UK surname
An occupational surname of German origin referring to a merchant or trader, derived from the Middle High German "koufman".
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Kauffman surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kauffman is 144 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.6%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1911
144 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kauffman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kauffman surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 13 | #30,970 |
| 1861 | historical | 28 | #30,405 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 84 | #26,229 |
| 1901 | historical | 96 | #23,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 144 | #18,325 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 65 | #31,605 |
| 2000 | modern | 66 | #31,553 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 66 | #31,821 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 60 | #33,235 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 74 | #33,167 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 76 | #33,191 |
| 2013 | modern | 78 | #33,215 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester, St George the Martyr and St Martin-in-the-Fields. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Martin-in-the-Fields | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kauffman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kauffman, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kauffman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kauffman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kauffman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kauffman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kauffman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kauffman originates from Germany, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is derived from the German word "Kaufmann," meaning "merchant" or "trader." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a merchant or was involved in commerce.
Kauffman is believed to have originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in areas such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, where trade and commerce were prevalent. The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1375, when a person named Hans Kauffman was mentioned in a document from the city of Augsburg.
During the Middle Ages, the Kauffman name appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, including city registries and guild records. One notable mention is found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a 15th-century illustrated world history book, which lists several individuals with the surname Kauffman.
In the 16th century, the Kauffman name began to spread beyond Germany, as merchants and traders traveled to other parts of Europe. Some individuals with this surname were involved in the establishment of trading companies and guilds in cities like Amsterdam and Antwerp.
Notable individuals with the surname Kauffman include:
1. Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807), a Swiss Neoclassical painter who was one of the founding members of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. 2. Reginald Wright Kauffman (1877-1944), an American author and journalist known for his novels and short stories set in the American West. 3. Nicolaas Kauffman (1892-1966), a Dutch footballer who played as a forward and represented the Netherlands national team in the 1920s. 4. Theodor Kauffman (1814-1896), a German philosopher and writer who was influential in the mid-19th century. 5. Johann Baptist Kauffman (1846-1923), an Austrian painter known for his landscapes and portraits.
The Kauffman name has also been associated with various place names, particularly in Germany. For example, the town of Kauffman in Saxony, Germany, is believed to have derived its name from the surname.
Overall, the surname Kauffman has a rich history rooted in the mercantile and trading traditions of Germany, and its bearers have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kauffman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 24 Kauffmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.64x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 4.64x |
| Surrey | 14 | 5.56x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.96x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.44x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 16.23x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheetham in Lancashire leads with 10 Kauffmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 218.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheetham | 10 | 218.82x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 10 | 96.15x |
| St Martin In Fields | 7 | 226.54x |
| St Paul Covent Garden | 6 | 1153.85x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 10.36x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 4.44x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 4.81x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 6.50x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 10.27x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.00x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 17.64x |
| Linthorpe | 1 | 32.68x |
| Manchester | 1 | 3.63x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 9.09x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 19.01x |
| South Leith | 1 | 12.84x |
| St Clement Danes London | 1 | 93.46x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 10.98x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 12.06x |
| Woking | 1 | 65.79x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kauffman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kauffman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kauffman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Merchant | 2 |
| (Hair Dres.) Assistant | 1 |
| A B | 1 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Boot Manufactr | 1 |
| Dealer | 1 |
| Fruit Salesman | 1 |
| Fruiterer | 1 |
| Fruiteress | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Jeweller Traveller | 1 |
| Nurse Maid | 1 |
| Picture Dealer | 1 |
| Sempstress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Tobacconist | 1 |
| Tobacconists Traveller (Pipe Mkr) | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
| Watch Examiner (Maker) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Kauffman surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Kauffman a modern rank of #33,700.
An occupational surname of German origin referring to a merchant or trader, derived from the Middle High German "koufman".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kauffman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.