Pronunciation: [kˈɔːfmən] (IPA) 
The spelling of "Kaufman" is often confusing due to the combination of the "au" and "m" sounds. In IPA phonetic transcription, "Kaufman" is written as /ˈkaʊfmən/. The "au" is pronounced as the "ow" sound in "now", while the "m" is pronounced as the usual "m" sound. To remember this spelling, one could think of it as "cow" and "fman" with a silent "w" sound. "Kaufman" is a German-derived surname that means "merchant".
Kaufman is a commonly used surname of German-Jewish origin. It is derived from the German word "kaufmann," which translates to "merchant" or "trader." The name likely originated as an occupational surname for individuals engaged in trade and commercial activities. As a patronymic surname, it denotes that a person is the descendant or son of a person named Kaufmann.
In addition to its German-Jewish roots, the surname Kaufman is also found in other cultures. It can be derived from the Yiddish word "koyfman," also meaning "merchant." It is worth mentioning that variations of the name, such as "Kaufmann" or "Kaufmanns," may exist.
The name Kaufman can be traced back many centuries, with records of individuals bearing this name dating back to medieval times. As with other surnames, it has gradually evolved and expanded as families migrated and settled in different parts of the world, primarily in German-speaking regions.
Today, the surname Kaufman is found among populations of German, Jewish, and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. It is a relatively common surname globally, although more prevalent in regions with a history of German and Jewish settlements. As with any surname, its meaning can vary depending on the context, locality, and historical influences.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The surname "Kaufman" is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "kaufen", which means "to buy" or "to purchase". The name is occupational in nature, suggesting that it was originally given to someone who was involved in buying and selling goods. Over time, it became a hereditary surname passed down from generation to generation.
