Brief Life History of John
John Coffin was born in 1040, in France as the son of Jean Nicholas Chauvin and Desert Francoise. He had at least 1 son. He died in 1087, in Alwington, Devon, England, at the age of 47.
Photos and Memories (0)
Do you know John? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (1)
- Legacy NFS Source: John Coffin - Individual or family possessions: birth-name: John Coffin
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
World Events (2)
1066 · Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings was fought between the Norman-French army and the battle-wary English army on October 14, 1066. Duke William of Normandy believed he was the rightful king rather than Harold, who had been crowned king several months earlier. Harold was killed in battle and William was crowned king on Christmas Day 1066.
1086 · Domesday Book
Domesday Book is Britain's earliest extant public record with information containing land surveys and landholdings commissioned by William I. The book was completed in 1086.
Name Meaning
English (southwestern England, of Norman origin) and French: nickname from Middle English cofin, coffin, Old French cof(f)in (from Late Latin cophinus, Greek kophinos) ‘container, basket; coffer, chest (for keeping treasures, documents, armour, etc.)’. Early bearers of this as a hereditary surname were of knightly rank. Old French cofin was synonymous with coffer, and it may be that Cofin was used to denote a keeper of the (royal) coffer, attested in Anglo-Latin cofferarius. Compare Coffer . The modern English word coffin is a specialized development of this term, not attested until the 16th century.
History: Tristram Coffin came from Brixham, Devon, to Haverhill, MA, before 1647. An important line of his descendants is associated with Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
Possible Related Names
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.