The Kauffman surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 22,353 people carried this name — #1,606 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 13,200 people counted. That is up 9% from 20,576 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Kauffman surname

A surname from German of German and Ashkenazi Jewish origin.

Anglicised from German Kauffmann, an occupational surname referring to a merchant.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Kauffman» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 153 people named Kauffman live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Entre Ríos.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Entre Ríos 61
Buenos Aires Province 50
City of Buenos Aires 23
Misiones 19

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 33 people named Kauffman.

8 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 13 départements, most often Meurthe-et-Moselle.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 8
Meurthe-et-Moselle 7
Paris 6
Hauts-de-Seine 2
Seine-Saint-Denis 1
Essonne 1
Yonne 1
Somme 1
Seine-Maritime 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

134 families named Kauffman, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 823 people lived in those households, 6.1 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Kauffman, Cauffman, Caufman, Caughman, Coafman, Coffman, Coffmon, Cofman, Coufman, Coughman, Cowfman, Kaufman, Koffman, Kofman, Koufman. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 96
Virginia 29
Maryland 4
South Carolina 4
New York 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 248 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Kauffman in American newspapers,
1898–1918.

Newspaper page from The Anaconda Standard carrying the name Kauffman
The Anaconda Standard 1898-08-05
Newspaper page from The River Press carrying the name Kauffman
The River Press 1907-06-05
Newspaper page from Clearwater Republican carrying the name Kauffman
Clearwater Republican 1918-10-11

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain.

In print

Kauffman in Australian newspapers,
1850s–1990s.

1,458 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Kauffman. The most, 217, date from the 1890s. Victoria has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 2.4 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 428
South Australia 426
New South Wales 335
Western Australia 144
Queensland 81
Tasmania 19
ACT (Canberra) 10
Northern Territory 1

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Kauffman.

Who carried it

People named Kauffman,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Nicholas Mercator
    Nicholas Mercator 1620–1687 · scientist
  • Hermann Kauffman
    Hermann Kauffman 1840–1908 · writer
  • George Young Kauffman
    George Young Kauffman 1868–1940 · visual artist
  • Léon Kauffman
    Léon Kauffman 1869–1952 · politician
  • Calvin Henry Kauffman
    Calvin Henry Kauffman 1869–1931 · botanist

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped — Hermann Kauffman: Vapriikin kuva-arkisto, CC BY 2.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0); the others are in the public domain or CC0 · 81 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Kauffman,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,400 records

1,400 records of the Kauffman name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 647
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 278
  • Other U.S. records 475
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Earl F. Kauffman

    Born 1922 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1942 at Harrisburg; route man from Lebanon County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Pennsylvania.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Richard John Kauffman

    Born 1948; from Center Valley, Pennsylvania. U.S. Army, construction equipment repairer; died in an accident 1970 in Darlac, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Moritz Kauffman

    Arrived at New York in 1893 aboard the H.h. Meier from Bremen and Southampton, aged 28; dealer. From Posen, Germany; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,400 records for Kauffman in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Netherlands519 records

519 records of the Kauffman name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 313
  • Dutch population registers 193
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 13
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Neeltje Kauffman

    Married in 1840 in Sint Maartensdijk; of private means. Died 1872 in Sint Maartensdijk, aged 58.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Anthonius Kauffman

    Married in 1864 in Haarlemmermeer; labourer. Died 1916 in Castricum, aged 79.

    Open Archives, Noord-Hollands Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Bertha Kauffman

    Born 1864 in Gennep. Died 1865 in Gennep.

    Open Archives, Regionaal Historisch Centrum Limburg (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 519 records for Kauffman in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Australia62 records

62 records of the Kauffman name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 48
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 13
  • Ballarat Avenue of Honour, First World War 1
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Chas Kauffman

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Pathan, aged 16; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Matthew O. Kauffman

    Enlisted in 1916 with the 39th Battalion. Honoured on the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

    City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record John Kauffman

    Photographer of Melbourne, Victoria; died 1942.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 62 records for Kauffman in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

France18 records

18 records of the Kauffman name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Paul Aime Kauffman

    Born 1896 in Paris; died 1985 in Saint-Maurice (Val-de-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Lucienne Kauffman

    Born 1909 in Landres (Meurthe-et-Moselle); died 1988 in Liévin (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jean Emile Raymond Kauffman

    Born 1922 in Paris; died 1985 in Paris.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 18 records for Kauffman in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Canada11 records

11 records of the Kauffman name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 8
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 2
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 1
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Bertha Kauffman

    Died 1960; buried at Brookside Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Frank Kauffman

    Died 1918 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record Otto Richard Kauffman

    Died in service in 1944.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 11 records for Kauffman in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom1 record

1 record of the Kauffman name in the United Kingdom War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Kauffman

    London Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Kauffman name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Josef Kauffman

    From Mannheim. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 18 November 1914 (Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 239).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Kauffman.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Kauffman is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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