KAUFMAN
Kaufman is a surname of German origin. The name derives from the Middle High German word kaufman, which means a merchant or trader. It was originally employed as an occupational name for those involved in buying and selling goods, signalling a family’s historical association with commerce.
Early documentation of the surname is found throughout Europe. The earliest known instance is that of Herbort Kofmanni in Cologne, Germany, dating to 1135. Subsequent records appear in the early twelfth century, for example Alice Chepman of Derbyshire in 1207, and in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries in Germany with Berchtoldus Kofman of Weinzberg (1287). In England the name survived in variations such as Chapman, Chipman and Chipper, which all stem from the Old English compound ceapmann – a traveller who bargains or barters.
During the period when governments introduced personal taxation, surnames became essential for civic administration. In England this system was known as the Poll Tax, and the use of occupational surnames such as Kaufman facilitated record-keeping. The surname was carried to the New World in the seventeenth century; Henry Chapman, a 19‑year‑old emigrant from London, arrived in Virginia on the ship Primrose in July 1635.
The name has been retained in several linguistic forms across the German-speaking world, including Kaufler in Austria, Koopman in Denmark, Coopman and de Copeman in Flanders, all preserving the core meaning of a trader. In modern times, the surname is notably common among Jewish families, reflecting the historical adoption of occupational names within Jewish communities in Europe.
In summary, the Kaufman surname embodies a long-standing tradition of mercantile activity, with a documented presence that spans from the eleventh through the seventeenth centuries in both Germanic and Anglo‑Saxon contexts. Its persistence as a family name attests to the enduring significance of commerce in European history.
Typical given names associated with the Kaufman surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- John
- Mark
- Matthew
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Simon
Female
- Anna
- Catherine
- Cheryl
- Janice
- Karen
- Louise
- Nicola
- Pauline
- Rachel
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Shirley
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Kaufman in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Kaufman are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Malted milk biscuit.
There are approximately 823 people named Kaufman in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,587th most common surname in Britain. Around 13 in a million people in Britain are named Kaufman.
Religion of origin: Jewish
Language of origin: Hebrew
Famous people named Kaufman
- Gerald Kaufman - Politician (1930 to 2017)
- Andy Kaufman - American stand-up comedian and actor (1949 to 1984)
- Alexis Kaufman - American sports announcer, professional wrestler, model, actress
- Nick Kaufman - Israeli lawyer
- Matthew Kaufman - Geneticist (1942 to 2013)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.