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Hoffmann Family History

Hoffmann Surname Meaning

German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): status name for a steward on a farm or estate from German Hof(f) ‘farm, manor, farm, courtyard’ + Mann ‘man’. Originally this was a status name for a farmer who owned his own land as opposed to holding it by rent or feudal obligation but the name soon came to denote the manager or steward of a manor farm in which sense it is frequent also among Jews since many Jews held managerial positions on non-Jewish estates.

This form of the surname is also established in many other parts of Europe, notably in France (Alsace and Lorraine), Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Czechia, and the Netherlands. Compare Hofman, Hofmann, Homann, and Huffman.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Hoffmann family from?

You can see how Hoffmann families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Hoffmann family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Hoffmann families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 89 Hoffmann families living in London. This was about 41% of all the recorded Hoffmann's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Hoffmann families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Hoffmann surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Hoffmann ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Private Means and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Hoffmann. 100% of Hoffmann men worked as a Private Means and 70% of Hoffmann women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Hoffmann | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Private Means
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Domestic Servant
    12%
  • Housewife
    10%
  • House Parlour Maid
    5%

What Hoffmann family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 83,000 census records available for the last name Hoffmann. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Hoffmann census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Hoffmann

Passenger Lists

There are 60,000 immigration records available for the last name Hoffmann. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Hoffmann immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 78,000 military records available for the last name Hoffmann. For the veterans among your Hoffmann ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Hoffmann military records

You've only scratched the surface of Hoffmann family history

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What is the average Hoffmann lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Hoffmann life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Hoffmann in 1944 was 68, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Hoffmann

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Hoffmann ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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