Hofmann

Hofmann is a German surname derived from the elements hof, meaning courtyard, farm, or manor, and mann, meaning man. Historically, it was used for someone associated with a manor or estate, such as a steward or worker. The name is common in German-speaking regions and has spread worldwide through migration. Variants include Hoffmann and Hofman in different languages and writing traditions.

One of the most notable bearers of the name is August Wilhelm von Hofmann (1818–1882), a German-born chemist who contributed significantly to organic chemistry and the chemistry of dyes. He worked at prominent European centers and helped advance the development of modern organic synthesis. The Hofmann rearrangement, a chemical reaction named after him, converts primary amides to primary amines, illustrating his impact on chemical methodology.

Beyond this, the surname Hofmann appears across many fields, including science, the arts, and sports, in German-speaking countries and in communities around the world. It is one of several closely related spellings that reflect regional and linguistic variations in how the name has been recorded and transmitted.