Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Hoffmann” come from?

Hoffmann (German) comes from Middle High German hof, from Old High German hof, from Proto-Germanic *hof, from Proto-Germanic hufą, from Proto-Indo-European keup-, from Proto-Indo-European keu- — bend; vault, hole; to shine; light; bright.

Ancestry of “Hoffmann”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanhoffarm; court
2Old High Germanhof—
3Proto-Germanic*hof—
4Proto-Germanichufąhill, elevated place; house, hall, estate
5Proto-Indo-Europeankeup-to arch, bend, buckle; a hollow
6Proto-Indo-Europeankeu-bend; vault, hole; to shine; light; bright

Words derived from “Hoffmann”

  • Hoffman
  • Hofmann
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keu- →