Surname Coffing - Meaning and Origin
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Coffing: What does the surname Coffing mean?
The surname Coffing is of German and English origin, and it was first used to refer to someone who lived near, or owned, a venerable old tree. It was derived from the Middle English word "cof" meaning "stump" or "trunk". Alternatively it could have been derived from the Old English pre-7th century word "ceafing", meaning "a cage", suggesting perhaps an enclosure for animals.
In some instances, the surname Coffing may have evolved from the Old Norse personal name "Kotfinnr", composed of the elements "kot", meaning "basket" or "container", and "finnr", which means "Finn" or "man from Finland". It could also have derived from a radical spellings of the French given name "Coiffe", or the Anglo-Norman French word "coiffe", meaning "cap", suggesting that the original bearer of the name may have had some connection with cloth-making or tailoring.
Other possible sources of the surname Coffing include the likely Germanic personal name "Koufung", possibly derived from the Old Germanic elements "kouf", meaning "brave", and "ung", meaning "person". The modern version of this first name is "Kauffman".
The surname Coffing is still found today, mainly in the United States. It can also be found in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. In the United States the highest concentration of this surname is located in Pennsylvania.
Order DNA origin analysisCoffing: Where does the name Coffing come from?
The last name Coffing is most commonly found in the United States today. It is of English origin with roots tracing back to at least the early 1700s when the Coffing name first appeared in colonial records. The spelling and pronunciation of the name have changed over the years, making discovering the origin very tricky.
Most records of the Coffing name originate in the northeast United States. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York are home to the highest populations of the name in the US, specifically in the counties of Bucks and Berks PA, Morris and Essex NJ, and Dutchess NY. According to the 1990 US Census, the average per-capita rate of Coffings was roughly 3.5 per 10000 people.
More recently, Coffing has become increasingly more popular across a wide range of states. It is now the tenth most commonly found last name in the US, with the highest concentrations in West Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan among others. In the most recent US Census, Coffing populations ranged from 0.015% to 0.095%.
The Coffing family appears to have spread out from their original roots in the northeast. Still, the name remains a relatively uncommon one with no clear source of origin. It continues to be a source of mystery to many who bear it but looks to be an increasingly more popular name as time passes.
Variations of the surname Coffing
The surname Coffing is a patronymic form of the given names Hoffing, Hoffman, or Hoffmann. These are Germanic names, derived from the Proto-Germanic name Hrodrhanans, meaning "bright warrior". It is found in various variants and spelling, all of which share the same origin. Some common variants include:
• Coffey – spoken as “Koffee” is an Irish variant of “Coffing”. It is derived from the Gaelic “Mac Oda”, meaning son of Oda.
• Coughing – a more modern form but still with the same origin.
• Coffee – an anglicized version of the name
• Coving – a phonetic variant, but still ultimately from the same root.
• Coveney – a variation on the Irish variant.
• Coveny – another variation on the Irish variant.
• Caffin – an example of a particularly unusual variation.
• Cofton – a British variant found in areas with strong Norman influences like Northern England and the Isle of Man.
• Kauffman, Kauffmann – mainly found in eastern Europe, a derivative of “Coffing”.
• Caufman – another variant from eastern Europe, similar to “Kauffman”
• Koffman – a phonetic variant of “Kauffman”.
• Kauffling – another unrelated variant that means “potter”, originating from Saxony and Hanover.
• Coffeyer, Coffeyor, Coffyer, Koffeyer, Koffeyor, Koffyer – further Irish variants.
• Coffen, Coffeyon, Coffyon, Cophyn, Koffen – more Irish variations, similar to “Coffey”.
• Goffin, Gofin, Goffon, Goforms – variants found in areas such as Brittany, the Netherlands, and Germany.
The surname Coffing is a widely spread form of the name, and one which has many variations both in spelling and usage. However they all share a common origin, and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic “Hrodrhanans”.
Famous people with the name Coffing
- Miles Coffing: An American artist who works in photography, filmmaking, and the plastic arts.
- Douglas Coffing: An American physicist who is a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
- Les Coffing: A former American college basketball coach and administrator.
- Al Coffing: A former professional American football and baseball player.
- Robert Coffing: A former United States Navy aviator and former Major League Baseball player.
- Florence Coffing: A former American Ideal Cereal Company administrator, politician, and businesswoman.
- William Coffing: A former American college football head coach at Virginia Military Institute.
- Jean Coffing: An American author of a number of books about crafts and knitting.
- Ernie Coffing: A former American football player.
- Deb Coffing: An American television writer and producer.
- Hosea Coffing: A former American college football coach.
- Rich Coffing: An American scientist, lawyer, and ordained minister.
- Roderick Coffing: A former Major League Baseball infielder and coach.
- Mark Coffing: A former American football player and coach.
- Matthew Coffing: An American author and professor of health care management.