Surname Cofran - Meaning and Origin
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Cofran: What does the surname Cofran mean?
The last name Cofran is of French origin and is believed to hail from the region of Normandy. It is derived from the name of an ancient local river, the Corbiere, and the Old French word "fran" meaning "free". The name Cofran was thought to be a sign of one's distinguished status; a person with this name was thought to have been a member of a prestigious French family.
The earliest known records of the Cofran family date back to the 12th century in the village of Cofran, France. The family first established itself in Cofran, before moving to other parts of the greater Normandy region. The name Cofran remains prominent throughout the area, and it is believed that several lines of this family still exist today.
Over the centuries, members of the Cofran family have achieved success as prominent business owners, prominent members of the clergy, politicians, high-ranking military officers, and respected academics. Many have moved to other parts of Europe and later to North America, bringing their distinguished name with them.
Today, Cofrans can be found in most parts of the world. Whether in the U.S., Canada, or Europe, this distinguished French family name is a reminder of its impressive heritage. It has become a symbol of success and distinction, representing the values that it held centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisCofran: Where does the name Cofran come from?
The last name Cofran is thought to have originated in England, and is found to be most commonly found in north-central England today. There are significant numbers of people with the Cofran name in larger cities, such as London, Manchester, and Leeds.
Outside of the UK, Cofran is also found in significant numbers in the United States. Records show that Cofran immigrants first came to the United States in the 1800s, settling predominantly in states such as New York and Massachusetts. From there the name has spread over many generations throughout the United States, particularly into Pennsylvania and its surrounding states, as well as to the mid-west and particularly Illinois.
Beyond the United States and the UK, the name is also found in less significant numbers in other countries such as Canada, Ireland, and Australia. Of these countries, Canada is thought to have the next highest amount of people with the Cofran name.
Given its longer history in England than other countries, it is likely that Cofran is more common there than anywhere else, particularly in the north-central parts of the country. More recent waves of migration from the UK to other countries have also increased the geographical spread of the Cofran name, particularly to larger cities and states in the United States and Canada.
Variations of the surname Cofran
The surname Cofran is an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "Mac Cofraing" which derives from the Old Norse given name, Káfr. Variants of this surname include McConfrin, MacCoffren, India, McAffran, Conran, Connran, McConran and variates of these. Many times, surnames like Cofran and its derivatives are spelled differently due to how it is pronounced. For example, the pronunciation of Cofran can also resemble Coffeen, Coffee, Coffer, Coffey and Coughran.
The Cofran surname is most closely associated with Ireland, Scotland or Wales; however, many individuals have emigrated from these area to the United States and elsewhere in recent history. As far as origins to the Cofran surname, it is said to have derived from the Irish surname Mac Conraoi, the Scottish surname McDonnell, or the Welsh form of Fitz John. As with many surnames of Irish, Scottish or Welsh origin, there can be a great deal of variation in spellings, even within the same family.
Aside from spellings, branch-offs of the Cofran surname are sometimes found. These include Corfin, Comerford, Caffrey, Coffey, Coleman, Coombe, Colman, and Cowan, among others. It’s possible that these genealogical branches may even find patterns of immigration to the United States and abroad, with perhaps different surnames belonging to the same ancestral tree.
In conclusion, the Cofran surname has a number of variants, spellings and branch-offs; but all are the same origin and may reflect an ancestral lineage from Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
Famous people with the name Cofran
- Nicky Cofran: Australian actor well-known for appearing in TV series such as All Saints and McLeod’s Daughters.
- David Cofran: CEO of Genuity Group, based in London.
- Christopher Cofran: Professional high jumper and winner of the 2017 Central American and Caribbean Championships.
- Jennifer Cofran: American entrepreneur and the founder of Cofran & Co., a women’s apparel and design company.
- Michael Cofran: Former Australian Rugby League player who represented both the Illawarra Steelers and the Gold Coast.
- Gabriel Cofran: Argentine musician and singer-songwriter, most widely known for producing the original music for two independent films.
- John Cofran: Founding member of the British rock band The Blades and their lead vocalist until their demise in 1988.
- Tom Cofran: Award-winning American chef based in Miami and consultant for numerous upscale restaurants around the world.
- David Cofran: American film and television producer best known for producing the ABC series Alias.
- Katy Cofran: Professional golfer for the Lady Irish Golf Academy.