NameCensus.

UK surname

Copas

A Spanish occupational surname referring to someone who made or sold cups, goblets, or chalices.

In the 1881 census there were 186 people recorded with the Copas surname, ranking it #13,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 293, ranked #14,981, down from #13,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newbury, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Windsor and Maidenhead, High Peak and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Copas is 319 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.5%.

1881 census count

186

Ranked #13,448

Modern count

293

2016, ranked #14,981

Peak year

2005

319 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Copas had 186 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016, ranked #14,981.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 255 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Copas surname distribution map

The map shows where the Copas surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Copas surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Copas over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 126 #14,626
1861 historical 149 #15,373
1881 historical 186 #13,448
1891 historical 184 #15,869
1901 historical 231 #13,805
1911 historical 255 #12,719
1997 modern 280 #14,136
1998 modern 296 #13,997
1999 modern 300 #13,958
2000 modern 302 #13,848
2001 modern 294 #13,896
2002 modern 309 #13,733
2003 modern 306 #13,641
2004 modern 307 #13,685
2005 modern 319 #13,275
2006 modern 314 #13,474
2007 modern 306 #13,862
2008 modern 301 #14,107
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 318 #14,136
2011 modern 312 #14,230
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 298 #14,815
2014 modern 302 #14,772
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 293 #14,981

Geography

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Where Copas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newbury, London parishes, St Pancras and Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Windsor and Maidenhead, High Peak, Wycombe and Aylesbury Vale. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Newbury Berkshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Windsor and Maidenhead 003 Windsor and Maidenhead
2 High Peak 002 High Peak
3 Wycombe 021 Wycombe
4 Windsor and Maidenhead 002 Windsor and Maidenhead
5 Aylesbury Vale 002 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Copas

These lists show first names that appear often with the Copas surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Copas

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Copas, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Copas surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Copas household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Copas is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Copas is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Copas falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Copas is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Copas, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Copas

The surname Copas is believed to have originated in Spain during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Spanish word "copa," meaning "cup" or "chalice." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked as a cup-maker or who was associated with the production or sale of cups.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Copas can be found in the Archivo General de Indias, a collection of documents from the Spanish colonial era. A document dated 1595 mentions a certain Juan Copas, a resident of Seville, Spain. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 16th century.

The Copas surname can also be traced back to the region of Extremadura in western Spain, where it is believed to have originated. Some historians have suggested that the name may be linked to the village of Copas, located in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura.

In the 17th century, the Copas name appears in records from the Spanish colonies in the Americas. One notable figure was Pedro Copas, a Spanish soldier and explorer who participated in the conquest of Chile in the 1540s. He was one of the earliest Europeans to explore and settle in the region.

Another historically significant individual with the Copas surname was Tomás Copas (1647-1721), a Spanish painter and engraver from Madrid. His works, which included religious paintings and engravings, were highly regarded during the Baroque period in Spain.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the Copas name was Ramón Copas y Bautista (1836-1906), a Spanish politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Congress of Deputies, representing the province of Cáceres.

As the Copas surname spread beyond Spain, it can also be found in other Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Latin America. One notable example is Ernesto Copas (1904-1983), a Chilean football player who represented his country in the 1930 FIFA World Cup.

Overall, the surname Copas has a rich history rooted in the medieval Spanish tradition, with connections to various regions, occupations, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Copas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Copas surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 69 Copas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.80x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 69 3.80x
Berkshire 59 43.33x
Surrey 33 3.73x
Kent 12 1.94x
Buckinghamshire 4 3.65x
Lancashire 4 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.84x
Gloucestershire 1 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Oxfordshire 1 0.89x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 18 Copas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.92x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 18 32.92x
Cookham 18 423.53x
Clewer 14 250.90x
Newbury 12 275.23x
St Pancras London 11 7.53x
Camberwell 10 8.63x
St George Hanover Square 10 31.29x
Newington 8 11.94x
Islington London 7 3.98x
Thatcham 7 333.33x
Beckenham 6 74.17x
Greenham 6 882.35x
Kensington London 6 5.95x
Farnham Royal 4 615.38x
Lambeth 4 2.53x
St George In East London 4 23.45x
St Peters 4 139.86x
Chobham 3 192.31x
Westminster St John 3 13.58x
Windlesham 3 180.72x
Bradford 2 19.84x
Edmonton 2 13.68x
Egham 2 36.83x
Godalming 2 35.97x
Harmondsworth 2 176.99x
St Luke London 2 6.87x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.99x
Bromley 1 10.60x
Checkley 1 62.89x
Cheriton 1 39.68x
East Bedfont 1 111.11x
Fulham London 1 3.80x
Hurley 1 140.85x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.71x
New Windsor 1 21.83x
North Meols 1 4.75x
Norwood 1 24.10x
Openshaw 1 9.92x
Oxford St Thomas 1 19.12x
Paddington London 1 1.50x
Portland 1 15.63x
Shanklin 1 90.09x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Copas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Copas surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Copas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Copas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 186 people were recorded with the Copas surname. That placed it at #13,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Copas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016. That gives Copas a modern rank of #14,981.

What does the Copas surname mean?

A Spanish occupational surname referring to someone who made or sold cups, goblets, or chalices.

What does the Copas map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Copas bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.