Coffin Name Meaning, Facts & Family History

Coffin Name Meaning and Family History

The surname Coffin is of English origin and originated from the Old French word "cofin," which means "basket" or "container." It was originally a metonymic occupational surname for someone who made baskets or containers out of woven twigs or plant fibers.
The Coffin family history can be traced back to the early medieval period in England. The Coffins were originally Norman, hailing from the region of Normandy in France, and migrated to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
One notable bearer of the Coffin surname was Sir Richard Coffin (d. 1349), who served as the Sheriff of Devon and Governor of Bristol during the reign of Edward III. The family later settled in the county of Devon, where they held substantial land holdings and established a distinguished reputation.
Over the centuries, members of the Coffin family were involved in various notable professions, including law, politics, military service, and entrepreneurship. The family played a significant role in the development and growth of the American colonies, particularly in New England, where several Coffin descendants settled.
In the United States, the most prominent branch of the Coffin family can be traced back to Tristram Coffin (c. 1605–1681). He emigrated from England to New England in the mid-17th century and became one of the founders of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Tristram and his descendants played a vital role in the settlement and development of Nantucket, particularly in the whaling industry.
Today, the Coffin surname is relatively rare, and many individuals with this surname can still be found in the New England region of the United States and parts of Canada, reflecting their historical presence and impact in these areas.

Facts About the Surname Coffin

1. The surname Coffin is derived from the Old English word "cofan" or "coffin," which means a chest or box. It is likely that people with this surname were originally associated with the making or selling of coffins or chests.
2. The Coffin surname is fairly rare, particularly in its original form. It is more common in the United States, specifically in New England, where the descendants of Tristram Coffin, who arrived in Massachusetts in the mid-1600s, are prominent.
3. Tristram Coffin and his family were among the first European settlers on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts. They played a significant role in the island's development and the establishment of the whaling industry.
4. Many prominent individuals with the Coffin surname have made significant contributions in various fields. Examples include Joshua Coffin, a historian and author from Massachusetts, and Isaac Coffin, a British naval officer and politician.
5. The Coffin surname has various spelling variations, including Cuffin, Coffyn, and Caufyn. These variations are often the result of changes in spelling over time or regional differences.
6. The Coffin coat of arms features a red shield with three lions passant, or walking, as well as a single silver lion passant on a black chief, or top portion of the shield. This coat of arms is associated with the Coffin family of Alwington in Devon, England.
7. The Coffin surname has been adopted by different families unrelated to the original Coffin family. This is a common occurrence with surnames, as families may adopt or be given a surname for various reasons, such as marriage or inheritance.
8. The Coffin surname can be found in various countries, including the United States, England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It has spread through migration and colonization over the centuries.
9. The Coffin name has inspired various cultural references, such as the Coffin House in Newbury, Massachusetts, which is one of the oldest surviving timber-framed houses in North America. Additionally, the name Coffin has been used for fictional characters in literature and entertainment.
10. Genealogical research and DNA testing have allowed individuals with the Coffin surname to trace their family history and connect with distant relatives. These resources have provided valuable insights into the origins and migration patterns of the Coffin family.

Where is the Coffin Family From

The Coffin family name is of English origin. It is believed to have originated from the county of Devonshire in England. The Coffin family is most well-known for their role in the settlement of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, United States.

Famous People With the Surname Coffin

1. Paul Revere Coffin - American journalist and newspaper editor.
2. Tristram Coffin - American actor and philanthropist.
3. John Henry Coffin - Canadian politician and businessman.
4. John I. Coffin - British molecular biologist and Nobel laureate.
5. William Sloane Coffin - American clergyman, peace activist, and civil rights advocate.
6. Noah Coffin - American sailor and sea captain.
7. Robert Peter Coffin - American author and poet.
8. Charles Carleton Coffin - American journalist and war correspondent.
9. Isaac Coffin - British naval officer and colonial governor.
10. Nathaniel Coffin Jr. - American merchant and political figure.
11. William Isaac Coffin - American politician and member of the United States House of Representatives.
12. Richard W. Coffin - American lawyer, judge, and politician.
13. Edwin Coffin - Australian rules footballer.
14. Lewis Coffin - American architect and civil engineer.
15. Samuel Coffin - American politician and member of the United States House of Representatives.

All People Whose Last Name is "Coffin"

Leah CoffinKerri CoffinHannah CoffinSeth CoffinRichard CoffinGeorge CoffinKaren CoffinBrian CoffinCarol CoffinCynthia CoffinMatthew CoffinKathleen CoffinSharon CoffinAnn CoffinBarbara CoffinBetty CoffinBruce CoffinCharles CoffinChris CoffinChristine CoffinChristopher CoffinDaniel CoffinDavid CoffinDeborah CoffinDonald CoffinDonna CoffinElizabeth CoffinJames CoffinJennifer CoffinJessica CoffinJohn CoffinJulie CoffinKenneth CoffinLinda CoffinLisa CoffinMark CoffinMary CoffinMichael CoffinNancy CoffinPatricia CoffinPeter CoffinRobert CoffinRonald CoffinSandra CoffinSarah CoffinScott CoffinStephen CoffinSteven CoffinSusan CoffinThomas CoffinWilliam CoffinEdward CoffinJoseph CoffinKimberly CoffinRuth CoffinJean CoffinMargaret CoffinPaul CoffinTimothy CoffinDorothy CoffinFrank CoffinGary CoffinHelen CoffinJoshua CoffinEric CoffinGregory CoffinHarold CoffinAmanda CoffinDebra CoffinStephanie CoffinAndrew CoffinDiane CoffinJason CoffinKevin CoffinPamela CoffinKelly CoffinMichelle CoffinRebecca CoffinVirginia CoffinHeather CoffinPhilip CoffinRyan CoffinBonnie CoffinBrenda CoffinJane CoffinJudith CoffinJustin CoffinCarolyn CoffinChristina CoffinDale CoffinHoward CoffinJonathan CoffinLaura CoffinTerry CoffinAngela CoffinConstance CoffinDennis CoffinJerry CoffinLarry CoffinNathan CoffinTristram CoffinAlan CoffinDawn CoffinGerald CoffinJared CoffinJoan CoffinLaurie CoffinMelissa CoffinStanley CoffinAmy CoffinAshley CoffinFred CoffinJeff CoffinRussell CoffinVictoria CoffinCatherine CoffinChad CoffinEleanor CoffinJoyce CoffinTheresa CoffinAlfred CoffinArthur CoffinCindy CoffinEllen CoffinHarry CoffinJeremy CoffinKatherine CoffinLynn CoffinMarie CoffinMarilyn CoffinMarion CoffinNicholas CoffinPatrick CoffinPhillip CoffinPhyllis CoffinRandy CoffinTina CoffinTodd CoffinWendy CoffinAlice CoffinAllen CoffinAnne CoffinBarry CoffinClifford CoffinDana CoffinErin CoffinKeith CoffinRaymond CoffinTammy CoffinAaron CoffinAlbert CoffinCourtney CoffinDean CoffinJack CoffinKathy CoffinLawrence CoffinLeonard CoffinRoy CoffinSally CoffinSean CoffinSteve CoffinTiffany CoffinBenjamin CoffinCraig CoffinDenise CoffinDon CoffinEvelyn CoffinFlorence CoffinGlenn CoffinKristen CoffinLouis CoffinLouise CoffinMartha CoffinMildred CoffinNorma CoffinSamantha CoffinStacy CoffinAnna CoffinBeverly CoffinFrances CoffinGloria CoffinJill CoffinJune CoffinKim CoffinKyle CoffinLori CoffinMarjorie CoffinMegan CoffinNicole CoffinSamuel CoffinSheila CoffinSuzanne CoffinTeresa CoffinTracy CoffinWalter CoffinAndrea CoffinCurtis CoffinDebbie CoffinDoris CoffinEsther CoffinJesse CoffinJoe CoffinJudy CoffinKatie CoffinPaula CoffinRachel CoffinRalph CoffinSara CoffinSylvia CoffinVicki CoffinAdam CoffinAudrey CoffinBrandon CoffinBrent CoffinBrittany CoffinDuane CoffinEdna CoffinGail CoffinGordon CoffinGreg CoffinHeidi CoffinJulia CoffinLee CoffinLois CoffinMelvin CoffinMichele CoffinNorman CoffinRoger CoffinShauna CoffinTaylor CoffinTom CoffinTris CoffinTyler CoffinValerie CoffinZachary CoffinAbigail CoffinByron CoffinCarla CoffinCaroline CoffinCarrie CoffinChelsea CoffinClarence CoffinDanielle CoffinDiana CoffinElaine CoffinFrederick CoffinHenry CoffinKristin CoffinLillian CoffinLloyd CoffinMelinda CoffinNathaniel CoffinRita CoffinRodney CoffinStacey CoffinThelma CoffinBernice CoffinBrett CoffinCody CoffinColleen CoffinCorey CoffinEarl CoffinEdith CoffinEdwin CoffinEmily CoffinFrancis CoffinGladys CoffinGlenda CoffinJacob CoffinJay CoffinJeanette CoffinJeanne CoffinJoann CoffinKayla CoffinMadeline CoffinMaria CoffinMeredith CoffinPeggy CoffinRandall CoffinRhonda CoffinShawn CoffinSherry CoffinTerri CoffinTony CoffinWayne CoffinAnthony CoffinApril CoffinBen CoffinBob CoffinBrooke CoffinBryan CoffinCalvin CoffinCarl CoffinCharlene CoffinConnie CoffinCrystal CoffinDan CoffinDeanna CoffinEugene CoffinGarrett CoffinGeoffrey CoffinJackie CoffinJodi CoffinJoy CoffinKendra CoffinKristina CoffinLynda CoffinMartin CoffinMarvin CoffinMaureen CoffinMillard CoffinNina CoffinRenee CoffinRoberta CoffinShannon CoffinShelby CoffinSheri CoffinTim CoffinVickie CoffinWarren CoffinWesley CoffinZane Coffin