NameCensus.

UK surname

Copley

From a place called Copley, likely derived from the Old English words "copp" meaning "top" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 2,317 people recorded with the Copley surname, ranking it #1,920 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,882, ranked #2,335, down from #1,920 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wakefield and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Sheffield and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Copley is 3,177 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.4%.

1881 census count

2,317

Ranked #1,920

Modern count

2,882

2016, ranked #2,335

Peak year

1999

3,177 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Copley had 2,317 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,920 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,882 in 2016, ranked #2,335.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,147 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Copley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Copley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Copley 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 1,465 #1,959
1861 historical 1,608 #1,771
1881 historical 2,317 #1,920
1891 historical 2,412 #1,948
1901 historical 2,877 #1,943
1911 historical 3,147 #1,654
1997 modern 3,051 #2,105
1998 modern 3,129 #2,144
1999 modern 3,177 #2,126
2000 modern 3,173 #2,120
2001 modern 3,072 #2,140
2002 modern 3,132 #2,147
2003 modern 3,049 #2,153
2004 modern 3,035 #2,158
2005 modern 2,934 #2,210
2006 modern 2,903 #2,229
2007 modern 2,882 #2,274
2008 modern 2,879 #2,295
2009 modern 2,970 #2,280
2010 modern 2,959 #2,332
2011 modern 2,958 #2,304
2012 modern 2,932 #2,287
2013 modern 2,949 #2,308
2014 modern 2,964 #2,307
2015 modern 2,892 #2,333
2016 modern 2,882 #2,335

Geography

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Where Copleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wakefield, Bradford, Sheffield and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Wakefield. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 004 Selby
2 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
3 Barnsley 013 Barnsley
4 Rotherham 024 Rotherham
5 Wakefield 027 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Copley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Copley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Copley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Copley is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Copley 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 Copley 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 Copley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Copley

The surname Copley has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "copp" and "leah," meaning a small hill and a clearing or meadow, respectively. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who resided near a hillock or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Copley name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a place called "Coppelay" in Yorkshire, which is likely the origin of the surname.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the Copley surname. One of the earliest was Sir Thomas Copley (c. 1485-1584), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII. He was also a staunch Catholic and was briefly imprisoned for his religious beliefs.

Another prominent figure was John Singleton Copley (1738-1815), an American-born painter who gained fame for his portraits and historical paintings. He is considered one of the greatest painters of the colonial era and is credited with introducing the grand manner style of portraiture to America.

In the realm of science, Sir Godfrey Copley (1653-1709) was an English businessman and philanthropist who endowed the Copley Medal, which is still awarded annually by the Royal Society for outstanding achievements in research. The first recipient of this prestigious award was Samuel Pepys in 1737.

The Copley name has also been associated with several notable places. Copley Square in Boston, Massachusetts, is named after John Singleton Copley, and Copley Hall at the University of Cambridge is named after Sir Thomas Copley, who was a benefactor of the college.

Another individual worth mentioning is Sir Ralph Copley (c. 1470-1513), a renowned English soldier and courtier during the Tudor period. He served as a privy councillor to King Henry VII and played a crucial role in suppressing the rebellions against the king's rule.

While the Copley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, among others. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and its connection to a specific geographical location in Yorkshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Copley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Copley 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,598 Copleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.13x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,598 7.13x
Lancashire 111 0.41x
Middlesex 100 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 85 2.79x
Lincolnshire 46 1.27x
Leicestershire 37 1.48x
Surrey 37 0.34x
Kent 27 0.35x
Norfolk 27 0.78x
Staffordshire 25 0.33x
Derbyshire 23 0.65x
Durham 23 0.34x
Warwickshire 23 0.40x
Essex 19 0.43x
Huntingdonshire 19 4.23x
Hertfordshire 17 1.09x
Gloucestershire 16 0.36x
Northamptonshire 12 0.56x
Cheshire 9 0.18x
Monmouthshire 9 0.55x
Suffolk 8 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.49x
Shropshire 7 0.36x
Cumberland 6 0.31x
Hampshire 5 0.11x
Lanarkshire 4 0.05x
Northumberland 4 0.12x
Sussex 3 0.08x
Westmorland 3 0.60x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.15x
Devon 2 0.04x
Glamorgan 2 0.05x
Denbighshire 1 0.12x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nether Hallam in Yorkshire leads with 90 Copleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.68x.

Place Total Index
Nether Hallam 90 29.68x
Sheffield 65 9.11x
Leeds 60 4.74x
Ecclesfield 59 35.90x
Horton In Bradford 48 13.71x
Kirkburton 48 181.61x
Ecclesall Bierlow 45 9.87x
Normanton 42 62.35x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 39 47.91x
Kimberworth 35 28.13x
Worsbrough 33 50.24x
Bradford 32 5.90x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 31 29.77x
Wortley In Wortley 31 351.87x
Rothwell 26 57.42x
Hoyland Nether 25 45.47x
Mirfield 25 20.31x
Knottingley 24 60.91x
Rotherham 24 18.99x
Wentworth 23 165.71x
Huddersfield 21 6.43x
Nottingham St Mary 21 2.66x
Bowling 20 9.01x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 20 884.96x
Almondbury 19 17.53x
West Ham 19 1.93x
Baildon 18 42.64x
Gate Fulford 18 34.38x
Tankersley 18 107.72x
Wakefield 18 10.46x
Featherstone 17 67.54x
Garforth 17 99.07x
Gorton 17 6.74x
Lepton 17 72.59x
Sandal Magna 17 51.28x
Warley 17 26.24x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 16 7.66x
Liversedge 16 16.03x
Camberwell 15 1.04x
Holbeck 15 10.10x
Shoreditch London 15 1.53x
Wath On Dearne 15 33.53x
Middlesbrough 14 4.80x
Birmingham 13 0.68x
Brightside Bierlow 13 2.96x
Eckington 13 15.11x
Hammersmith London 13 2.33x
Idle 13 12.51x
Shelley 13 99.16x
Shipley 13 11.18x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 2.05x
Islington London 12 0.55x
Northowram 12 7.63x
Norwich St Paul 12 57.64x
Redmile 12 316.62x
Salford 12 1.52x
Dalton In Huddersfield 11 21.90x
Halifax 11 3.34x
Hunslet 11 3.15x
Wolsingham 11 17.93x
Barnsley 10 4.32x
Colton 10 1298.70x
Lambeth 10 0.51x
Little Bolton 10 2.90x
Liverpool 10 0.61x
Barwick In Elmet 9 52.39x
Bishop Stortford 9 17.28x
Bow London 9 3.13x
Crigglestone 9 41.69x
Dartford 9 11.40x
Kellington 9 376.57x
Pontefract 9 18.64x
Trevethin 9 5.83x
Wednesbury 9 4.72x
West Stockwith 9 175.10x
Wombwell 9 13.77x
Wortley In Bramley 9 5.07x
Harborne 8 3.27x
High Hoyland 8 444.44x
Ryhill 8 129.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 175
Sarah 126
Elizabeth 101
Ann 47
Annie 47
Hannah 42
Emma 37
Jane 37
Eliza 34
Alice 30
Ellen 29
Martha 29
Ada 28
Charlotte 19
Emily 19
Harriet 18
Margaret 14
Florence 13
Clara 12
Louisa 12
Maria 11
Ruth 11
Anne 10
Caroline 10
Kate 10
Rebecca 9
Agnes 8
Edith 8
Ethel 8
Harriett 8
Catherine 7
Fanny 7
Lucy 7
Matilda 7
Susan 7
Gertrude 6
Beatrice 5
Elizth. 5
Frances 5
Laura 5
Lilly 5
Rachel 5
Rose 5
Selina 5
Susannah 5
Esther 4
Florance 4
Grace 4
Jessie 4
Lily 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 135
William 104
George 93
Joseph 71
Thomas 56
James 46
Henry 41
Charles 34
Arthur 29
Richard 27
Robert 25
Walter 22
Albert 20
Edward 20
Harry 20
Benjamin 18
Fred 18
Samuel 17
Alfred 16
Herbert 16
Frank 13
Frederick 12
Joe 10
Wm. 10
Edwin 9
David 8
Joshua 7
Ernest 6
Geo. 5
Sam 5
Abraham 4
Amos 4
Ben 4
Earnest 4
Job 4
Tom 4
Allen 3
Chas. 3
Fredrick 3
Jno. 3
Jonathan 3
Mark 3
Percy 3
Seth 3
Thos. 3
Wright 3
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Michael 2
Moses 2

FAQ

Copley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Copley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,317 people were recorded with the Copley surname. That placed it at #1,920 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Copley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,882 in 2016. That gives Copley a modern rank of #2,335.

What does the Copley surname mean?

From a place called Copley, likely derived from the Old English words "copp" meaning "top" and "leah" meaning "woodland clearing."

What does the Copley map show?

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