Chaffin Coat of Arms

The surname CHAFFIN in English, a transformation of CHAFF(E). It is derived from the Old French word "chauf", meaning bald.

First Generation: John Chaffin

John Chaffin, was born 1670 in Summerset, England. He married Unknown and had

1. Christopher Chaffin, a farmer, was born about 1690 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia. He married Sarah about 1710.

Second Generation: CHRISTOPHER CHAFFIN

CHRISTOPHER CHAFFIN, a farmer, was born about 1690 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia. He married Sarah about 1710. They had five children:

1. John Chaffin, born April 01, 1716 in Middlesex County, Virginia; married Mary in 1740 in Virginia; died January 25, 1773 in Cumberland County, Virginia.

2. Christopher Chaffin, Junior, born November 11, 1718 in Middlesex County, Virginia; died August 22, 1727 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia

3. Mary Chaffin, born September 02, 1721 in Middlesex County, Virginia

4. William Chaffin, born December 20, 1724 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia; died January 03, 1724/25 in Christ Church Parish, Middlesex County, Virginia

5. John Chaffin, born July 27, 1726 in Middlesex County, Virginia.
Two runaway slaves killed Christopher in 1727. His widow Sarah married John Davis on February 11, 1729/30. Sarah married John Owen on July 20, 1732.

Third Generation: John Chaffin

JOHN CHAFFIN was born April 01, 1716 in Middlesex County, Virginia and died in Cumberland County, Virginia. He married Mary about 1740 in Virginia. John owned about 1300 acres of land in Goochland and Cumberland Counties, granted in patents from King George II of England through his representative William Gooch. John and Mary had nine children:

1. Hambo Chaffin, born 1740-1750 in Goochland or Cumberland County

2. Nathan Chaffin, born February 14, 1745/46 in Goochland or Cumberland County and married Elizabeth Watkins on November 28, 1768 in Cumberland County, Virginia.
Nathan and his brother Joseph Chaffin owned an Ordinary (tavern/inn) in Powhatan County, Virginia. Powhatan County was formed from parts of Cumberland and Chesterfield Counties in 1777.

3. Rachel Chaffin, born 1740-1750 in Goochland or Cumberland County and married Robert Smith

4. Ruth Chaffin, born 1740-1750 in Goochland or Cumberland County and married Mr. Bradley

5. Simon Chaffin, born 1740-1750 in Goochland or Cumberland County, married Agatha Curnutte and died in Kentucky

6. Miss Chaffin, born 1740-1760 in Goochland or Cumberland County and married Thomas Huckaby, Sr. they had a son named Thomas Huckaby, Junior. She died before 1767 in Cumberland County, Virginia.

7. Joseph Chaffin, Revolutionary soldier, born 1741 in Cumberland County, Virginia and died June 22, 1815 in Bedford County, Virginia; married Nancy Ann Mitchell, daughter of James Mitchell, About 1767 in Cumberland County, Virginia. They had seven children:
a. John Chaffin, born 1782 Bedford County
b. Joshua Chaffin, died March 22, 1813, Bedford County
c. Joseph Chaffin, Junior, died 1829, Bedford County, married Jane Adams, daughter of Henry Adams and Rebecca Chaffin Adams, October 21, 1819 in Bedford County and had five children: Alanson D. Chaffin, Calohill C. Chaffin, John H. Chaffin, Joseph A. Chaffin and Josephus Chaffin.
d. Stephen Chaffin, born 1775 Bedford County
e. Rebecca Chaffin Adams, died October 26, 1846 Bedford County
f. Rhoda Chaffin Hudnall, born Bedford County
g. Polly Chaffin, born Bedford County, married John Hurst/Hurt and had ten children:
I. Nancy Hurt, who married Robert Hurt, a cousin
ii. Elizabeth Hurt
iii. Catherine Hurt, who married Benjamin Noble
iv. John Hurt, who moved to Kentucky
v. Sarah Hurt, who married James L. Robinson
vi. Josephus Hurt, who married Charlotte Nickols and had 7 children
vii. Mary Hurt, who married John Stitler
viii. Stephen Hurt, who married Mary Kasey
ix. Joshua Hurt, who married Narcissus Dickerson
x. Sophia Hurt, who married B. Grier

8. Major Joshua Chaffin, Revolutionary soldier, born October 28, 1748 in Cumberland County, Virginia; married Elizabeth Ester Tinsley in 1769; married Patty Giles in 1800, daughter of Governor William B. Giles. Joshua died April 07, 1824 in Amelia County, Virginia. Their children included John Chaffin who married Elizabeth Booker, Tinsley Chaffin, Jimmy Chaffin who married John Jeter, and Nancy Chaffin who married Thompson Scott and Miss Chaffin who married a Mr. Ford.

9. Christopher Chaffin, Revolutionary soldier, born 1754-1757 in Cumberland County, Virginia; married Mary Ann Vawter on August 22, 1778; and died October 10, 1836 in Tazewell County, Virginia. Mary Ann was born October 1760 in Goochland County, Virginia and died in Felicity, Clermont County, Ohio.

Fourth Generation: Christopher Chaffin

Christopher Chaffin, Revolutionary soldier, born 1754-1757 in Cumberland County, Virginia; married Mary Ann Vawter on August 22, 1778; and died October 10, 1836 in Tazewell County, Virginia. Mary Ann was born October 1760 in Goochland County, Virginia and died in Felicity, Clermont County, Ohio. Their children were

1. Tabitha Chaffin Harvey, born November 22, 1779 in Virginia;

2. Christopher Chaffin, born about 1780 in Cumberland County, Virginia.

3. Stanley Chaffin, born 1778-1808.

Fifth Generation: Christopher Chaffin

Christopher Chaffin, born, 1780 Cumberland Virginia married Mary Roberts in 1802 in Logan COunty WV. She was born 1780 in North Carolina. They had:

1. Alfair Chaffin, born 1806, Floyd County, Kentucky

2. Stanley Chaffin, born 1810, Floyd County, Kentucky

3. Joshua Chaffin, born 1812, Floyd County, Kentucky

4. Pleasant Chaffin, born 1815, Kentucky

5. William Chaffin, born 1815, Pike County, Kentucky

6. Nathan Chaffin, born 1820, Kentucky

7. Elizabeth Chaffin, born 1825, Virginia

8. Mary Ann Chaffin, born 1828, Virginia

9. Nancy Chaffin, born 1830, Virginia

Sixth Generation: Joshua Chaffin

Joshua Chaffin,born 1812, Floyd County, Kentucky. Died 1864. He married Nancy White, born 1818.
They had

1. Polly Chaffin, born 1832

2. Unitha Chaffin, born 1833

3. Pleasant Chaffin, born 1834

4.Peggy Chaffin, born 1839

5. Nathan Chaffin, born 1841

6. William Marion Chaffin, born 1842

7. Thomas Chaffin, born 1852

8. Julian Chaffin, born 1854

Seventh Generation: Thomas Chaffin

Thomas Chaffin, born 1852, married Cyntha J. Clay and they had

1. Thomas Chaffin

2. Victoria Chaffin, born abt. 1901

3. Ken Chaffin, born April 18, 1904

4. Trinnel Chaffin, born April 18, 1904

Ken and Trinnel are Twins.

Eighth Generation: Ken Chaffin

Ken Chaffin, born April 18, 1904, married Gay Evans, born May 17, 1910 and died October 10, 1935 on Long Branch, Martin County Kentucky. She was the daughter of Matilda and Jeff Evans. They had

1. Mary Chaffin, born March 30, 1925.

2. Aaron Chaffin, born April 8, 1926

3. Thomas Jefferson Chafin, born July 22, 1930

4. Columbus Chaffin, born March 15, 1934

5. Carol Chaffin

Ninth Generation: Mary Chaffin

Mary Chaffin, born March 30, 1925 married Steven Murphy Sept. 19, 1942 at Winco Block in Martin County, Kentucky.
Steven was born August 27, 1925 and died Feb. 25, 1988. Steven was the son of Alonzo and Cordia (Bailey) Murphy. They had

1. Gay Murphy

2. Lavonne Murphy

3. Jerry Jerome Murphy

4. Elvie Murphy

5. Ernie Murphy

6. Glendean Murphy

7. Steven Murphy

8. Quinell Murphy

9. David Kieth Murphy

10. Daley Garth Murphy

11. Christopher Murphy

12. Donna Kay Murphy

13. Debra Lynn Murphy

14. Baxter Lee Murphy

All Graphics (except Coat of Arms) were done by Murphy's Designs.

CHAFFIN Coat of Arms
CREST

The crest is the figure or symbol affixed to the top of the helmet. Chaffin: The Crest repeats the head of a dog, with torch, from the Arms.

TORSE

The torse is a wreath, two skeins of twisted silk, used to anchor the mantling to the helmet. Chaffin: colors are red and gold.

MANTLE

The mantle is cloth worn over the helmet as protection from the sun, loose strips of cloth shaped as leaves to drape off the helmet. Chaffin: red and gold.

HELMET

This must be an authentic helmet style, sized to scale and follows the position of the crest. Chaffin: helmet is style of a Duke, steel colored.

SHIELD

The shield is the heart of the arms. The design is exclusive and simple. Chaffin: Shield is solid red, with white dog on red background. The shape of this shield was dated 1500. The dog is very rare in coat of arms. It is found on the coat of arms of St. Dominic, A.D. 13th century, who was founder of the Dominican Order, known as the Friar's preacher. The members came to be known as "the watch dogs of the Lord, defending the fold of the church with the fire of the Holy Spirit." The Friars in Robin's Hood Forest were Dominican monks. It is also interesting to note that the monks were bald, and that the meaning of the name Chaffin is bald".

MOTTO

The motto is not considered exclusive, usually written in Latin, and expresses ideals, goals or admonition. Chaffin: "Behold, the watchdogs of the Lord". In Latin, "Vigil, Cannes De Dominus".

COLORS

Red, called Gules, denotes military valor and courage, the warrior's color that symbolizes a desire to serve your country to the utmost of your ability, to shed blood if necessary. Gold, called Or, is the metal in the emblem and denotes generosity and elevation of mind.