NameCensus.

UK surname

Copper

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold copper goods.

In the 1881 census there were 491 people recorded with the Copper surname, ranking it #6,865 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 574, ranked #9,007, down from #6,865 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Sevenoaks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, South Bucks and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Copper is 1,004 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.9%.

1881 census count

491

Ranked #6,865

Modern count

574

2016, ranked #9,007

Peak year

1861

1,004 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Copper had 491 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,865 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 574 in 2016, ranked #9,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,004 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Copper surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Copper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Copper 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 493 #5,073
1861 historical 1,004 #2,779
1881 historical 491 #6,865
1891 historical 981 #4,214
1901 historical 675 #6,456
1911 historical 939 #4,779
1997 modern 574 #8,398
1998 modern 581 #8,566
1999 modern 554 #8,929
2000 modern 535 #9,144
2001 modern 507 #9,364
2002 modern 506 #9,545
2003 modern 471 #9,902
2004 modern 480 #9,793
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 486 #9,675
2007 modern 488 #9,740
2008 modern 505 #9,565
2009 modern 512 #9,670
2010 modern 537 #9,543
2011 modern 533 #9,500
2012 modern 535 #9,375
2013 modern 550 #9,339
2014 modern 571 #9,113
2015 modern 576 #9,002
2016 modern 574 #9,007

Geography

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Where Coppers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Sevenoaks and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, South Bucks, Tunbridge Wells and Thanet. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sevenoaks Kent
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 001 Rother
2 South Bucks 008 South Bucks
3 Tunbridge Wells 010 Tunbridge Wells
4 Thanet 005 Thanet
5 Tunbridge Wells 011 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Copper

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Copper

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Copper 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

Copper is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Copper

The surname Copper has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "coper," which referred to a person who worked as a coppersmith or maker of copper utensils. The name is occupational in nature, indicating the trade or profession of the earliest bearers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Copper can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a "Willelmus le Coper." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the end of the 12th century, likely referring to an individual involved in the copper trade or metalworking industry.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Coppere" and "Copere," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that period. Records from this time include references to individuals like John le Coper, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

The Copper surname is also associated with certain place names, particularly those derived from the Old English word "copp," meaning a hill or summit. For example, the village of Coppull in Lancashire is believed to have influenced the naming of some Copper families in that region.

Among notable historical figures bearing the Copper surname, one can mention:

1. Sir John Copper (c. 1558-1628), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1620. 2. Samuel Copper (1609-1683), an English clergyman and author of several religious works, including "The Epitome of Divinity" (1669). 3. Thomas Copper (1612-1674), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Brackley during the English Civil War. 4. Richard Copper (1718-1804), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Pendennis Castle in Cornwall. 5. William Copper (1736-1800), an English engraver and portrait painter known for his works depicting notable figures of the time, such as Samuel Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The Copper surname has a rich history rooted in the metalworking traditions of England, and its bearers have left their mark across various fields, from politics and religion to the arts and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Copper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Copper 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. Kent leads with 125 Coppers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.71x.

County Total Index
Kent 125 7.71x
Surrey 77 3.33x
Middlesex 55 1.16x
Sussex 49 6.12x
Hampshire 28 2.88x
Lancashire 28 0.50x
Staffordshire 25 1.56x
Warwickshire 22 1.84x
Yorkshire 12 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 8 2.66x
Essex 8 0.85x
Durham 6 0.42x
Cheshire 5 0.48x
Somerset 5 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.62x
Derbyshire 3 0.40x
Hertfordshire 3 0.92x
Leicestershire 3 0.57x
Wiltshire 3 0.71x
Devon 2 0.20x
Lanarkshire 2 0.13x
Suffolk 2 0.35x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.35x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.52x
Cornwall 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.32x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.95x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Herefordshire 1 0.51x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Perthshire 1 0.47x
Royal Navy 1 1.77x
Shropshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 43 Coppers recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.55x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 43 73.55x
Birmingham 22 5.51x
Sevenoaks 20 152.21x
Burwash 18 483.87x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 16.74x
West Bromwich 13 14.16x
Lambeth 11 2.66x
Cowden 10 943.40x
Paddington London 10 5.73x
Rottingdean 10 364.96x
Portsea 9 4.72x
Rotherhithe 9 15.33x
St Pancras London 9 2.35x
Borough Green 8 1212.12x
Brighton 8 4.95x
Battersea 7 4.00x
Headley 7 264.15x
Woodford 7 65.91x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 35.50x
Gillingham 6 17.95x
Hartley Wintney 6 204.78x
Lee 6 25.50x
Lenham 6 185.76x
Newington 6 3.42x
Nutfield 6 342.86x
Shoreditch London 6 2.91x
Brenchley 5 86.21x
Deptford St Paul 5 4.00x
Farnham 5 27.78x
Maidstone 5 10.36x
Manchester 5 1.97x
Ovingdean 5 2272.73x
Sunbury 5 87.57x
Tipton 5 10.18x
Wiveliscombe 5 117.37x
Croydon 4 3.11x
Elvetham 4 526.32x
Sutton 4 21.15x
Aylestone 3 72.29x
Brampton Bierlow 3 49.75x
Camberwell 3 0.99x
Chaldon 3 1000.00x
Chatham 3 6.73x
Doncaster 3 8.72x
Greenwich 3 3.97x
Hackney London 3 1.13x
Killamarsh 3 64.79x
Macclesfield 3 6.44x
Oldham 3 1.65x
Pendleton In Salford 3 4.47x
Purton 3 80.21x
Toxteth Park 3 1.57x
Wolstanton 3 6.16x
Bishops Nympton 2 106.38x
Bishopwearmouth 2 1.65x
Burton Extra 2 21.76x
Chattisham 2 555.56x
Chelsea London 2 1.40x
Great Bookham 2 112.36x
Hammersmith London 2 1.71x
Islington London 2 0.43x
Leeds 2 0.75x
Middlesbrough 2 3.26x
Skelmersdale 2 21.30x
St Albans St Peter 2 18.10x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.39x
St Giles In Fields London 2 8.58x
St Marylebone London 2 0.79x
St Sepulchre London 2 28.78x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.18x
West Herrington 2 40.40x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.81x
Bexhill 1 25.06x
Denio 1 22.27x
Farleigh 1 714.29x
Great Grimsby 1 2.07x
Heston 1 6.34x
Leckhampton 1 17.42x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.47x
Tranmere 1 2.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 33
George 25
William 24
James 13
Thomas 13
Charles 12
Henry 10
Edward 9
Alfred 8
Robert 7
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Edwin 3
Fredk. 3
Walter 3
Ambrose 2
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Jesse 2
Richard 2
Alexander 1
Anthony 1
Danl. 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edith 1
Edw. 1
Elizabeth 1
Emmett 1
F. 1
Fredrk. 1
Geo. 1
Jes... 1
Marta 1
Obed 1
Oliver 1
Orthemil 1
Percey 1
Philip 1
Richards 1
S.W. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Wm.Alfred 1

FAQ

Copper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Copper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 491 people were recorded with the Copper surname. That placed it at #6,865 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Copper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 574 in 2016. That gives Copper a modern rank of #9,007.

What does the Copper surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold copper goods.

What does the Copper map show?

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