A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hoffer family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 3956 · Austrian, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé: au 1 d'azur à un cèdre au nat., le pied accosté de deux pierres verdâtres, tirant sur le noir; le tout soutenu d'une terrasse de sin.; le champ d'azur chapé aussi d'azur, à deux lions ramp. et affr. d'arg.; au 2 parti: a. d'or à trois roses mal-ordonnées de gu., bout. d'arg., mouv. d'une même tige de sin., posée sur un tertre de trois coupeaux de sin.; b. taillé, de gu. à trois étoiles d'or, rangées en barre, sur or à une colombe cont. au nat., tenant en son bec un rameau d'olivier de sin. et posée sur une terrasse du même. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss., hab. de gu., ceint d'or, les cheveux longs, coiffé d'un chapeau de sa., tenant de sa main dextre une épée d'arg., garnie d'or, la sen. appuyée sur sa hanche; entre deux prob. coupées, à dextre d'or sur gu., à sen. d'azur sur arg. L.: à dextre d'arg. et d'azur, à sen. d'or et de gu.”
Austriac. 1773
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Map of Austria showing where the Hoffer arms are recorded
The Hoffer arms were recorded in Austria, c. 1773.
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
1773
Granting Authority for the Hoffer 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 Austria when the Hoffer 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 Hoffer Family in Austria
The surname Hoffer originates from the German word *Hof*, which refers to a farm, a courtyard, or a manor. In the mountainous region of Tyrol, this name served as a topographic identifier for families who lived on or managed a specific agricultural estate. By the time records confirm the presence of the Hoffer family in Tyrol in 1773, the name had already become a well-established marker of rural identity. During this period, the social structure of the Austrian Alps relied heavily on independent landholders who maintained their homesteads across generations. Families like the Hoffers were often deeply integrated into the local village economy, serving as the backbone of the agrarian society that defined the Tyrolean landscape. Because the name was tied to the land itself, it reflects the history of families who were permanent fixtures in their mountain communities, surviving through centuries of changing political borders and regional shifts within the Habsburg Empire.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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)
“D'azur à trois fasces ondées d'arg., acc. en chef d'une étoile du même. C.: une étoile d'arg., entre un vol, d'azur et d'arg. D.: NON FRAUDE SED ASTU.”
ZeelandZeeland, c. 1815
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Map of Netherlands showing where the Hoffer arms are recorded
The Hoffer arms were recorded in Zeeland, c. 1815.
Zeeland was a scatter of islands in the south-west of the Netherlands, living on the sea and on land reclaimed from it. Families who drained and held that land were counted among the gentry, and gentry 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
Zeeland
First recorded
1815
Granting Authority for the Hoffer 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 Austria when the Hoffer 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 Zeeland.
Origin & History of the Hoffer Family in Netherlands
The surname Hoffer carries a history deeply rooted in the landscape and social structure of the Low Countries. In the Dutch language, the name is derived from the word "hof," which refers to a courtyard, a garden, or a piece of enclosed land. Historically, this name likely served as a topographic identifier for families who lived near a prominent manor or worked on a large farmstead. By the time records place the family firmly in the province of Zeeland in 1815, the name had already transitioned from a simple description of a person’s home into a stable hereditary surname. Zeeland’s unique geography, defined by its islands and constant battle against the sea, suggests that early ancestors were likely involved in agriculture or land management within these reclaimed polders. As the family established themselves in this coastal region during the early nineteenth century, they became part of the local fabric of Dutch society, carrying a name that reflected their ancestral connection to the fertile soil of their homeland.
Hoffer Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Hof
A farm, courtyard, or manor house.
This name
HofferAn occupational surname for a farmer or someone who managed a manor.
also spelled
Hofer
Hoefer
Related arms
Bordanisimilar arms
Hvidesimilar arms
Juelsimilar arms
Hofervariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Kranzmayer, Eberhard. Ortsnamenbuch von Kärnten. 1956
Schweizer, Friedrich. Tiroler Familiennamen. 1968
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Tiroler Steuerkataster
Tiroler Landesarchiv, Pfarrbücher der Diözese Brixen
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
mulletThe third son, and a divine quality from above
dovePeace, love and the Holy Spirit
treeLife, endurance and deep roots
billetThe sealed letter, and a message delivered
lionCourage, strength and royalty
roseThe seventh son, and beauty with grace
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
