Coffelt

This is a variant spelling form of the original German topographical surname "Kohfeldt". This translates as "the horse field", but it is probable that the actual meaning is a race course or horse training area, and the nameholders people who lived, trained and probably owned "the horse field". The definite origins are pre 7th Century Norse-Vikings, the Vikings being not only ferocious sea warriors but considerable horsemen and equally at home on sea or land. Between the 5th and the 11th Centuries they conquered the whole area of Norman Europe up to the borders of Spain. It is usual in English speaking countries to exchange "K" for "C", and in fact the earliest recordings in America, pre the War of Independence (1776 - 1781) show a complete Anglicization as Hester Coffell, who married John Hall at New York on September 9th 1755, and the later Mary Coffield, who married Martha Carman at Hempstead, Nassau, New York, on April 30th 1783. In Germany the name is found recorded as Kofeldt, Kofeld, Coffeld, Kohfeldt and Kohlfeld. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of August Coffeld, which was dated October 14th 1657, christened at Parum in the Province of Mecklenberg, Germany, during the reign of Ferdinand 111, Holy Roman Emperor, 1637 - 1657. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.