A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hoffee family lines. Documented in 3 countries.
Reg. 1634 · Swiss, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'arg. à une tête de léopard de sa., lamp. de gu., cour. d'or, sommée de deux cornes de boeuf de gu. C.: une tête de léopard d'arg., lamp. de gu., cour. d'or, accornée de gu.”
Switzerlandc. 1745
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Map of Switzerland showing where the Hoffee arms are recorded
The Hoffee arms were recorded in Switzerland, c. 1745.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bern.
Bern was the largest of the Swiss cantons and ran itself, with its own council and its own courts. Its governing families held office for generations, and office of that kind carried a shield with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Switzerland in this period.
How Arms Worked in Switzerland
In Switzerland, coats of arms were not restricted to the nobility and were often adopted by common citizens and families. These symbols were passed down through generations to show family identity. When branches of a family grew, they often changed small details of the design to distinguish their own line from the original group.
Granting authority
Cantonal and civic authorities managed the use of coats of arms within their specific regions and local jurisdictions.
How they got arms
Families typically assumed their own coats of arms based on local custom rather than receiving them from a central monarch.
Where arms were recorded
Arms were recorded in various cantonal and civic registers starting from the fourteenth century throughout the Swiss region.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Switzerland.
Origin & History of the Hoffee Family in Switzerland
The family name Hoffee traces its roots to the German-speaking regions of Switzerland, where it emerged as a variation of names derived from the word *Hof*, meaning a farm or a courtyard. By the mid-18th century, records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the canton of Bern. During this period, Bern was a powerful city-state dominated by a strict social hierarchy, and families with names like Hoffee often held roles tied to agriculture or local trade within the rural districts surrounding the city. Living in the Bernese region meant navigating a society governed by complex citizenship laws, where families were deeply rooted in their specific parish communities. These early ancestors likely contributed to the local economy through farming or craftsmanship, maintaining a stable presence in the Swiss landscape before later generations began to migrate further across Europe and eventually to North America.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu. à une étoile d'or à dextre et un croiss. tourné du même à sen.; au chef d'arg. ch. de deux croisettes pattées de gu. C.: une croix latine pattée de gu., les trois bras supérieurs recr. L. d'arg. et de gu. [Une branche de cette famille a porté la croix du cimier entre un vol au nat. T.: à dextre un homme hab. en costume bohème, le sabre à la hanche, tenant un drapeau aux armes de l'écu; à sen. une femme nue, les reins enveloppés d'une toile, supp. de sa main dextre une chouette au nat.]”
Austriac. 1772
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Map of Austria showing where the Hoffee arms are recorded
The Hoffee arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1772.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Tyrol.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Hoffee Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Switzerland when the Hoffee arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Austria.
Origin & History of the Hoffee Family in Austria
The family name Hoffee finds its roots in the mountainous landscape of Tyrol, Austria, where records confirm the family was established by at least 1772. The name is likely derived from the German word Hof, which traditionally referred to a farmstead, a manor, or a courtyard. In the rural society of eighteenth-century Tyrol, such a name often identified a family by their specific landholding or their role in managing a local estate. Living in the high-altitude valleys of the Alps, the early members of this family were likely involved in agriculture or forestry, which were the primary ways people survived in that rugged terrain. Because Tyrol served as a vital crossroads between Germanic lands and Italy, the family would have lived in a region defined by constant trade and cultural exchange. This environment shaped their early history as they navigated the challenges of mountain life and the shifting political landscape of the Habsburg Empire.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
peacockBeauty, power and knowledge
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“De gu à un paon rouant d'arg., portant au bec un écusson d'arg. suspendu à un lien du même, l'écusson ch. de sept merlettes de gu., 3, 1 et 3.”
Netherlandsc. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Hoffee arms are recorded
The Hoffee arms were recorded in Netherlands, c. 1815.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Friesland.
Friesland was low, wet country on the northern coast of the Netherlands, farmed by families who had held the same land for centuries. Free landholders were unusually common there, and a free landholder could carry arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
Region
Friesland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Hoffee Arms
Hoge Raad van Adel
Photograph made by me · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
William I of the Netherlands
Sovereign of the period
William I of the Netherlands
1815–1840
Reigning in Switzerland when the Hoffee arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Netherlands
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
Granting authority
The Hoge Raad van Adel is the official body that regulates and manages noble titles and coats of arms in the Netherlands.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through official royal grants or by proving their long-standing historical use of the symbols.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms are officially recorded in the registers held by the Hoge Raad van Adel, which began its work in 1814.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Netherlands.
Origin & History of the Hoffee Family in Netherlands
The family name Hoffee is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of the Netherlands, particularly within the northern province of Friesland. By the early nineteenth century, the family was well-established in this region, which was a time of significant transition for Dutch naming practices. During this period, the Napoleonic administration required citizens to register permanent surnames to improve tax collection and military conscription. Many families in Friesland adopted or solidified their names during this era, often reflecting their connection to a specific homestead or a local geographic feature. The name likely evolved from the Dutch word "hof," which refers to a garden, a courtyard, or a farmstead. This suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely landholders or individuals associated with a prominent local estate. Living in Friesland, the family would have been part of a distinct cultural group known for its unique language and strong tradition of independent farming, which shaped their identity long before they moved into the broader records of the modern Dutch state.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hof
An enclosed courtyard, farmstead, or manor house.
This name
HoffeeRefers to a person who lived or worked at a farmstead or manor.
also spelled
Hof
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Kirchenbücher der Kirchgemeinde Bern (Church records of the parish of Bern)
Staatsarchiv des Kantons Bern, Burgerrodel der Stadt Bern (Citizenship registers of the city of Bern)
Dubler, Anne-Marie, Der Kanton Bern im Zeitalter des Ancien Régime, 1995
Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz, 1989
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
cross symbolChristian faith and service
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
peacockBeauty, power and knowledge
