Surname Hofstettler - Meaning and Origin
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Hofstettler: What does the surname Hofstettler mean?
Hofstettler is a Swiss family name, originating from Alsace and Basel areas in Switzerland. It is derived from the German word ‘Hof’ which means "manor, court, or estate" and 'Stettler' which meant “stiller”, which means "settler”.
The earliest records of the name can be found in the 15th century, however, its origin and meaning can be traced back to its roots in the 13th century.
The oldest record of the name is linked with an individual named “Ulrich Hofstettler”, born in 1475 in the Basel area. He was a farmer and wine grower who moved to Switzerland in 1520, with his family.
The family coat of arms contains a red shield with three silver crescents and a white figure in the center. Two crossed silver swords topped with crowned helmets are featured over the shield. This was the traditional emblems of Switzerland and changed in the early 20th century into a solid lime green shield, with a silver border, involving a black eagle and a green tree.
Throughout the many centuries, those with this surname have held prominent positions in the medical profession, in the religious and administrative field, as well as in financial and industrial circles.
Today, Hofstettler is a moderately common family name in Switzerland, with many families bearing this proud surname, showing their origins are the same, yet distinct.
Order DNA origin analysisHofstettler: Where does the name Hofstettler come from?
The last name Hofstettler is most commonly found in Switzerland and other parts of Central Europe, particularly Austria and Germany. It is also known to appear in some parts of France, especially in the Rhône-Alpes region.
In Germany, the Hofstettler surname is found mainly in Southern Germany, especially in the state of Baden-Württemberg, followed by Bavaria, Brandenburg, and Saxony. In Austria, it is mostly found in the states of Upper Austria and Styria.
In Switzerland, the Hofstettler surname is found mainly in the Canton of Aargau and the Canton of Zürich. It is also found in other parts of Switzerland including the cantons of Lucerne, Solothurn and Basel-Country.
The Hofstettler surname can also be found in other countries outside of Europe such as the United States, Canada, and South Africa. In the United States, the surname Hofstettler is mostly found in areas with large German populations such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Missouri.
Overall, the Hofstettler surname is most commonly found in Europe and is particularly prominent in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and France. It is also found in other countries, especially in areas where there are large populations of German descent.
Variations of the surname Hofstettler
The Hofstettler surname originated in Germany and has several variants, spellings, and surnames that all share the same origin.
The most common spelling of what began as Hofstettler is Hoffstetter, which can be found in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries. Additionally, some spellings may feature additional vowels between the letter “s” and the letter “t” in the middle part of the surname. These variants include spells such as Hofsetter, Hofstructioner, Hofcostetler and Hofshootter.
The German version of the name occurring less commonly in the English-speaking world is Hofstätler and Hofstättler. These can be further abbreviated into the shorter forms of Hofstäl, Hofstel, or Hoffstel.
The various ways of spelling the surname Hofstettler also has many corresponding variations of the surname that have derived from this original. Two examples of these are sets of surnames spelled Hoffstedder and Hoffstötter, which are both regularly seen in Germany and countries with large German-speaking populations.
In any case, all of these spells and variants are often seen as unique surnames, but they share a common origin and are all rooted in the exact same source.
Famous people with the name Hofstettler
- Eliane Hofstetter: Swiss Olympic swimmer
- Marcel Hofstetter: Swiss distance runner
- Désirée Hofstetter– Swiss artistic gymnast
- Thomas Hofstetter: Swiss skeleton racer
- Cedric Hofstetter: Swiss slalom canoeist
- Andreas Hofstetter: Swiss Olympic javelin thrower
- Max Hofstetter: Swiss ice hockey player
- Pascal Hofstetter: Swiss footballer
- Irene Hofstetter: Swiss broadcaster, columnist and actress
- Guido Hofstetter: Swiss politician and entrepreneur