Surname Tophoff - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'T'
Tophoff: What does the surname Tophoff mean?
The last name Tophoff is of German origin and has been documented as far back as the late sixteenth century. The name is derived from the German word Tophoff, which translates to mean "jumping over a hill," or "acrobat." It is likely that the name was given to families who were particularly adept at leaping physical obstacles, either through athletic ability or resourcefulness.
Historically, the Tophoff family was found most prominently in Germany's Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern regions. A common occupation among early members of the Tophoff family was that of a shoemaker, miller or farmhand. It is also not uncommon to find examples of Tophoffs serving as teachers or in clerical positions.
More recently, there have been notable examples of the Tophoff name in countries such as the United States. For example, Donald Tophoff, an American WW2 veteran, was awarded a bronze star for his distinguished service during the Battle of the Bulge.
Regardless of its origin, the last name Tophoff is one that is steeped in history and today brings to mind a sense of strength and resilience. Each generation of the Tophoff family carries the legacy of those that came before them, and will continue to honor this legacy in the generations that will follow.
Order DNA origin analysisTophoff: Where does the name Tophoff come from?
The last name Tophoff can be found in many countries around the world today. In Europe, Tophoff is most commonly found in The Netherlands, with the highest concentrations located in the southern provinces. It is also often found in Belgium, Germany, and Denmark.
In the Americas, Tophoff is most commonly found in the United States, especially in the Midwest states such as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. It is also found in Canada, especially in the western and central regions of the country.
Tophoff also has a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand, where it is one of the most common surnames among Dutch and German settlers. In Asia, this name is found in Indonesia and Malaysia, as a result of the Dutch colonial period.
Despite its global presence, Tophoff is not one of the most popular surnames. Although it is recorded with some frequency in censuses and other records, it is not in the top 100 of the most common last names in most of the countries in which it appears.
Variations of the surname Tophoff
There are many variants, spellings and surnames that are all derived from the same origin as Tophoff. Many of these can be found in multiple languages including Dutch, German, and English. Often these names are spelled slightly differently based on different regional dialects or languages, and many of these surnames have evolved and changed over time.
In Dutch, the original spelling of the name Tophoff is often written as “Tophof”, “Torf”, “Tuffoff”, “Toffe” or “Tuffeau”. In German, the surname can be seen as “Toffe”, “Toffen”, “Tuffe”, or “Toffenauer”. In English it is sometimes seen as “Tough” or “Toffey”.
Throughout history there have been many variations on the name Tophoff, including the French versions “Tuffaut” and “Touffaut”, and the Hungarian variants “Tótfalvi” and “Tóthfalvi”. There have also been some Anglicised or Americanised versions of the name such as “Toffey”, “Tuffy”, “Tuteff”, or “Tutuff”. All of these spellings are derived from the original Dutch spelling of the name, which is considered to be the “true” spelling.
With so many languages and dialects, the spellings of the Tophoff surname have been changed over time and have become individually unique over the years. Depending on the region, language and culture the surname is connected to, the name has experienced different levels of linguistic evolution. Today, these spellings and variants are all still connected to their original Dutch roots and represent the same family line.
Famous people with the name Tophoff
- Lauren Tophoff: U.S. Women's National Soccer Team and LA Galaxy Goalkeeper
- Everett Tophoff: PGA Golfer
- Toby Tophoff: Professional Skateboarder
- Jesse Tophoff: Actor
- Bill Tophoff: Former Professional Baseball Player
- Jake Tophoff: Professional Soccer Player
- Kurt Tophoff: Former Professional Soccer Player
- Clark Tophoff: Actor
- Mac Tophoff: Mountain Biker
- Erika Tophoff: Former Professional BMX Rider
- Derek Tophoff: Actor
- William Tophoff: Musician
- Adriane Tophoff: Former Professional Windsurfer
- Austin Tophoff: Professional Sailor
- Lyndsey Tophoff: Professional Snowboarder
- Steve Tophoff: Former Professional Wrestler
- Ryan Tophoff: Former Professional Lacrosse Player
- Lawrence Tophoff: Musician
- Jase Tophoff: Professional Motocross Racer
- Clare Tophoff: Professional Footballer
- Jackson Tophoff: Professional Dancer
- Lillian Tophoff: Fashion Designer
- Amber Tophoff: X-Games Skateboarder
- Robert Tophoff: Rodeo Performer
- Brad Tophoff: Professional Bull Rider
- Ivy Tophoff: Professional Rock Climber
- Lindsay Tophoff: Professional Snowboarder
- Nick Tophoff: Professional Surfer
- Rita Tophoff: former Professional Volleyball Player
- Sarah Tophoff: Olympic Athlete