Höfer

Höfer is a German-language surname. It is rooted in the habitational term hof, meaning farmstead, courtyard, or estate, with the agent suffix -er, indicating a person associated with or living at a hof. The name thus most likely originated as a descriptor for someone who worked at or owned a farm, or who came from a particular farmstead. The umlaut in Höfer reflects a common vowel variation, and Höfer is related to the variant Hofer; both forms are recorded in surname registries as variants of the same root.

Geographic distribution for Höfer is strongest in German-speaking regions. The surname is most common in Germany and Austria, with populations also documented in Switzerland and among German-speaking diaspora communities in North America and elsewhere. Variants of the name, including Hofer, are widely established across different regions and historical periods, and spelling can vary by local records and migratory patterns.

In biographical and genealogical references, Höfer may designate any number of individuals bearing the name. Surname registries and biographical databases document bearers of Höfer across various fields, such as academia, arts, and public life, without implying a single familial lineage.

See also Hofer (surname) and related toponyms and family names derived from hof.