Surname Coffen - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Coffen: What does the surname Coffen mean?
The last name Coffen is of English origin and is derived from either the Old Norse personal name “Kofi” or from the place name Coffen, which is a small settlement in Wiltshire, England. The name Kofi is derived from the Old Norse elements “Kofr,” which means “rampart” or “fortification,” and “vinnr,” which means “victor” – together, the two elements form a name that can be interpreted as “victor of, or by, the fortification.”
The surname Coffen is relatively rare, but it is thought to have been introduced to England several centuries ago by settlers from Scandinavia – likely Viking settlers who crossed the North Sea during their travels. It is quite common in Anglo-Saxon regions of the United Kingdom, particularly in Eastern and southeastern England. It has also been found in the United States since around the time of the American Revolutionary Wars.
Those with the surname Coffen are typically independent, strong-willed, and enterprising individuals who often excel in the fields of corporate business, science, and technology. In addition, many members of the Coffen family have been successful in the worlds of art and academia.
Order DNA origin analysisCoffen: Where does the name Coffen come from?
The surname Coffen is most commonly found today in English-speaking countries, especially Scotland, England, Ireland, the United States, and Australia.
In the United States, it is believed that the surname Coffen first arrived in the early 1600s with Irish settlers to areas such as Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Up through the 19th century, many Coffens made their way to the Eastern and Midwestern United States and can be found today in abundance in all corners of the country.
In Australia, it was estimated that in 2020, there were almost 1,500 people bearing the Coffen surname. Many Coffen families migrated to the land down under in the 19th century and much of the population today are descendants of these same families.
In Scotland, the Coffen name is quite common, with records showing that many of the country’s earliest Coffen settlers came from England, Ireland, and even Wales.
Overall, it is likely that descendants of the early Coffen families can be found living in all corners of the English-speaking world today.
Variations of the surname Coffen
The surname Coffen can have many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Coffen is sometimes spelled as Coffan, Coughan, Coffen, Coffyn, Coffing, Coffey, Coffee, and Kauffman.
In Scotland, the surname Coffen may have derived from the Gaelic and Ancient British terms ‘cudach’ or ‘guth-finn’, meaning “raven” and “son of fair-haired” respectively. In some cases, it may also have originated from a juxtaposition of two different names, such as McToffen.
The different variants of the surname Coffen can be traced to a number of other surnames. The surname Coffen may have derived from the Irish surname Coffey, which has its roots in the Gaelic terms ‘caoinfhoghlaim’, meaning “extreme kindness”.
Other variants of Coffen include the German names Kauffman, Kauffmann, Kaufmann, and Kaufman, which were used for merchants. It may also have derived from the German names coffgen and Koffel, derived from the German word ‘koffe’ meaning ‘cup’. The name is also related to the Dutch surname Coppen, derived from the Dutch term ‘koph’, meaning ‘lump’ or ‘clump’.
In England, the surname Coffen may have derived from the ancient Norman name Corbet, which was derived from the French word ‘corb’, meaning ‘raven’. It may also have derived from the Old French name Caufre, which was derived from the Old English word ‘caf’, meaning ‘a hill of sand or small hillock’.
Another possible variant of Coffen is Moffen, which is derived from the Old English term ‘moefe’, meaning ‘crooked hill’. In some areas, the name Moffen may have also derived from the Old Norse names Mofgeir, which means ‘bay-man’ or ‘guard of the bay’, and Mofgautr, which means ‘son of the bay’.
Famous people with the name Coffen
- Bob Coffen: Bob Coffen is an American sports car racing driver and two-time Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Champion.
- Rachel Coffen: Rachel Coffen is a Canadian actress, known for roles in Degrassi: The Next Generation, Guilt Trip, and other films, television shows, and web series.
- Harry Coffen: Harry Coffen is a British screenwriter and actor, known for his work in the 2012 movie Age of Heroes and the BBC series Prey 2015.
- Tony Coffen: Tony Coffen is a professional surfer, model and actor from Australia.
- Dale Coffen: Dale Coffen is a congressional candidate from the United States.
- Ross Coffen: Ross Coffen is a retired professional ice hockey player, who was drafted in the seventh round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings.
- Koda Coffen: Koda Coffen is a YouTuber, Animal lover, and Socialite from Canada.
- perry coffen: Perry Coffen is an American filmmaker, known for his work in West Side Story and Legends of the Hidden Temple.
- Stuart Coffen: Stuart Coffen is an Australian football player, currently playing for the Kangaroo Flat Football Club.
- Moises Coffen: Moises Coffen is a former baseball player who played Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants.