NameCensus.

UK surname

Copeman

An English surname of possible occupational origin, referring to a keeper or seller of ropes.

In the 1881 census there were 708 people recorded with the Copeman surname, ranking it #5,131 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 861, ranked #6,510, down from #5,131 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gaywood, Wreningham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Copeman is 1,013 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.6%.

1881 census count

708

Ranked #5,131

Modern count

861

2016, ranked #6,510

Peak year

2000

1,013 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Copeman had 708 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,131 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016, ranked #6,510.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 951 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Copeman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Copeman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Copeman 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 467 #5,314
1861 historical 446 #5,796
1881 historical 708 #5,131
1891 historical 790 #5,085
1901 historical 878 #5,231
1911 historical 951 #4,738
1997 modern 952 #5,711
1998 modern 997 #5,687
1999 modern 994 #5,738
2000 modern 1,013 #5,623
2001 modern 979 #5,673
2002 modern 995 #5,714
2003 modern 966 #5,752
2004 modern 956 #5,817
2005 modern 931 #5,874
2006 modern 912 #5,972
2007 modern 922 #5,981
2008 modern 912 #6,074
2009 modern 922 #6,140
2010 modern 958 #6,084
2011 modern 920 #6,222
2012 modern 887 #6,314
2013 modern 924 #6,228
2014 modern 913 #6,305
2015 modern 894 #6,355
2016 modern 861 #6,510

Geography

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Where Copemans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gaywood, Wreningham, London parishes, Beccles and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland and Wyre Forest. 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 Gaywood Norfolk
2 Wreningham Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Beccles Suffolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Breckland 014 Breckland
3 Wyre Forest 005 Wyre Forest
4 Breckland 013 Breckland
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 012 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Copeman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Copeman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Copeman, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Copeman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Copeman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Copeman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Copeman is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Copeman falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Copeman 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 Copeman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Copeman

The surname Copeman has its roots in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "copp" meaning a hill or top, and "mann" meaning a man or person. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived on or near a hilltop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Copeman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as Copeman, Coppeman, and Copman, indicating its evolving nature over time.

During the medieval period, the name Copeman was prevalent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. This region is known for its gently rolling hills, which may have contributed to the name's origin and association with elevated terrain.

In the late 13th century, a man named John Copeman was recorded as a landowner in the village of Burnham Overy in Norfolk. This early example showcases the surname's roots in the region and its connection to land ownership.

One notable figure bearing the Copeman surname was Sir Thomas Copeman, born in 1528 in Norfolk. He served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk and played a role in the English Reformation under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was William Copeman, born in 1776 in Norfolk. He was a renowned surgeon and medical writer, contributing significantly to the fields of anatomy and surgery in the early 19th century.

The Copeman family also had connections to the clergy, with Reverend Robert Copeman (1747-1825) serving as the Rector of Stiffkey in Norfolk for over 40 years.

In the literary world, John Copeman (1835-1913), born in Suffolk, was a poet and writer known for his works exploring rural life and the East Anglian landscape.

Lastly, Sir Miles Copeman (1897-1984), born in Norfolk, had a distinguished career in the British diplomatic service, serving as the Ambassador to Spain and later becoming the Governor of the Falkland Islands.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Copeman surname in England, particularly in the East Anglian region, as well as its association with various professions and social standings throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Copeman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Copeman 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. Norfolk leads with 316 Copemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.76x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 316 29.76x
Suffolk 103 12.24x
Middlesex 72 1.04x
Essex 47 3.45x
Surrey 28 0.83x
Cambridgeshire 26 5.94x
Lincolnshire 24 2.17x
Yorkshire 19 0.28x
Lancashire 16 0.20x
Durham 14 0.68x
Hampshire 9 0.64x
Somerset 5 0.45x
Cheshire 4 0.26x
Hertfordshire 4 0.84x
Warwickshire 4 0.23x
Gloucestershire 3 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.39x
Leicestershire 2 0.26x
Worcestershire 2 0.22x
Derbyshire 1 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.73x
Kent 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.11x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Shropshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beccles in Suffolk leads with 42 Copemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 310.19x.

Place Total Index
Beccles 42 310.19x
Lowestoft 33 83.04x
Heigham 30 52.63x
Wreningham 21 1826.09x
Gaywood 15 785.34x
Banham 14 516.61x
Edmonton 12 21.56x
Gayton Thorpe 12 3076.92x
West Ham 12 3.99x
Broomfield 11 514.02x
Norwich St Stephen 11 112.82x
St Marylebone London 11 2.98x
Binham 10 884.96x
Bracon Ash 10 1492.54x
Lakenham 10 66.27x
Norwich St Andrew 10 552.49x
Croydon 9 4.82x
Oldham 9 3.40x
Camberwell 8 1.81x
Forncett St Mary 8 1230.77x
North Lynn 8 3636.36x
Norwich St Benedict 8 169.13x
Shropham 8 784.31x
Bourn 7 78.48x
Bromley London 7 4.61x
Cavendish 7 257.35x
Great Massingham 7 334.93x
Norwich St James 7 84.03x
Wanstead 7 29.31x
Willingale Spain 7 1428.57x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.00x
Earlham 6 1071.43x
Elm 6 140.19x
Hildersham 6 1034.48x
Hilgay 6 150.38x
Ingoldisthorpe 6 821.92x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 18.82x
Knottingley 6 49.88x
Morley St Botolph 6 895.52x
Norwich St Giles 6 176.47x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 6 87.08x
Shoreditch London 6 2.00x
Trimingham 6 1304.35x
Westoe 6 5.15x
Bramerton 5 847.46x
Easton 5 434.78x
Fundenhall 5 666.67x
Great Yarmouth 5 5.68x
Hackney London 5 1.29x
Lambeth 5 0.83x
Poplar London 5 3.84x
Snettisham 5 170.07x
South Elmham St Cross 5 980.39x
Sutton St Mary 5 47.89x
Wisbech St Peter 5 22.79x
Alverstoke 4 7.81x
Bridgewater 4 13.25x
Chelmsford 4 17.10x
Kensington London 4 1.04x
Kirton In Lindsey 4 91.32x
Litcham 4 209.42x
Little Dunham 4 563.38x
Liverpool 4 0.80x
Middlesbrough 4 4.49x
Moulton 4 75.33x
South Elmham St James 4 727.27x
St Sepulchre London 4 39.56x
Upwell 4 124.61x
Wapping London 4 75.90x
Barley 3 204.08x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 6.64x
East Dereham 3 22.35x
Hampton Bickley 3 169.49x
Hartlepool 3 10.27x
Leyton Low 3 10.83x
North Walsham 3 39.16x
Norwich St Clement 3 24.37x
Southcoates 3 7.90x
Willesden 3 4.61x
Caston 2 155.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 36
Robert 26
George 25
James 22
Thomas 18
Charles 15
Frederick 14
Henry 14
Walter 13
Arthur 10
Edward 9
David 5
Samuel 5
Ernest 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Herbert 3
Matthew 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Hugh 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Bertie 1
Burton 1
C.D.Or 1
Chas.Hy. 1
Cornlieus 1
Cuthbert 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Isaiah 1
Isiah 1
Jerold 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1

FAQ

Copeman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Copeman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 708 people were recorded with the Copeman surname. That placed it at #5,131 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Copeman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016. That gives Copeman a modern rank of #6,510.

What does the Copeman surname mean?

An English surname of possible occupational origin, referring to a keeper or seller of ropes.

What does the Copeman map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Copeman 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.