UK surname
A surname derived from the Old English word "cop" meaning a rounded hilltop or summit.
In the 1881 census there were 61 people recorded with the Coper surname, ranking it #24,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #24,992 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, Preston and New Windsor, Clewer. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coper is 520 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 62.3%.
1881 census count
61
Ranked #24,992
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
520 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Coper surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Coper surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 189 | #10,896 |
| 1861 | historical | 520 | #5,038 |
| 1881 | historical | 61 | #24,992 |
| 1891 | historical | 183 | #15,918 |
| 1901 | historical | 39 | #29,799 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 55 | #32,399 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 19 | #36,668 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, Preston, New Windsor, Clewer, Woolwich and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Alkmund | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 3 | New Windsor, Clewer | Berkshire |
| 4 | Woolwich | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Coper surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coper, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Coper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Coper household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Coper is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Coper, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topCoper is a surname of English origin, believed to have emerged in the 13th century. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Old English word "coper," meaning a barrel maker or cooper. The name likely originated in regions where barrel-making was a prevalent trade, such as in villages and towns located near vineyards or breweries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Coper surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, where a certain "William le Coper" is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established by the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, variations of the name, such as "Couper" and "Cowper," can be found in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a "Johannes le Couper." These spelling variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.
The Coper surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Copers Cope in Gloucestershire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Coperes Copethe." This suggests that the name may have originated from or been influenced by this particular location.
Notable historical figures bearing the Coper surname include:
1. William Coper (c. 1460 - 1533), an English clergyman and the first headmaster of Colet's School in London. 2. John Coper (c. 1510 - 1568), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shoreham during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 3. Sir Walter Cope (1553 - 1614), an English courtier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions in the court of King James I. 4. Edward Denny Cope (1828 - 1897), an American paleontologist and comparative anatomist, known for his contributions to the study of extinct reptiles and early mammalian evolution. 5. Thomas Coper (c. 1590 - 1665), an English bishop and academic who served as the Bishop of Galloway and the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.
While the name has evolved over time, with various spellings and regional variations, the Coper surname remains rooted in its occupational origins, reflecting the rich history of barrel-making and cooperage in England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coper surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 14 Copers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 14 | 7.33x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.49x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.59x |
| Orkney | 6 | 96.46x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 3.45x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.54x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.79x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.73x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.40x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.91x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Fife | 1 | 2.99x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.52x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.19x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.28x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.36x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 9 Copers recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.94x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sedgley | 9 | 126.94x |
| Newton | 6 | 116.05x |
| Westray Papa Westray | 6 | 1224.49x |
| Tipton | 5 | 85.47x |
| St Andrew Holborn London | 4 | 163.27x |
| Middleton In Oldham | 3 | 149.25x |
| Barton Bendish | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Leeds | 2 | 6.32x |
| St George Martyr London | 2 | 173.91x |
| Woodford | 2 | 158.73x |
| Abbey | 1 | 14.95x |
| Bedlington | 1 | 35.59x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 5.94x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.10x |
| Canterbury St Peter | 1 | 454.55x |
| Cupar | 1 | 68.49x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 1 | 19.57x |
| Ellon | 1 | 138.89x |
| Heigham | 1 | 21.41x |
| Hound | 1 | 126.58x |
| Huddersfield | 1 | 12.24x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.45x |
| Portsea | 1 | 4.40x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 23.53x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 10.04x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.20x |
| Warwick St Nicholas | 1 | 95.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coper surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Coper surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Coper households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coal Miner | 4 |
| Actress | 2 |
| Pickling Onions | 2 |
| (Vs Offcx) | 1 |
| Boiler Maker | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook (D) | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Lab Corportion Employ | 1 |
| Laborer Copper Works | 1 |
| Labs Wife (Widow) | 1 |
| Lieut R Ms Infy (Active List) | 1 |
| Managing Director Of A Public Company | 1 |
| Market Gardener | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Organ Grinder (Musician) | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shop Assistant | 1 |
| Silk Warper | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Supported By Family | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Waggoner | 1 |
| Waggoners Wife | 1 |
| Wire Drawer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 61 people were recorded with the Coper surname. That placed it at #24,992 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Coper a modern rank of #36,457.
A surname derived from the Old English word "cop" meaning a rounded hilltop or summit.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coper bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.