NameCensus.

UK surname

Hofman

A surname denoting someone from a farm or manor.

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Hofman surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, up from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Cornwall and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hofman is 179 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 163.2%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

2016

179 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hofman had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 68 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hofman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hofman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hofman 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 30 #30,188
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 58 #29,439
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 114 #25,589
1999 modern 119 #25,095
2000 modern 109 #26,381
2001 modern 109 #26,059
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 114 #25,837
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 128 #24,901
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 166 #22,075
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 173 #21,542
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

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Where Hofmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Cornwall, West Oxfordshire and Horsham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 013 Stroud
2 Cornwall 014 Cornwall
3 West Oxfordshire 011 West Oxfordshire
4 Horsham 004 Horsham
5 Cornwall 015 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hofman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hofman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hofman, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Hofman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hofman 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Hofman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Hofman 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

Hofman falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hofman 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 Hofman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hofman

The surname "HOFMAN" is of German origin, deriving from the Old German words "hof" meaning "court" or "farm" and "mann" meaning "man." The name first emerged in the region of Bavaria, Germany, during the Middle Ages, likely in the 12th or 13th century.

The name was initially given to individuals who resided on or worked for a particular court or farm estate. It was a common occupational surname during that period, denoting someone's profession or place of employment. Variations of the spelling include "Hoffmann," "Hofmann," and "Hofman."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, Germany, dating back to the 13th century. The name is also found in the Deutsches Städtebuch, a compilation of historical records from various German cities.

Notable individuals bearing the surname include Christian Hofmann von Hofmannswaldau (1617-1679), a German poet and writer known for his contributions to the Baroque literary movement. Another was Johann Christoph Hofmann (1683-1750), a German Lutheran theologian and philosopher.

In the 19th century, August Wilhelm von Hofmann (1818-1892) was a renowned German chemist and pioneer in the field of organic chemistry. He made significant contributions to the understanding of molecular structures and chemical reactions.

Moving into the 20th century, Hans Hofmann (1880-1966) was a German-American painter and influential art teacher. He played a pivotal role in the development of Abstract Expressionism and is considered one of the most important figures in modern art.

Another notable bearer of the name was Konrad Hofmann (1819-1890), a German Catholic theologian and church historian who served as a professor at the University of Munich.

While the surname Hofmann is more commonly found in Germany and other German-speaking regions, it has also spread to other parts of Europe and the world due to migration and cultural exchange. The name continues to carry its historical roots and occupational connotations, reflecting the rich heritage of German surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hofman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hofman 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 39 Hofmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 5.88x
Surrey 22 6.81x
Lancashire 2 0.25x
Berkshire 1 2.01x
Lanarkshire 1 0.47x
Lincolnshire 1 0.94x
Midlothian 1 1.13x
Yorkshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Putney in Surrey leads with 10 Hofmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 331.13x.

Place Total Index
Putney 10 331.13x
Clerkenwell London 6 38.34x
Hammersmith London 6 36.72x
Southwark St Saviour 6 175.95x
Islington London 5 7.78x
Spitalfields London 5 100.20x
St George In East London 5 80.13x
Camberwell 4 9.44x
Mile End Old Town London 3 21.26x
Broughton In Salford 2 27.78x
Hackney London 2 5.38x
Lambeth 2 3.46x
St Bride London 2 512.82x
Westminster St Margaret 2 62.50x
Abingdon St Helen 1 68.49x
Barony 1 1.84x
Bow London 1 11.85x
Chiswick 1 27.62x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.80x
Great Grimsby 1 14.86x
Ilkley 1 93.46x
Kensington London 1 2.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 2
Franziska 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Mary 2
Ana 1
Anna 1
Annee 1
Ariadne 1
Berdie 1
Caradida 1
Christine 1
Eave 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Gertie 1
Gertrude 1
Hanah 1
Jessie 1
Katie 1
Lillie 1
Margaret 1
Marie 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1
Sophie 1
Teresa 1
Victoria 1
Walburger 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Charles 3
Augustus 2
Bernard 2
George 2
James 2
Adolphe 1
Albert 1
Efrem 1
Frankie 1
Frederike 1
Fredk. 1
J. 1
Jean 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
Solomon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hofman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hofman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Hofman surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hofman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Hofman a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Hofman surname mean?

A surname denoting someone from a farm or manor.

What does the Hofman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hofman 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.