NameCensus.

UK surname

Copp

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of cups, mugs, or other drinking vessels.

In the 1881 census there were 925 people recorded with the Copp surname, ranking it #4,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,226, ranked #4,861, down from #4,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Bideford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Neath Port Talbot and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Copp is 1,475 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.5%.

1881 census count

925

Ranked #4,151

Modern count

1,226

2016, ranked #4,861

Peak year

1911

1,475 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Copp had 925 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,226 in 2016, ranked #4,861.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Copp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Copp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Copp 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 656 #3,955
1861 historical 779 #3,531
1881 historical 925 #4,151
1891 historical 1,143 #3,726
1901 historical 1,321 #3,790
1911 historical 1,475 #3,263
1997 modern 1,282 #4,450
1998 modern 1,322 #4,492
1999 modern 1,312 #4,562
2000 modern 1,305 #4,561
2001 modern 1,284 #4,534
2002 modern 1,308 #4,549
2003 modern 1,264 #4,597
2004 modern 1,276 #4,562
2005 modern 1,241 #4,626
2006 modern 1,257 #4,578
2007 modern 1,253 #4,645
2008 modern 1,240 #4,721
2009 modern 1,253 #4,768
2010 modern 1,246 #4,890
2011 modern 1,243 #4,846
2012 modern 1,245 #4,761
2013 modern 1,259 #4,794
2014 modern 1,253 #4,839
2015 modern 1,229 #4,867
2016 modern 1,226 #4,861

Geography

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Where Copps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Bideford, Swansea and Littleham (including pt Exmouth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Neath Port Talbot, Mid Devon and Swansea. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 Bideford Devon
4 Swansea Glamorganshire
5 Littleham (including pt Exmouth) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 006 Torridge
2 Torridge 004 Torridge
3 Neath Port Talbot 010 Neath Port Talbot
4 Mid Devon 007 Mid Devon
5 Swansea 004 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Copp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Copp

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Copp, 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 Copp surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Copp 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Copp is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Copp 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

Copp falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Copp

The surname Copp originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "copp," which means a hill or small rounded hilltop. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or on a hilltop.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Copp name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, which lists a Robert Copp. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the Copp surname, such as Roger Coppe and Walter Coppe.

During the medieval period, the Copp name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. The village of Copp, located in the East Riding of Yorkshire, may have been a place of origin for some families bearing this surname.

In the 16th century, the Copp surname appeared in various spellings, including Coppe, Cope, and Coop, reflecting the variation in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. John Copp (1551-1610) was a notable figure from this era, serving as the Mayor of Norwich in 1597.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Copp name continued to be found across England, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. William Copp (1619-1690) was a prominent Puritan minister and author who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Nathaniel Copp (1668-1733) was a wealthy merchant and shipowner from Boston, known for his involvement in the triangular trade.

In the 19th century, the Copp surname gained recognition through individuals such as Jonathan Copp (1807-1892), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Massachusetts, and James Copp (1820-1894), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Stoke-upon-Trent.

Other notable individuals with the Copp surname include Sir James Copp (1862-1945), a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, and Elbridge Copp (1875-1935), an American baseball player who played for several teams in the early 20th century.

While the Copp name has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to North America and other English-speaking countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Copp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Copp 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. Devon leads with 491 Copps recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.29x.

County Total Index
Devon 491 25.29x
Middlesex 105 1.13x
Somerset 67 4.46x
Glamorgan 63 3.88x
Cornwall 34 3.22x
Channel Islands 32 11.58x
Dorset 32 5.23x
Gloucestershire 21 1.15x
Lancashire 18 0.16x
Surrey 16 0.35x
Essex 12 0.65x
Hampshire 11 0.58x
Wiltshire 8 0.97x
Kent 6 0.19x
Monmouthshire 6 0.89x
Sussex 6 0.38x
Yorkshire 6 0.06x
Durham 4 0.14x
Warwickshire 4 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.53x
Derbyshire 3 0.21x
Hertfordshire 2 0.31x
Royal Navy 2 1.80x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.25x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bideford in Devon leads with 62 Copps recorded in 1881 and an index of 298.22x.

Place Total Index
Bideford 62 298.22x
Great Torrington 58 526.79x
Littleham 27 190.27x
Withycombe Rawleigh 24 237.39x
Broad Clist 22 328.36x
St Pancras London 21 2.80x
Tiverton 19 56.82x
Islington London 17 1.88x
Calstock 16 77.29x
Colyton 16 214.77x
Northam 16 113.07x
St Helier 16 17.79x
Alverdiscott 15 1724.14x
Little Torrington 15 882.35x
Neath 15 45.40x
Barnstaple 14 45.95x
Langtree 14 595.74x
Roath 13 17.63x
Woolverton 13 3170.73x
Coedfrank 12 106.67x
Kensington London 12 2.31x
Bethnal Green London 11 2.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 10 22.49x
South Molton 10 93.72x
St Giles In The Wood 10 346.02x
Swansea Town 10 7.51x
Wimbledon 10 19.60x
St Peter Port 9 17.61x
Beaford 8 425.53x
Bristol St George 8 9.46x
Chardstock 8 188.68x
Chiswick 8 15.70x
East Chelborough 8 2222.22x
Ilfracombe 8 40.04x
Linkinhorne 8 108.84x
St Decumans Watchet 8 210.53x
Baltonsborough 7 312.50x
Chittlehampton 7 146.14x
Collumpton 7 777.78x
Hawkchurch 7 368.42x
Horwood 7 1944.44x
St George Hanover Square 7 4.26x
St Saviour 7 45.84x
Tawstock 7 202.90x
West Down 7 411.76x
Willesden 7 7.96x
Broughton In Salford 6 5.93x
Chadwell St Mary 6 319.15x
Dyffryn Clydach 6 153.85x
Halberton 6 132.74x
Kingsdon 6 530.97x
Shoreditch London 6 1.48x
St Woollos 6 7.97x
West Ham 6 1.48x
Axminster 5 54.95x
Blackburn 5 1.70x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 2.90x
Cullompton 5 58.96x
Dolton 5 209.21x
Lamerton 5 135.50x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.34x
Sutcombe 5 378.79x
Walcot 5 6.25x
Ashbury 4 2666.67x
Brighton 4 1.26x
Dover St Mary Virgin 4 12.99x
Glastonbury 4 32.65x
Milborne Port 4 66.56x
Pilton 4 62.40x
Silverton 4 99.01x
Trowbridge 4 10.97x
Westoe 4 2.54x
Camberwell 3 0.50x
Fremington 3 76.14x
Frithelstock 3 166.67x
Iver 3 41.27x
Maiden Newton 3 117.19x
Tottenham 3 2.02x
Wear Gifford 3 209.79x
Wootton Courtney 3 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 68
George 29
Henry 29
Thomas 27
James 25
Charles 20
Samuel 19
Alfred 16
Arthur 12
Frederick 12
Walter 9
Richard 8
Albert 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Jonas 4
Wm. 4
Benjamin 3
Bertie 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Lorenzo 3
Sidney 3
Edwin 2
Harold 2
Jno. 2
Michael 2
Sydney 2
Tom 2
Artie 1
Cornelious 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Edmun 1
Ephraim 1
F. 1
Fredk.E. 1
Geo. 1
Giles 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Copp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Copp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 925 people were recorded with the Copp surname. That placed it at #4,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Copp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,226 in 2016. That gives Copp a modern rank of #4,861.

What does the Copp surname mean?

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of cups, mugs, or other drinking vessels.

What does the Copp map show?

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