Show ContentsCoffer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Coffer is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a treasurer, or a person who made coffers. Ancient records reveal the name Coffer is derived from the Old English word coferer, which meant as above.

Early Origins of the Coffer family

The surname Coffer was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Coffer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coffer research. Another 207 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1298, 1299, 1327, 1377 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Coffer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coffer Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Coffer include Coffer, Cofrer, Coffere, Coffare, Coffery and many more.

Early Notables of the Coffer family

More information is included under the topic Early Coffer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Coffer migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Coffer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Coffer, who landed in Virginia in 1661 [1]
  • James Coffer, who arrived in Virginia in 1662 [1]
Coffer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • H Henry Coffer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 [1]
  • Henry Coffer, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1753
Coffer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • D. Coffer traveled to New York in 1820

Contemporary Notables of the name Coffer (post 1700) +

  • Jim Coffer, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Tennessee 6th District, 1996 (Independent), 2000 (Libertarian) [2]
  • David Coffer, General Secretary of the Royal British Legion

St. Francis Dam
  • Mrs. Cintha Ellen Coffer, (nee Bailey), American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
  • Mr. Aaron Coffer, American resident in Santa Clarita who survived when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928 had injuries


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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