Kauffman
A German surname meaning “buyer” or “merchant,” often a spelling variant of Kaufmann.
The #1,606 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 13,812 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Kauffman is a spelling variant of German Kaufmann, from kaufen meaning “to buy” and Mann meaning “man.” In literal terms, it refers to a buyer, trader, or merchant. The double f is a common alternate spelling in German-American records and anglicized forms.
History
The name appears in immigrant and American records in several spellings, including Kaufman and Kauffman. In North America it was often standardized inconsistently by clerks, which helped preserve multiple variants within the same family line. The form Kauffman is especially common among German-speaking and Jewish families.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
German surname studies often note that K and C, or F and FF, could shift in spelling across generations and record-keepers, which is why related forms can look quite different on paper.
From the historical record
“than a mere bodily ailment. Mr. Flux lives at Kingston, C. W. ; Mr. Mesill, at Snow Milage, C. W. ; Mr. Kauffman, at Toronto, C. W., where I also find Messrs. Sorely, Warty, Wiiitelow, and WiTHERON. In Philadelphia are families of Ake, Ache, Akens,”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)