Imhoff
A German surname meaning “at the court, farm, or manor yard,” built from a locative phrase with **im** (“in the”) and **Hof** (“court/farmstead”).
The #8,780 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 82,685 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is generally explained from German **im Hof**, meaning “in the court,” “in the farmyard,” or “at the manor.” The second element, **Hof**, can refer to a court, enclosed farmstead, or manor house. In older surname formation, such a phrase could become a hereditary family name for someone living by or associated with such a place.
History
The name is found in German-speaking areas, and the historical record includes well-known bearers such as the Dutch colonial governor **Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff**. The form fits a common Germanic pattern of surnames created from residence or local setting. Some older sources treat it as an onomastic shorthand for a household or estate name rather than a straightforward place-name surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The surname is closely related to the very common German word **Hof**, which survives in many place-names and family names across central Europe.
From the historical record
“HULSEN, In the holly-hush. Imobeksteig, At the bridge. Im-Thurn, In the Tower. Imwall, In the wall. IMHOFF (©•)? Immo^s court, yard, farm, or manor. INBUSCH ((5.)> -^^ 01* ^" ^"«^*' Indematte, 7n <Ae meadow. Ixdereie, In the island. Indermaur, At or In the wall or Moor ; i. e., sign of the Moor. INCHES (S.)j…”
— Surnames