Coffing History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Family Crest Image (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

The Anglo-Saxons of Britain first developed the name Coffing. It was a name given to someone who was a person who made baskets. The surname Coffing 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 Coffing may also be a nickname derived from the Latin word calvus, which means bald.

Early Origins of the Coffing family

The surname Coffing 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]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 has a range of spellings for the family: Richard Chaufin, Nottinghamshire; Robert Coffyn, Lincolnshire; and William Coffyn, Devon. ^[2]

Early History of the Coffing family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coffing research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1571, 1626, 1571, 1585, 1588, 1592, 1593, 1594, 1597 and 1598 are included under the topic Early Coffing History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coffing Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Coffing have been found, including Coffin, Coffyn, Colvin, Caffin, Caffyn, Chafen, Chaffine and many more.

Early Notables of the Coffing family (pre 1700)

Notables of this surname at this time include: Edward Coffin alias Hatton (1571-1626), English Jesuit, born at Exeter in 1571, and arrived at the English college at Rheims on 19 July 1585. On 26 July 1588 he entered...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coffing Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coffing family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Coffing, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were: Francis Coffin who settled in Virginia in 1635.