NameCensus.

UK surname

Hoffmann

A surname of German origin referring to someone who lived on a small farm or courtyard.

In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Hoffmann surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 522, ranked #9,693, up from #16,358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Annandale East and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hoffmann is 522 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 281.0%.

1881 census count

137

Ranked #16,358

Modern count

522

2016, ranked #9,693

Peak year

2016

522 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hoffmann had 137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 522 in 2016, ranked #9,693.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 345 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Hoffmann surname distribution map

The map shows where the Hoffmann surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Hoffmann surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hoffmann over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 20 #29,743
1861 historical 25 #30,804
1881 historical 137 #16,358
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 294 #11,805
1911 historical 345 #10,358
1997 modern 284 #14,006
1998 modern 336 #12,889
1999 modern 345 #12,755
2000 modern 340 #12,824
2001 modern 332 #12,841
2002 modern 358 #12,402
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 367 #11,956
2006 modern 371 #11,916
2007 modern 385 #11,698
2008 modern 401 #11,441
2009 modern 419 #11,282
2010 modern 461 #10,701
2011 modern 451 #10,766
2012 modern 490 #10,027
2013 modern 494 #10,104
2014 modern 514 #9,891
2015 modern 513 #9,836
2016 modern 522 #9,693

Geography

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Where Hoffmanns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Eccles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun, Annandale East, Ealing, Blackpool and Eden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Eccles Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 015 Arun
2 Annandale East Dumfries and Galloway
3 Ealing 001 Ealing
4 Blackpool 010 Blackpool
5 Eden 003 Eden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hoffmann

These lists show first names that appear often with the Hoffmann surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hoffmann

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hoffmann, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Hoffmann surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Hoffmann household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hoffmann is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hoffmann is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hoffmann falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hoffmann is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Hoffmann, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hoffmann

The surname Hoffmann is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "hof," meaning a courtyard or small farm. It is an occupational name, initially given to an overseer or steward of a manor or farm.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. One notable mention is in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, which includes references to individuals with the surname Hoffmann as early as 1240.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts across German-speaking regions, including the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history published in 1493, which mentions several individuals with the surname Hoffmann.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johann Hoffmann, a German painter and engraver who lived from around 1500 to 1566. His works can be found in several galleries and museums across Europe.

Another notable figure was Friedrich Hoffmann, a German physician and chemist born in 1660 in Halle, Saxony. He is widely regarded as a pioneer in the field of modern medicine and made significant contributions to the understanding of human physiology and disease.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the composer Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann, better known as E.T.A. Hoffmann, born in 1776 in Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia). He is renowned for his literary works, including the famous novella "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," which inspired Tchaikovsky's famous ballet.

The 19th century saw the rise of another famous Hoffmann, August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben, born in 1798 in Fallersleben, Lower Saxony. He was a renowned German poet, philologist, and academic, best known for writing the lyrics to the German national anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen."

In the 20th century, the name was associated with the German-American architect and industrial designer Hans Joachim Hoffmann, born in 1913 in Munich, Germany. He was a influential figure in the Bauhaus movement and played a significant role in shaping modern design principles.

While the surname Hoffmann is most commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking regions, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, carrying with it a rich history and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hoffmann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hoffmann surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 44 Hoffmanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 44 3.29x
Lancashire 24 1.51x
Kent 14 3.07x
Surrey 10 1.54x
Yorkshire 10 0.76x
Buckinghamshire 9 11.14x
Northumberland 6 3.02x
Cheshire 5 1.70x
Monmouthshire 4 4.14x
Derbyshire 3 1.43x
Essex 2 0.76x
Caithness 1 5.46x
Devon 1 0.36x
Lincolnshire 1 0.47x
Rutland 1 10.19x
Suffolk 1 0.61x
Wiltshire 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Denham in Buckinghamshire leads with 9 Hoffmanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1551.72x.

Place Total Index
Denham 9 1551.72x
Lewisham 8 32.91x
Mile End New Town London 8 303.03x
Withington 8 156.56x
Bradford 6 18.71x
Manchester 6 8.41x
Bethnal Green London 5 8.61x
Camberwell 5 5.86x
Greenwich 5 23.51x
Westminster St James 5 36.39x
Carshalton 4 160.64x
Fulham London 4 20.64x
Leeds 4 5.35x
Newport 4 86.77x
Rusholme 4 94.56x
Tynemouth 4 37.56x
Bromley London 3 10.20x
Clerkenwell London 3 9.51x
Fairfield 3 214.29x
Hale 3 294.12x
Kensington London 3 4.04x
Salford 3 6.43x
St Pancras London 3 2.79x
Liverpool 2 2.08x
Macclesfield 2 15.26x
North Shields 2 50.38x
Paddington London 2 4.07x
West Ham 2 3.43x
Ancaster 1 333.33x
Bridewell Precinct London 1 769.23x
Great Bolton 1 4.76x
Hackney London 1 1.33x
Islington London 1 0.77x
Limehouse London 1 6.82x
Ramsbury 1 93.46x
Rotherhithe 1 6.06x
Shoreditch London 1 1.73x
St George Bloomsbury 1 13.04x
St George In East London 1 7.96x
Sudbury St Peter 1 112.36x
Tonbridge 1 6.08x
Tormoham 1 8.50x
Uppingham 1 85.47x
Whitechapel London 1 7.59x
Wick 1 16.92x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hoffmann surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Maria 5
Bertha 4
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Emilie 2
Ida 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Alvine 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bonafacia 1
Christine 1
Doris 1
Dorothy 1
Elea 1
Elise 1
Eliza 1
Else 1
Emily 1
Frain 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Johanna 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Katharine 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lena 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Mabal 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Minne 1
Pauline 1
Princess 1
Regina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hoffmann surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 6
Frederick 5
Henry 4
William 4
George 3
John 3
Otto 3
Carl 2
Emil 2
Francis 2
Jacob 2
Robert 2
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Adolph 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Ang. 1
Arthur 1
Augustin 1
Carlo 1
Eduard 1
Emile 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fritz 1
Isidore 1
Johann 1
Joseph 1
Julius 1
Noah 1
Otta 1
Peter 1
Theodore 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Hoffmann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hoffmann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Hoffmann surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hoffmann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 522 in 2016. That gives Hoffmann a modern rank of #9,693.

What does the Hoffmann surname mean?

A surname of German origin referring to someone who lived on a small farm or courtyard.

What does the Hoffmann map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hoffmann bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.