NameCensus.

UK surname

Coppins

An English locational surname derived from various places named with the Old English "copp" meaning hill or peak.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Coppins surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 299, ranked #14,770, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, Witchling, Otterden, Lenham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Maidstone and Ashford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coppins is 440 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.7%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

299

2016, ranked #14,770

Peak year

1911

440 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coppins had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016, ranked #14,770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 440 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Coppins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coppins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coppins 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 282 #8,013
1861 historical 259 #9,561
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 433 #8,954
1911 historical 440 #8,661
1997 modern 338 #12,489
1998 modern 346 #12,630
1999 modern 334 #13,022
2000 modern 339 #12,857
2001 modern 335 #12,759
2002 modern 328 #13,186
2003 modern 299 #13,850
2004 modern 297 #13,971
2005 modern 282 #14,368
2006 modern 275 #14,732
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 281 #14,782
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 302 #14,661
2011 modern 287 #15,044
2012 modern 294 #14,705
2013 modern 310 #14,403
2014 modern 301 #14,809
2015 modern 299 #14,796
2016 modern 299 #14,770

Geography

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Where Coppins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, Witchling, Otterden, Lenham, London parishes and Egerton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Maidstone, Ashford, Rochford and Uttlesford. 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 Minster Kent
2 Witchling, Otterden, Lenham Kent
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Egerton Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 016 Swale
2 Maidstone 011 Maidstone
3 Ashford 002 Ashford
4 Rochford 006 Rochford
5 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coppins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coppins

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

London Fringe

Within London, Coppins 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

Coppins is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Coppins

The surname Coppins originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "copp," which means "top" or "summit," and is likely an occupational name referring to someone who lived or worked on a hill or at the top of a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Coppins can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where a person named Radulfus Coppin is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, including the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1272, which mentions a William Copyn. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

The Coppins surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Coppin's Green in Hertfordshire and Coppin's Farm in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Coppins name who resided or owned land in those areas.

One notable individual with the Coppins surname was Sir George Coppins (1628-1689), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Dunwich in Suffolk during the reign of King Charles II.

Another prominent figure was Richard Coppins (1599-1677), an English Puritan clergyman who served as the rector of St. Michael's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, during the mid-17th century.

In the literary world, John Coppins (1633-1689) was an English poet and playwright known for his works such as "The Tragedy of Ovid" and "The Dramatick Works of John Coppins."

The surname Coppins also has connections to the American colonies, with Samuel Coppins (1635-1689) being one of the early settlers in Connecticut. He arrived in the New World in the mid-17th century and became a prominent figure in the town of Hartford.

Another notable American bearing the Coppins name was William Coppins (1775-1851), a soldier who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

While the Coppins surname may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history dating back centuries, with many notable individuals having contributed to various fields throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coppins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coppins 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 265 Coppins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.84x.

County Total Index
Kent 265 20.84x
Middlesex 57 1.53x
Surrey 20 1.10x
Essex 12 1.63x
Cambridgeshire 6 2.54x
Suffolk 6 1.32x
Hampshire 4 0.52x
Sussex 3 0.48x
Yorkshire 3 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 2 1.69x
Durham 1 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Charing in Kent leads with 35 Coppins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2034.88x.

Place Total Index
Charing 35 2034.88x
Egerton 32 2882.88x
Faversham 28 231.02x
Lenham 19 748.03x
Bromley London 16 19.52x
Whitstable 16 256.41x
Minster In Sheppey 15 71.23x
Shoreditch London 14 8.67x
Chatham 12 34.31x
Blean 9 1022.73x
Willesborough 9 263.16x
Battersea 8 5.83x
St Marylebone London 8 4.02x
Hernhill 7 729.17x
Shorne 7 625.00x
St George Hanover Square 7 10.66x
Ashford 6 48.47x
Kedington 6 500.00x
Rochester St Margaret 6 44.74x
Seasalter 6 372.67x
Stanway 6 465.12x
Wood Ditton 6 304.57x
Croydon 5 4.96x
Frindsbury 5 104.38x
Pluckley 5 423.73x
Boughton Malherbe 4 701.75x
Eastling 4 655.74x
Hackney London 4 1.91x
Lambeth 4 1.23x
Portsea 4 2.67x
Ecclesfield 3 11.08x
Framfield 3 153.85x
Rainham 3 85.96x
St Peters 3 51.02x
Upchurch 3 209.79x
Borden 2 124.22x
Camberwell 2 0.84x
Canterbury St Mary 2 23.45x
Gillingham 2 7.63x
Greenwich 2 3.37x
Hatfield Broad Oak 2 80.65x
Kensington London 2 0.97x
Loose 2 106.95x
Maidstone 2 5.28x
Pembroke St Mary 2 13.11x
Throwley 2 253.16x
West Ham 2 1.23x
Beddington 1 14.25x
Biddenden 1 57.47x
Bow London 1 2.11x
Bridge 1 91.74x
Brightlingsea 1 23.81x
Burton Extra 1 13.87x
Canterbury St Andrew 1 185.19x
Canterbury St Augustine 1 212.77x
Chartham 1 31.55x
Cheriton 1 19.31x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.02x
Dymchurch 1 140.85x
Finchley 1 7.00x
Herne 1 17.76x
Hollingbourn 1 68.03x
Lee 1 5.42x
Leyton 1 7.89x
Margate St John Baptist 1 4.30x
Melksham 1 17.48x
Norwich St Stephen 1 19.01x
Paddington London 1 0.73x
Ramsgate 1 4.82x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 25.25x
Rolvenden 1 60.61x
Spitalfields London 1 3.57x
Stranton 1 2.68x
Sutton Valence 1 69.44x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.56x
Willesden 1 2.85x
Wouldham 1 61.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 22
James 18
John 17
George 16
Charles 10
Henry 8
Thomas 8
Edward 7
Richard 6
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Stephen 4
David 3
Peter 3
Frank 2
Horace 2
Josph.Thos. 2
Walter 2
Ambrose 1
Arthur 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
Everden 1
Fred 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Moses 1
Rufus 1
Sauder 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Coppins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coppins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Coppins surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coppins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 299 in 2016. That gives Coppins a modern rank of #14,770.

What does the Coppins surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from various places named with the Old English "copp" meaning hill or peak.

What does the Coppins map show?

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