefeling', and 'Hoeffering'.
Other variations of the name include 'Höfeler', 'Hofeler', 'Hoffer' or 'Hoffer', and 'Höfermann'.
The surname could be also be found in its diminutive form, 'Höferlein', as well as 'Hoferlein' and 'Hoeferlein'.
In conclusion, variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Höferling can take many forms, including some that are hyphenated and some that are diminutives. Each specific spelling and variant is dependent on the time period and the region in which the Höferling family lived.
Famous people with the name Höferling
- Christoph Höferling, German military and political leader
- Karl Heinrich Höferling, German musicologist and organist
- Werner Höferling, German lawyer and conservative politician
- Marcus Höferling, German opera singer
- Ulrich Höferling, German playwright
- Kurt Höferling, German painter and sculptor
- Max Höferling, German footballer
- Hans Höferling, German professor of botany
- August Höferling, German general
- Philipp Höferling, German actor