Surname Kaufer - Meaning and Origin
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Kaufer: What does the surname Kaufer mean?
The last name Kaufer is a variation of the German word for "merchant." It is believed to have originally been used as an occupational surname, referring to a person who worked in a market or traded goods for a living. The first recorded bearer of the name was a merchant from Bamberg named Elias Kaufer who was born in 1478.
The surname Kaufer is commonly found among people of German and Jewish descent. In German, the term “Kaufer” can also refer to a buyer or purchaser; however, this is not the main source of the surname.
The term Kaufer is believed to have evolved from the Middle High German word “Kof” and the Low German word “Kauf.” Throughout history, the surname Kaufer has been spelled a variety of ways including Kaufmann, Kauffman, Kafer, Kuefer, Kuffer, Kouver and Kowver.
Today, the surname Kaufer continues to be very popular among those of German descent. The Kaufer family is widely spread throughout German speaking countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the U.S. It is also found in other countries such as Australia, Canada and the U.K.
Since the Kaufer name has its origins in the occupation of merchantry, it is likely that its progeny carry and have carried the same strong sense of business acumen and entrepreneurship of their ancestors. Perhaps this is why the name has been so successful throughout the ages.
Order DNA origin analysisKaufer: Where does the name Kaufer come from?
The surname Kaufer is likely of Germanic origin, and is an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word “koufere”, which is a traditional German profession word meaning “merchant”. It is likely derived from the word “kaufen”, which means “to buy”.
Today, the surname Kaufer is most commonly found in areas with large German-speaking populations, particularly in Europe. In Germany itself, the surname is particularly common in the southern region of Bavaria and the southwestern region of Baden-Württemberg. The surname Kaufer can also be found throughout the rest of Europe, particularly in Austria, Switzerland, and some parts of Eastern Europe. It is also a common surname in some areas of the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, due to waves of Germanic immigration to these countries in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The various English-language spellings of the surname, such as Kauffman, Kuffer, and Kafer, are also quite common. The spellings differ somewhat from region to region, depending on the local language. For example, in German-speaking countries, the surname is most commonly spelled with a “K”, whereas in countries like France and Belgium, the spelling is more likely to be with a “C” (Kauffer).
Overall, the surname Kaufer is a fairly common name, both in Europe as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Kaufer
The surname Kaufer is a common German family name. It can be spelled in a variety of ways, including Kaufmann, Kauffer and Kauffmann. Kaufer is an occupational surname derived from the Middle High German word koufr or koufmann, which means “merchant” or “buyer”. Individuals with this surname were likely involved in the day-to-day buying and selling of goods in their community.
Today, the Kaufer surname has spread to many different parts of the world. In some countries, the spelling of the name has shifted slightly, with Kaufer becoming Kofer, Koferlein, Kauer, Kauferle, Kaufhauer and Kauferling. In areas such as the United States, Canada and Australia, the Kaufer surname has been Anglicized to become Coffer, Cofferly, Cowher, Cofferle or Coferly.
In addition to variants in spelling, the Kaufer surname can also manifest as a patronymic surname, which can change depending on the gender of the original bearer. For example, in German-speaking countries, the patronymic name for the son of a man with the Kaufer surname would be Kaufmann, while a daughter’s surname might be Kauffmann or Kaufersdorff.
The Kaufer surname is also a Jewish surname, commonly found among people of Ashkenazi descent. In the Jewish community, variants of Kaufer include Cafer, Kofler, Kuffer and Kaufmanski.
No matter the variant, the Kaufer surname is an integral part of German family heritage and continues to be passed down through generations.
Famous people with the name Kaufer
- Gordon Kaufer, Hollywood Actor
- Charney Kaufer, Retired Post-Impressionist Painter
- Sophia Kaufer, Luxury Shoe Designer
- Becky Kaufer-Lullove, Broadway Actress
- Andy Kaufer, Professional Boxer
- Dan Kaufer, Musician and Composer
- Anthony Kaufer, Olympic Gymnast
- Liza Kaufer, American Poet
- Kevin Kaufer, Actor
- Nicholas Kaufer, Stand-Up Comedian
- Gail Kaufer Hoffman, Television Producer
- Ken Kaufer, Professional Football Coach
- Al Kaufer, Trampoline Acrobat
- Jeff Kaufer, Professional Golfer
- David Kaufer, Film Director
- David Kaufer, Chief Executive Officer
- Joe Kaufer, Professional Wrestler
- Robert Kaufer, Award-Winning Radio Personality