Branny, did you happen to follow either of the links in today's Word? I found this (bolding added): chapman (CHAP-man) noun

A peddler; a merchant.

[From Old English ceapman, from ceap (trade, bargain), from Latin caupo (shopkeeper or innkeeper) + man. The German equivalent is Kaufmann, Dutch koopman.]

I probably have never heard the word chapman spoken. Do you-all still use koopman?

As to his other link, to colporteur, that is another word that I didn't know about in earlier times; and now all I can think of when I see it is Cole Porter.

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Q. for zmjezhd and Faldage: is the Latin caupo related to the L. word for head?

Edit--I take it back: I had a school friend whose last name was Chapman. I heard that name spoken!

Dutch etymology says koopman comes from köpink, copunoa [9e-10e century) from köpon - 'buy'. with links to German Kaufman, kopen 'buy' was borrowed from Latin 'caupõ' meaning a small dealer, also innkeeper, sjacheraar. Possibly just like Greek 'kápelõs `id.' coming from a non Indo-European language.

I see no mentioning of 'head'. it 's all related to buying.
Yes, koopman is still a current word also current is colporteur which is a chique word for travelling sales man.

Cole Porter maybe started as a singer going from door to door? ( I like his songs)

Yes I read yesterday's word but got distracted by the wisdom of the day.