Last Name Hochman

The surname Hochman has its origins from various Germanic and Jewish sources. In Germanic regions, it is derived from the Old High German "hoh" meaning "high" and "mann" meaning "man," which together translate to "High Man." In Jewish contexts, it is of Ashkenazic origin and was often a surname taken as part of the process of judaization in Medieval Europe. The name can be traced back to a place name called Hochheim or Hochheim am Main, a town located near Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. Some Jewish families who took on the name Hochman may have originated from this area and adopted the name as part of their conversion to Judaism. Another possibility is that the name could be derived from the Yiddish word "hoch," meaning "high," in reference to a person's physical stature, profession, or status. As with many surnames, the spelling and pronunciation of Hochman may have been altered over time due to factors such as migration, linguistic assimilation, and historical events.

Learn more about the origin of the last name Hochman

The meaning and origin of the last name Hochman

The surname Hochman is of German and Jewish origin. It is an occupational name for a watchmaker or a maker of small instruments, derived from the Middle High German word "huhh" meaning "little bird" or "small" and "mann" meaning "man." In Yiddish, it was also used as a metonymic occupational name for a scribe. The name spread among Jews in Central Europe due to various historical events such as the expulsions from England (1290) and France (1394), which led to migration to other parts of Europe. Notable figures with this surname include the American jazz clarinetist Artie Shaw, Israeli President Chaim Herzog, and American composer Howard Hanson, who was born with the name Hochberg but changed his last name to avoid anti-Semitism.

Geographical distribution of the last name Hochman

The surname Hochman is predominantly of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and has its roots in Germany, Poland, and other Central European countries. Over time, people with the last name Hochman have migrated to various parts of the world, particularly due to historical events such as the Holocaust and economic opportunities. Today, significant populations of Hochmans can be found in Israel, the United States, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, where they form a part of the Ashkenazi Jewish communities in these countries. In Israel, Hochman is considered a common Jewish surname, while in other nations it is more rare but still present within the Jewish diaspora.

Variants and spellings of the last name Hochman

The surname Hochman has several variations and spellings due to differences in translation and regional pronunciation. Some common versions include Hochmann, Hokman, Hochmanne, Hochman, Hochmane, Hochmand, Hochmant, Hochmen, Hochmon, Hochmanns, and Hochmanes. These variations can originate from different countries, such as Germany (Hochmann), France (Hochmanne), Poland (Hochman), or other regions where the name might have been adopted by immigrants. The name is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German "hoh" meaning high and "mann" meaning man, symbolizing a person living on a high place or hill.

Famous people with the last name Hochman

Notable individuals with the surname Hochman include:

1. Alan D. Hochman, an American sports journalist and author who has written for publications like Sports Illustrated and The New York Times.
2. David Hochman, an American lawyer who served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 2014 to 2017.
3. Jon Hochman, a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings.
4. Liza Hochman, an American journalist who has worked for The Wall Street Journal and is currently a contributing editor at Travel + Leisure.
5. Marc Hochman, an American sports journalist who has written for ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and Yahoo! Sports, among others.
6. Shari Hochman, an American television news anchor and reporter who has worked for networks like CBS News and NBC News.
7. Steve Hochman, a former music critic and columnist for the Los Angeles Times who died in 2015. He was known for his coverage of jazz and other genres of music.

Genealogical research on the last name Hochman

The Hochman surname is of Ashkenazic Jewish origin, primarily found among Eastern European Jews, particularly those from Poland and Russia. The name is an occupational or topographic name derived from the Yiddish word "hokhman" meaning "a scribe," or possibly a habitational name from any of several places so named, such as Hochheim in Hesse, Germany. Some notable figures with this surname include Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Leon Hochberg, a Russian-American violinist. The earliest recorded spelling of the family name may be found as Hochman in records from Poland dating back to 1572. The surname Hochman has also been established in the United States since at least the mid-19th century, where it is most prevalent in New York and California.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Hochman"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

About the author :

NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 27 July 2025

Share the origin of your last name with your friends