Surname Kafmann - Meaning and Origin
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Kafmann: What does the surname Kafmann mean?
The last name Kafmann has a Germanic origin, and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘kaf’, meaning coffin or the Hebrew word ‘kaf’, meaning spoon. According to the 1911 Germany Census, the distribution of the Kafmann surname was most prevalent in the regions of Prussia and Pommern.
In the Middle Ages, figures denoted by this surname held a unique social and political status and were privileged to play important roles in mediating trade and legal matters between the Royal families and their families.
The Kafmann name is often linked with the Jewish faith. It is common to find Kafmann families living in noticeably Jewish neighborhoods and being involved in Jewish culture. It is unlikely that ancient Kafmann families converted from Judaism, but it is more likely that they adopted this name after generations of intermarriage with Jewish families or in some instances, adopted it as part of a formal conversion to Judaism.
Today, the Kafmann name can be found in many countries around the world, thanks to the widespread migration of its original holders throughout Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Such geographic expansion has not been lost on modern Kafmanns, many of whom are celebrated in various religious, social, and political arenas throughout the world. Honourable mentions include Isaac Kafmann, a famous French economist, politician, and statesman, and Miriam Kafmann, a German film actress.
Order DNA origin analysisKafmann: Where does the name Kafmann come from?
The last name Kafmann can be found today mainly in North America and Europe. In the United States, Kafmann is most concentrated in the Midwest states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. It is also common in the northeast states of New York and Pennsylvania. There is a higher concentration of Kafmann in the northern states than in the southern states.
In Europe, Kafmann is particularly common in Germany, where it is the 400th most common by occurrence. It can also be found in Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and some other European countries in smaller numbers.
The origins of the Kafmann surname are unknown, but it is likely of Germanic origin. It is thought to have originated as a nickname for someone with curly hair or a beard. It may have evolved over time from the Old German word “kaf”, meaning curl. It could also be derived from the personal name, Aaron, which means “mountain”.
No matter its origin, the Kafmann name is a distinctive and ancient one that has been passed down through generations, and it still remains prevalent today.
Variations of the surname Kafmann
Kafmann is a surname of German origin that is likely derived from the German word "Kaffmann", which is a combination of the German words "Kaefer" meaning beetle, and "Mann" meaning man.
Variants of the Kafmann surname include Kaffman, Kafman, Kaffmann, Kefman, Kefmann, Kepfman, Kepfman, Kopfman, Kopfmann and Kupfmann.
The earliest known record of this surname was in the town of Erzeroum, Turkey in 1493, where a Zachariah Kafmann was registered in a Jewish census as "Zachariah Kafmann from Worms". The Worms family later moved to Hungary, where the name evolved into Kopfmann in the 18th century, and then to Germany shortly after.
Spellings of the Kafmann surname can vary depending upon which language the male Jakub Kafmann was living in at the time. Kafmann is the German spelling for the surname, while Kaffman, Kefman and Kepfman are variations of the same name that were used in Hungary and Romania.
Surnames related to Kafmann include Cafman, Chapmann, Hershman, Kofman, Koppman, Koppmann, Lapmann and Oppman.
The surname Kafmann has been found throughout Europe, as well as North America and Israel. It is a common surname in Germany, Hungary, Romania and the United States, and can be found in city directories, genealogical records, public records and other sources.
Famous people with the name Kafmann
- Georges-Henri Lucien Kaffmann (1902: 1987): French geologist and ensign of the French Association of Petroleum Geologists.
- Robert Kafmann (1924: 2003): German-born American sculptor and environmentalist.
- Karel Kaffmann (1897: 1960): Czechoslovakian royalist politician and mayor of Brno.
- Emil Kafmann (1911: 1992): German-Swiss journalist and editor in chief of Tagblatt Der Stadt Zürich.
- Ernst Kafmann (1905: 1979): German photojournalist and author of the novel Die Fotoreporter.
- Sacha Kafmann (born 1985): Russian-American entrepreneur, investor and venture capitalist.
- Ruth Kafmann (1918: 2003): German-American philosopher and professor of philosophy at Hunter College.
- Susi Kafmann (1922: 2010): Swiss actress and playwright.
- Zaira Kafmann (born 1958): Brazilian-Italian architect and designer.
- Gustav Kafmann (1856: 1941): Austrian abstract painter and printmaker.