Surname Kaphan - Meaning and Origin
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Kaphan: What does the surname Kaphan mean?
The last name Kaphan is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin and is derived from a Hebrew word meaning “dealer” or “merchant”. This suggests that the original bearer of this surname may have been an ancestor who was involved in commerce or trade.
The Kaphan surname is found mainly in the Jewish diaspora, particularly in Europe and the United States. It is most common among those of Lithuanian, Galician, and Russian Jewish descent. The most likely birthplace of the Kaphan name is a small town in Lithuania called Kapenai.
The Kaphan name has evolved over time, and is known by a variety of spellings, such as Koffman, Kavman, Karpman, Kappman, Kephan, and Kapman. It can also be found in some other languages, such as Yiddish, as Kofman and Kaphaner.
Despite its geographical origins, the Kaphan last name is now evenly distributed across many parts of the world. It is also fairly uncommon, as noted in the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, which found that Kaphan was the twelve thousandth most common last name in the United States.
In 2018, an estimated 21,117 Americans had the Kaphan last name. This reflects its status as a relatively rare name, but it retains a strong presence among the Jewish diaspora. In biblical Hebrew, the name Kaphan is associated with trust, hard work, and strength of character, qualities which may be ascribed to those of this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisKaphan: Where does the name Kaphan come from?
The last name Kaphan is most common in Central and Eastern Europe. Records from the 15th century show that the name originated in Germany, particularly in certain regions of Bavaria and Saxony. Today it is found in countries like Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. It is also found in scattered populations in other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Britain, France, and Australia.
The spelling variants of this name also exist and include Kaphan, Koffman, Kafan, Kaphan, Kafon, Kaufmann, and Kaufman. It is likely that some of these variants were adopted when the Kaphan family migrated from one region of Europe to another over the centuries.
In modern times, Kaphan is a relatively uncommon surname. In Germany, for example, there are currently over a million people with the last name Bauer, but only about 5,000 with Kaphan. Nevertheless, the name enjoys an ancient heritage and is still recognized among some families in Central and Eastern Europe.
Variations of the surname Kaphan
The surname Kaphan is one of the many surnames that have various spelling variations and variants, as well as alternate surnames. Some of the spellings and alternate surnames for Kaphan include Kappen, Koppen, Kafan, Kavan, Koffman, Kaphan, Kavon, Kaffman, Kapfen, and Kapham. All of these surnames have Jewish origins, deriving from the Hebrew language.
Kappen is one of the more popular variants of Kaphan, and it is also derived from Hebrew, though the exact meaning of the word is unclear. Koppen is another variant possibly derived from the Hebrew word "Koppen", which means a measure of grain. Kafan and Kavan have eastern European and Hebrew origins and both mean "belonging to God" or "God has protected".
Koffman and Kaffman are both derived from the Hebrew word, "Kaf" which means palm. However, understanding the key difference is critical when researching Koffman or Kaffman, as one is often indicative of Eastern European Jewish heritage, while the other is more commonly indicative of Middle Eastern/Sephardic heritage.
Kapfen is derived from the Hebrew word "Kaf" meaning "Palm". Kapham is possibly derived from the Hebrew word "Keph" meaning "hollowed out bowl". Finally, Kavon likely originates from an older spelling of Kaphan.
All of these variants of the surname Kaphan have Jewish origins and are derived from the same language, though the exact meanings and origins can differ. The surname, as well as any variants, can offer an important insight into a family's heritage, as well as help to trace their ancestry.
Famous people with the name Kaphan
- Kim Kaphan: American film editor
- Brooke Kaphan: American television writer
- Jody Kaphan: Jazz drummer
- Randy Kaphan: American film composer
- Cara Kaphan: Women's basketball coach
- Cody Kaphan: Voice actor
- Steve Kaphan: former professional hockey player
- Lee Kaphan: Executive producer
- Philip Kaphan: Music composer
- Rebecca Kaphan: American modern dancer and choreographer