His great-grandfather, Isaak Löw Hofmann, Edler von Hofmannsthal, from whom his family inherited the noble title "Edler von Hofmannsthal", was a Jewish tobacco farmer ennobled by the Austrian emperor.
Străbunicul său, Isaak Löw Hofmann, Edler von Hofmannsthal, de la care familia a moștenit titlul nobiliar "Edler von Hofmannsthal", era un negustor evreu înnobilat de împăratul Austriei.