The history of the name Coffan dates back to the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from a member of the family who worked as a person who made baskets. The surname Coffan is derived from the Old French words
cofin and
coffin, which in turn come from the Late Latin word
cophinus, which means
basket. Occupational names such as this one frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of
occupational surnames are called
metonymic surnames. The English word
coffin is a specialized development of this word which did not exist before the 16th century. The surname Coffan may also be a
nickname derived from the Latin word
calvus, which means
bald. Early Origins of the Coffan family
The surname Coffan was first found in
Devon at Alwington, a parish, in the union of Bideford,
hundred of Shebbear, Great Torrington. "In the church [of Alwington], over the door of the chancel, is a curious ancient monument to a member of the Coffin family."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Early History of the Coffan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coffan research.
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Coffan Spelling Variations
Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Coffan has undergone many
spelling variations, including Coffin, Coffyn, Colvin, Caffin, Caffyn, Chafen, Chaffine and many more.
Early Notables of the Coffan family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Coffan Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Coffan family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the unstable social climate in
England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Coffan were among those contributors: Francis Coffin who settled in Virginia in 1635.
The Coffan 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: Extant recte factis praemia
Motto Translation: Rewards await right actions.