Surname Coffin - Meaning and Origin

Unearthing My Heritage: A Deep Dive into the Coffin Surname Through the iGENEA DNA Test

In a mix of historical narratives and genetic wonder, my iGENEA DNA test has illuminated the roots of the surname Coffin, tracing my paternal lineage. It has unveiled connections to ancient Celtic tribes in Western Europe, Viking heritage, and even ties with Sephardic Jews.

I. Coffin

Coffin: What does the surname Coffin mean?

The last name Coffin is a locational surname. It is derived from the Old French phrase "cofin," which means "basket" or "coffer." For many centuries, this particular surname was used to refer to a person who had originated from towns and villages named "Coffin" in the departments of Calvados and Calpmaine in France. It has also been suggested that the surname might derive from a place called Coffin in England, but this is less likely.

It is also believed that this surname was first used in England by French-speaking immigrants who settled in Cornwall in the 12th century. It may have been used to distinguish individuals from each other by designated areas or family units. These immigrants may then have carried the name with them to America – the first records of Coffins in the USA are from the late 16th century.

Throughout history, the last name Coffin has been associated with wealth and power, as well as with nobility. It has even been linked to the title of Baron due to its high standing. In more recent times, the name has been subject to various spellings, due to administrative mistakes and the spoken dialect of individuals. However, its original meaning and implications still remain intact.

Coffin: Where does the name Coffin come from?

The last name Coffin is most commonly found today in the United States, Canada, and Britain. In the United States, the largest populations of Coffins are found in Maine, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Most of the families descended from the Mayflower Pilgrims who settled in America in the early 1600s.

In Canada, the town of Boutiliers Point, Nova Scotia has the highest concentration of Coffins, with the majority of them in the Maritime Provinces. Most Canadians with the last name Coffin are the descendants of British settlers in the 1700s.

In Britain, the name Coffin is most common in Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. There has been a presence of the Coffin family in Britain for centuries, with records showing an estate named "Coffin" in North Cornwall in 1535. In particular, there has been a long-standing presence of the Coffin family in a Somerset village of Holford over the centuries.

In other parts of the world, the last name Coffin is found in countries or regions such as South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica.

In summary, the last name Coffin is predominantly found in the United States, Canada, and Britain, but there are also smaller populations in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Coffin

The surname Coffin is derived from the French word "cofin" which means basket or box. It was originally bestowed upon people who worked as basket makers or coffin makers, or made related products such as chests and trunks. The surname has a variety of spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin.

The most common spelling of the surname is Coffin, but it has also been found spelled as Coffyn, Coven, Coffen, Coffing, Cuffin, Cuffing, Cuffyn, Coufin and Caufin. It is widely used in England and Ireland, and has been carried to many countries around the world.

Variants of the surname Coffin include Coffing, Cifting, Coveing, Caufing, Cawfin, Coufey, Cauphin and Covening. In Scotland, the surname is spelled as Cowen and Cowin. In Italy, it may be spelled as Cofino or Cafino. Some rare variants of the surname include Coveney, Copfeyn and Copfyn.

Surnames of the same origin as Coffin include Coffey, Coufey, Cauffey, Chafin and Capone. These surnames are all derived from the same French root.

Coffin is a relatively common surname, and there are numerous associated spellings, variants and surnames of the same origin. While the surname may refer to those who once worked as basket makers, coffins makers, and related professions, it is now more commonly found with individuals whose ancestors may have arrived from various countries around the world.

Famous people with the name Coffin

• Abner Coffin: an American lumber merchant from Byfield, Massachusetts.
• Algernon Coffin: 19th century British author and clergyman.
• Charles Coffin: minister and president of Harvard.
• Charles Carleton Coffin: American journalist, author and Civil War veteran.
• Charles Delano Coffin: American photographer and Civil War veteran.
• Charles Perry Coffin: civil engineer and railroad magnate in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Dennis Coffin: Civil War veteran and businessman from Newburyport, Massachusetts.
• Edward Coffin: 19th-century minister and author from Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Edward Holden Coffin: early 20th century Yale professor of Drama.
• Ellenor C. Coffin: American music teacher and composer from Massachusetts.
• Fred Coffin: actor, who slothed the role of Commander Danforth in the TV series The Crimson Pirate.
• Harold Coffin: American businessman and philanthroper from Maine.
• Henry Sloane Coffin: American theologian and pastor.
• Lynde Upham Coffin: American businessman, Board Member of the Ohio and Erie Canalway Association.
• Nathaniel Coffin: businessman and politician from Newport, Rhode Island.
• Nicholas Coffin: sculptor from early 19th century Philadelphia.
• Oramel Coffin: Civil War veteran and early settler of Corning, New York.
• Peter Coffin: illusionist, singer and musician.
• Richard Auckland Coffin: British naval officer from the 19th century.
• Robert Coffin: American banker and philanthropist from Philadelphia.

Other surnames

CoffieCoffieldCoffinbargarCoffinbargerCoffinbergerCoffinberryCoffinberyCoffinburyCoffineCoffingCoffitt