Welcome to the HOFFMAN AND BLECHER Home Page

The Hoffman's originate as far as we know from the shtetel
of Pokroy in Lithuania
The Blecher's originate as far as we know from the shtetel
of Pasvitin in Lithuania

Souce of surnames Hoffman and Blecher

Most Jewish Family's
did not have surnames. As far as the Jewish people were concerned a
a person was called "so and so the son of so and so"
When the authorities decided that it was important to have a
surname, then the Jewish family's looked around for a suitable
family name.

HOFFMAN
The Hoffmans lived in the village of Pokroy and were traders of
fruit,vegetable,chickens and geese.On the outskirts of Pokroy there
lived Baron Von Roc.He was the German nobleman that administered
the area.He had a whole court with a mansiom for himself,
living quarters for all his servants,and stables for his horses.
The Hoffmans were suppliers of vegetables fruit and chickens to the
count and he sugested that the name Hoffman "a Man of the Court"
BLECHER
This name in Yidish means Tinsmith or metal worker so it can be
assumed that at some stage this was their profesion and they decided
to make this their family name.

The location of these Villages

Both of these villages are situated in the north of Lithuania
near The Latvian border. The distance between them is about
20 kilometers.
The nearest big town Shavil.
At the outset let me say that the source of most of the
information included in this short history of the Hoffman
and Blecher family is our Aunty Etty. Mrs Ethel Kaplan the last
survivor of my parents generation.We her nephews and nieces
and their families wish her Good Health and Long Life.

First Generation

Abraham Blecher
All that is known of him is that he had 3 children.
We know his name from the tombstone of his son Zvi (Hirsh)
HIS CHILDREN
1)Zvi (Hirsh) Blecher married Etta,he died and was buried in Pasvitinin 1911
2)Ghita Who emigrated to South Africa with her husband.
3)Kreinda "She was married off at the age of 12.Her hair was cut
immediately after the wedding and she was given a bonnet until
a wig was made ready.While the wedding celebrations went on,everybody
missed the bride.they eventually found her in the back yard
bonnet off and playing 5 stones. She and her husband emigrated to
the USA and celebrated 60 years of marriage.
The first Hoffman that we know of is Chayim Hoffman Whose wife
was Miriam.

Second Generation

The children of Zvi (Hirsh) Blecher, He was called "The Zeimler'
so it can be assumed that he comes from the village of Zeimel and wife Etta
1)Sheina Beila who married Aaron Kopilewitz
2)Frieda who married Peretz Cohen.
3)Sore Kreinda who married Naphtali Ben Zion Hoffman.
4)Israel Pinchas who married Chaya Golda Gross from Gruzd.
Zvi and Etta Blecher had a tradegy in their Life.They lost two adult sons who
were traveling during the rainy season round about Septemer or October
with a load of grain.One of the sons was walking alongside the wagon when it capsized. He fell into a crevice and the wagon and horse fell on top
of him.He was killed instantly. THe other son was badly injured and
died soon after.They also lost a daughter Leah.


The children of Chayim and Miriam Hoffman.
1)Bat Shevah (Sheva) She emigrated to USA at a early age. Very little
is known of her life in the USA. She lived in Philadelphia married
and had a son Joseph. Her Married name is not known and all my efforts
to trace her or her children or grand children have not succeeded
2)Naphtali Ben Zion married Sara Kreinda Blecher.
Their children:
1)Chayim Isaac Hoffman married Janie Sinowsky.
2)Abraham Yaakov Hoffman married Ethel Reizel Blecher (cousins)
3)Rosy Hoffman married Eliezer Kopman.
4)Annie Hoffman married Barney Rudick.
5)Leizer Hoffman married Clara Bloch.
6)Yank Hoffman married Mamie Silovah.
7)Etty Hoffman married Abe Kaplan.
8)Becky Hoffman married Sydney Rosin.
9)Solly(Yehoshua)Hoffman married Ray Lever.
Naphtali Ben Zion and Sara Kreinda lost Three Children in Infancy.

The children of Israel Pinchas Blecher and Chaya Golda Gross
1)Abraham Blecher died at age of 18,on the 12th of December 1924
2)Ethel Blecher Married Abraham Yaakov Hoffman (cousins)
3)Mati Blecher Married Frieda Price.
4)Chana Blecher married Peretz Freedman.
5)Joe married Dvora
6)Chanan died as a young child during Fist World War.

L A T E R G E N E R A T I O N S

The children Of Abraham And Ethel Hoffman.
1)Solly Hoffman Married Nira Arkin.
2)Harry Hoffman married Sheila Kramer.
3)Issy Hoffman married Fay Asinowitz.
The Children of Solly and Nira Hoffman.
1)Gady Hoffman married Gillian Joffe.
2)Tamar Hoffman married Elon Shalev.
3)Tal Hoffman married Amos Dvir.
The children of Gady and Gillian Hoffman.
1)Gilad.
2)Elan.
3)Liat.
The children of Tamar and Elon Shalev.
1)Rony
2)Ido.
3)Shachar
The children of Tal Hoffman and Amos Dvir.
1)Reut.
2)Naama
3)Amir
The Children of Harry and Sheila Hoffman.
1)Jeffrey Hoffman married Teina Berkowitz.
2)Brian Hoffman.
The childen of Jeffrey and Teina Hoffman.
1)Tami
2a)Oren
2b)Noam
4)Kelly

The Children of Issy and Fay Hoffman.
1)Sheryl (passed away in 1986) married Brian Hosiowsky.
2)Allen.
3)Russel married Nicol Shlagman.

The children of Sheryl and Brian Hossiosky.
1)Mark.
2)Gregory.


Both families came from Lithuania and later most of the family
emigrated to South Africa.Now the family is spread out.
Some in Israel,some remained in South Africa and some in the USA

All This As At 17th Novemer 1999
Solly Hoffman
e-mail hisrael@inter.net.il

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