Cauf History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Cauf is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from Calf, a variant of the Old Norse personal name Kalfr, which means calf. However, several alternative interpretations exist. The name may be of nickname origin, derived from the Old English cealf which means calf, indicating one thought to possess the characteristics of a calf. 1

Early Origins of the Cauf family

The surname Cauf was first found in various counties throughout old Britain as by the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the following listings were found: Reginald Cauf, Yorkshire; John le Cauf, Lincolnshire; and Nicholas Calf, Gloucestershire. 2

Early History of the Cauf family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cauf research. Another 240 words (17 lines of text) covering the years 1163, 1176, 1273, 1500, 1560, 1580, 1597, 1605, 1657 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Cauf History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cauf Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Cauf has been spelled many different ways, including Calf, Calfe, Cauf, Caufe, Calffe and others.

Early Notables of the Cauf family

Notables of the family at this time include Abraham Colfe or Calf (1580-1657), English divine, son of the Rev. Richard Colfe, D.D., prebendary of Canterbury, by his first wife, whose maiden name was Thorneton, was born at Canterbury, 7 Aug. 1580, of a family that had settled...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cauf Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cauf family to Ireland

Some of the Cauf family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cauf family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Caufs to arrive in North America: William Calfe who arrived in Virginia in 1637 and Daniel Calf in Boston in 1765.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)