Surname Coffman - Meaning and Origin
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My iGENEA Experience: A Emotional Journey into the Coffman Surname and My Ancestry
After taking the iGENEA DNA test, my perspective on the Coffman family and my individuality has changed. This procedure allowed me to explore my lineage, discovering my roots in the ancient Jewish tribe of Levi. Understanding the depth of my ancestry and seeing the Coffman surname from a new vantage point has been an incredibly emotional journey: filled with awe, reverence, and some melancholy.
V. Coffman
read moreCoffman: What does the surname Coffman mean?
The surname Coffman has English origins and is derived from the profession of coffin maker, which was revised to "Coffman" over time. The term ‘Coffin’ in old English used to refer to a casket or a chest or box to hold precious items. Therefore, a "Coffman" was someone who built such boxes. This occupation was significant, especially during the Middle ages and the Renaissance period, when mortality rates were high due to plagues and wars. It is also conceivable that these coffins could have been used for storage purposes such as holding valuables or resources. As is common with many English surnames, the use of the occupational surname became hereditary, passing from one generation to the next, even if the occupation itself did not. Over time, migration and variant spellings led to the name appearing in different forms. Although Coffman is more typically found in the United States, its roots can be significantly traced back to England. As a surname, Coffman is a fascinating testament to historical times and societal norms.
Order DNA origin analysisCoffman: Where does the name Coffman come from?
The surname Coffman is of German origin and is an Americanized version of the German surname Kaufmann. The term "Kaufmann" is derived from Middle High German "koufman" or "koufman," meaning a merchant or trader, hence denoting a person who was a merchant or involved in trade. Over time, like many German surnames, it transformed into Coffman when German-speaking people emigrated to English-speaking countries.
Today, the surname Coffman is common in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Coffman is the 1,590th most common surname. It is particularly frequent in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. Other versions of this surname such as Kaufman, Kaufmann, and Kauffman are popular in Germany, Switzerland, and other European countries. However, it's also prevalent among the American Amish and Mennonite communities, thanks to migration from German-speaking regions in the past.
Variations of the surname Coffman
The surname Coffman is of English and Scottish origin and a variant of the Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname Kaufman, meaning 'trader' or 'merchant'.
Different versions and spellings of the name Coffman include Koffman, Cofman, Coffmann, Coffeman, Koffeman, Kauffman, Kauffmann, and Kaufman. There is also Coffin, a direct phonetic variation of Coffman, and the possible pet form Coff.
In Scotland, Coffman may have been anglicized from MacCulloch, MacCoughan, or even MacAlpine.
Other variants which can also be considered surnames with the same origin would be Kofman and Koopman, both used in Eastern European Jewish communities. Additionally, in Dutch and German-speaking areas, it could be also spelled as Kaufmann or Koopmann.
It's important to note that the variations in spelling of the last name Coffman can be attributed to a number of factors, including translation between languages and dialects, phonetic spellings and even mistaking letters when the name was recorded.
Famous people with the name Coffman
- Lee Coffman: An American singer-songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released several studio albums, including two on Thirty Tigers, with his most successful being Hopeful, released in 2019.
- Brock Coffman: A professional stock car racing driver. He competes in the NASCAR Midwest Series, capturing five championship titles in his career.
- Chuck Coffman: An American professional basketball player. A 6'11" center, he played for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1977 to 1980.
- Ryan Coffman: A former professional American football defensive end who played in the NFL for three seasons for the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings.
- Bess Coffman: An American opera singer who was a member of the Chicago Grand Opera Company from 1915 to 1917. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1919 in a production of Pagliacci.
- Richard Coffman: An American composer and organist from Seymour, Indiana. He composed pieces in a variety of genres, including an opera, a chamber symphony, organ and piano pieces, and choral works.
- Thomas Coffman: An American philosopher and professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii Manoa where he taught for over thirty years. He is the author of several books on Asian philosophy as well as on the history of philosophy in the United States.
- William O. Coffman: An American comparative pathologist and author who specialized in infectious diseases, in particular chicken diseases. He wrote dozens of books and papers on poultry health that were widely used by farmers.
- Harry Coffman: An American painter known for his landscapes and seascapes of the New England area. He was part of several successful New England art groups, such as the Monhegan Artists Association and the Gloucester School.