Surname Coffenbarger - Meaning and Origin
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Coffenbarger: What does the surname Coffenbarger mean?
The last name Coffenbarger is believed to be of Dutch origin. It is thought to be derived from the Dutch words "cofin" and "berg," which respectively mean "coffin" and "mountain" or "hill." This suggests that the surname is related to a physical feature in a family's homeland, such as a graveyard or hillside where coffins were laid.
Some accounts of the name also claim that it originated from the old German phrase “Konrad’s Berg,” or Konrad’s mountain in English. This could suggest a specific origin in Germany, with the original family linked to a mountain or hill where a man named Konrad lived or was buried.
The Coffenbarger surname can be found in America as far back as the 18th century. In records, people of the same name can be found living in the area of Virginia and other Mid-Atlantic states. The name Coffenbarger is also common in Switzerland and Germany, though it is not a very widespread surname.
In modern times, Coffenbarger is a unique surname that has a slightly unusual origin which will continue to fascinate many people.
Order DNA origin analysisCoffenbarger: Where does the name Coffenbarger come from?
The last name Coffenbarger is not widely known, and is believed to be of German origin. Today, the surname is located mostly in North America, with a concentration of Coffenbargers in the Midwest and South-Central regions of the US.
Many people have traced the historical trajectory of the name back to Germany. According to familysearch.org, the earliest known records of the Coffenbarger name were from 1762, in the city of Offenbach, located in currently-day Hesse, Germany. Records suggest that a Peter Coffenbarger, born to immigrant parents in Germany, followed his family to America at the beginning of the 19th century, settling in Pennsylvania. Through further migration across the continent, Coffenbargers have found their way to the states of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Illinois, among others.
The majority of Coffenbargers in the US today are descendants of the original immigrant, Peter Coffenbarger. The name remains relatively rare, and its use over time has since declined. Additionally, many of the Coffenbargers have adopted alternate spellings of the name, such as Coffmanbarger, Cofferbarger, and Coffingerbarger.
The Coffenbarger name is a unique part of American history, and many people with this last name retain a strong connection to the past. They trace their roots back to the early immigrant ancestors of Germany, and celebrate the legacy of the Coffenbargers that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Variations of the surname Coffenbarger
The surname Coffenbarger has numerous variants of spelling, including Caufmanbarger, Kauffmanbarger, Coffmanbarger, Koffmanbarger, Kauffenbarger and Koffenbarger. It is considered a German-American surname of Germanic origins, having been derived from a Middle High German word, ‘Koffan’, in combination with the common German suffix ‘burger’. This makes the entirety of the word mean, ‘cup bearer’, or ‘warrior’; with its Old Saxon roots dating the name back to as far as the 16th century.
The past spelling variant of Coffenbarger further evidences its Germanic roots, being closely pronounced ‘Koffenbarger’, also known as Koffenberger. Beyond this variant, their are a number of off-shoots in spelling which originated mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries. These spellings emerged from family migrations across the United States and Canada, spending time in each respective region.
The appearance of slight changes in the original spelling are quite common amongst German surnames; with the variations of spelling resulting in the emergence of slight differences in the surname’s pronunciation. Despite such developments, their is no doubt that the surname Coffenbarger is of Germanic origin and is a derivative of the original Middle High German word, ‘Koffan’.
Despite there being numerous variants of the surname over time, the family name is still widely used across the United States and Germany. As such, this has cemented the name in the family pedigree for many modern families today.
Famous people with the name Coffenbarger
- Robby Coffenbarger: an American YouTuber and content creator known for his gaming and travel videos.
- Steve Coffenbarger: a former professional baseball player who spent four seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs.
- Bruce Coffenbarger: a former NBA player who is most notable for playing for the Kansas City Kings from 1982 to 1985.
- Brian Coffenbarger: a successful real estate investor who owns a large portfolio of properties in the Seattle area.
- Rich Coffenbarger: a former NFL player who had an 11-year career playing for the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.
- Sidney Coffenbarger: an American actor and stuntman, who is most known for his roles in "The Horse Whisperer" and "The Assissination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford".
- John Coffenbarger: an American amateur golfer who won the New England Amateur Championship twice.
- Kelly Coffenbarger: a successful American entrepreneur and inventor who is the founder of Green Coffees, an eco-friendly coffee roastery.
- Shawn Coffenbarger: a former NBA player who spent six seasons in the league with the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks.
- Chris Coffenbarger: a talented country music singer-songwriter who has written a number of hits for other stars.