Surname Coffitt - Meaning and Origin
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Coffitt: What does the surname Coffitt mean?
The last name Coffitt is an anglicization of an Irish surname, most commonly thought to derive from Mac Cobhthaigh, meaning "son of the victory". Like many surnames, it is possible that it originally started as a nickname for a triumphant warrior or champion. It could also be a topographical surname indicating that the original bearer lived near a particular physical feature, such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. The spelling variations of the surname Coffitt, include but not limited to, Coffey, Coffey, Coffee, Coffie, Coffy and others. These variations in spelling often occurred because names in the Middle Ages were often spelled phonetically, resulting in many different variations during a person's lifetime. Bearers of the surname Coffitt may have immigrated to other English-speaking countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand during the time of the Great Famine in Ireland in the late 1840s.
Order DNA origin analysisCoffitt: Where does the name Coffitt come from?
The surname Coffitt is of old French origin, likely derived from the given name Godfrey, through the French form Goffredo or Geoffroy. It eventually evolved into Coffitt in English-speaking regions. This transition was common after William the Conqueror and his Normans invaded England in 1066, transforming English into a language heavily influenced by French. Many French names were anglicized over time accordingly. Specific spelling variations of the surname Coffitt include Godfrey, Coffey, Goff, Goffe, and more.
As a family name, Coffitt is most common in the United States. However, it remains relatively rare overall. The spelling variations mean it can be found in numerous countries, and migration patterns over centuries have spread the surname globally. But the highest concentrations today are primarily in the USA. Given that families with this surname may have roots in various countries, the precise ethnic and geographic origins of any individual bearing the surname may vary widely.
Variations of the surname Coffitt
The surname Coffitt is likely to have originated from the English surname Coffin, reflecting a change in spelling over generations or due to migrations. Similar to Coffitt, other probable variations could include Coffitts, Coffit, and Coffitts.
The surname Coffin itself has several variations and phonetic equivalents such as Coffyn, Coffing, and Coffeen. In France, the name is found as Coffin, just like in England, but also has variants like Coffinet, Coffino and Coffineau.
As the habitational name originating from Couffy in Loir-et-Cher, France, it has been represented as De Coffy or De Couffy in historical documents.
The name saw further variations based mostly on phonetics still bearing a phonetic or visual resemblance to the original, with Coffyn and Cophen being common variations. A similar variation is the surname Cofield or Coffield.
All these names have evolved over time and place, and changes most likely occurred due to variations in local dialects, immigration, or simple misspellings that have become standardized over generations. It should be remembered that the connections amongst all these names would need genealogical research to verify.
Famous people with the name Coffitt
- Rob Coffitt: Entrepreneur and musician who is the former CFO of Def Jam Recordings.
- Lance Coffitt: Actor and filmmaker.
- Bobby Coffitt: Grammy-nominated country music singer-songwriter.
- Jim Coffitt: Major League Baseball catcher and manager.
- Jackie Coffitt: Professional tennis player who competed on the WTA circuit.
- Fred Coffitt: Professional golfer and winner of the 1924 Canadian Amateur Golf Championship.
- Dan Coffitt: Musician and trombonist.
- Andrea Coffitt: Singer, songwriter, and performer, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the band Solar Twins.
- Julie Coffitt: Actress who had a role in the film Return to Oz.
- William Coffitt: Actor who is known for his roles in the TV movie Frankenstein and the film Hellbinders.