Surname Klingenhöfer - Meaning and Origin
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Klingenhöfer: What does the surname Klingenhöfer mean?
Klingenhöfer is a German surname which has many variations such as Klingenhoefer, Klingenhoff, Klingenhoven and Klingenhoop. It is composed of two distinct elements which are 'Klingen' and 'Höfer'. Klingen is derived from the Middle High German language and means 'Clings, Ring or Revolves'.
Höfer is a locational name derived from the Old German 'Hugo' meaning 'settlement of hewers' or the Old German 'Hufen' meaning 'yard, estate or encampment' hence making Klingenhöfer mean someone who lived near a cleared woods used as an encampment.
The name Klingenhöfer could also be a patronymic name meaning the son of someone with the name Klingen, derived from the Middle High German language 'Klingen'.
Klingenhöfer is a fairly rare name and is not found in the mainstream German population. It is more commonly found amongst those of Jewish descent. The name likely originated from areas where Jews who wanted to be accepted into German society or flee persecution adopted German-sounding names.
Generally, a person with the Klingenhöfer surname can trace their ancestry back to certain parts of present day Germany or Prussia, as well as to Jewish populations in these areas.
Order DNA origin analysisKlingenhöfer: Where does the name Klingenhöfer come from?
The last name Klingenhöfer is particularly common in German-speaking countries such as Germany and Austria. More precisely, the name is common in certain regions of Germany such as Bavaria, the Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, as well as parts of Switzerland.
According to an assessment of surname distribution in these countries as of 2018, approximately 9.9 people in 100,000 in Germany carry the last name Klingenhöfer. This number is slightly lower in Austria (8.7 in 100,000) and Switzerland (3.8 in 100,000).
The origin of the surname is considered to be Germanic, with "Klingen" meaning to "ring" or "resonate" and "Höfer" meaning peasant or "farmer". Thus, Klingenhöfer literally means someone or something related to “ringing” or “resonance” that was owned by or associated with a peasant family.
Interestingly, the name has several spelling variations, especially in Swiss-German dialects, such as Klinghofer, Klinghoeffer, Klinghoffer and Klinkhöfer. In some regions, the surname has been anglicized to Kinninghoffer or simply Klinger.
In modern times, the most famous individual with the surname Klingenhöfer is probably Walter Klingenhof, a prominent German author whose works have been presented at numerous literary festivals around the world.
Variations of the surname Klingenhöfer
Klingenhöfer is a German surname with multiple variants and spellings. It is derived from the Old High German words 'Klingen' meaning bellow, trumpet or horn and 'Hof' meaning yard or court. These words together symbolize the pre-medieval rank of court trumpet player.
Variants and spellings of the Klingenhöfer surname include Klingenhofer, Klinghoffer, Klinghofer, Klingenhoefer, Klingenhoever, Klingenhöver, Klinghaufer and Klinghauffer.
In the United States, the Klingenhofer surname is found mainly in Pennsylvania and Mississippi. Within Germany, the Klingenhöfer surname is most associated with the Hanover region, Bavaria and surrounding areas of Saxony and Thuringia.
Changes in spelling over time have also been noted. As an example, the surname Klingenhöfer is recorded in modern official records as Klingenhöver. These changes are most commonly found in the records of church books, school registers and other records of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Another similar sounding surname is Klinkenberger, derived from the Middle High German words 'klingen' meaning bell and 'berg' meaning mountain. The Klinkenberger surname has changed in spelling over time and is also known today as Klinkenberg, Klingenberg or Klingenberger. It is predominantly found in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Famous people with the name Klingenhöfer
- Florian Klingenhöfer: German actor and voice actor
- Annemarie Klingenhöfer: German fashion designer
- Robert Klingenhöfer: Former competitive ice dancer
- Friedrich E. Klingenhöfer: German writer, millionaire and publisher
- Christine Klingenhöfer: German musical actress
- Klaus Klingenhöfer: German athlete featured in the Olympics
- Gerhard Klingenhöfer: German film director
- Hans Klingenhöfer: German mechanical engineer
- Ludwig Klingenhöfer: German cavalry officer in World War I
- Alexander Klingenhöfer: German concert master and impresario