Show ContentsTuffin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Tuffin was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the medieval female given name Tiffania, that comes from the Greek Theophania, composed of the elements theos, meaning God and phainein meaning to appear. Tiffin translates roughly as the manifestation of God. 1

In a case where a man had a family by a second marriage the children of his second wife would occasionally take her name as a means of distinguishing the two groups.

Early Origins of the Tuffin family

The surname Tuffin was first found in Kent where the single names Theophania, Teffania, Theffanie all appeared in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1206. Later in Devon, Tiphina le Justiser was registered in 1322 and later again, Tiffania was found in Norfolk in 1323. Tiffan and Teffen both appear in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. As a surname, the first record we found as Gilbert Tyffayne in Norfolk in 1288. Later Cristina Typhayn was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327 and later again, William Tyffen was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524. 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include Johannes Holand et Tiffan uxor ejus; and Teffan Danyll. 1

Tiffany & Co., the luxury jewelry and specialty company in New York was named and founded in 1837 by Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812-1902), born in Killingly, Connecticut.

Early History of the Tuffin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tuffin research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1536, 1540, 1632, 1690, 1695, 1750 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Tuffin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tuffin Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Tiffen, Tiffin, Tiffing, Tiffine and others.

Early Notables of the Tuffin family

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

Migration of the Tuffin family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Tuffin or a variant listed above: Joseph Tiffen who landed in America in 1752; George Tiffin settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1822; Henry Tiffin settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1830.


HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Edwin Daniel Tuffin (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Wembley Park, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 3


The Tuffin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Patria fidelis
Motto Translation: A faithful country.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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