UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English "copp," meaning a hilltop or elevated place.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Copps surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton and Hertingfordbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Copps is 136 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.5%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
67
2016, ranked #33,884
Peak year
1911
136 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Copps surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Copps surname density by area, 1911 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 | 83 | #19,181 |
| 1861 | historical | 130 | #17,164 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 136 | #18,962 |
| 1997 | modern | 52 | #32,444 |
| 1998 | modern | 54 | #32,518 |
| 1999 | modern | 56 | #32,461 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 60 | #31,985 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 64 | #33,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 61 | #34,228 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 69 | #33,833 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 67 | #33,884 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton, Hertingfordbury, St Marylebone and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton | Hertfordshire |
| 3 | Hertingfordbury | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints | Hertfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Copps 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 Copps, 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 Copps surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Copps 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, Copps 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 Copps is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Copps, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Copps is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "copp," which means "hill" or "mound." It is likely that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a prominent hill or mound.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, which mentions a William Coppe. The name also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Coppe is mentioned.
The Copps surname is closely associated with certain areas in England, particularly Yorkshire, Worcestershire, and Lancashire. In these regions, the name was often associated with specific place names that contained the word "copp," such as Cophill or Copphill.
One notable historical figure bearing the Copps surname was Sir William Copps (1500-1558), a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another individual of note was John Copps (1630-1689), a Puritan minister and author who served as a chaplain in the English Civil War.
In the 17th century, the Copps surname also appeared in the records of early settlers in North America. One such individual was Thomas Copps, who was born in England in 1620 and later emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Another prominent figure was Benjamin Copps (1772-1843), an English-born merchant and land speculator who played a significant role in the early development of Upper Canada (now Ontario, Canada).
The Copps surname has also been associated with various place names across England, including Copps Hill in Lincolnshire, Copps Farm in Suffolk, and Copps Nook in Yorkshire.
While the spelling "Copps" is the most common form, variations such as Copp, Coppes, and Coppes have also been documented throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Copps 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. Middlesex leads with 25 Copps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 25 | 3.88x |
| Hertfordshire | 19 | 42.83x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.92x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 4.55x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.91x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.23x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.79x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Finchley in Middlesex leads with 20 Copps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 809.72x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Finchley | 20 | 809.72x |
| Hertingfordbury | 10 | 5555.56x |
| Blackburn | 7 | 34.45x |
| Weston | 7 | 3333.33x |
| South Hayling | 6 | 2608.70x |
| Newington | 5 | 21.03x |
| Aston | 2 | 4.48x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 5.82x |
| Baldock | 1 | 238.10x |
| Bow London | 1 | 12.21x |
| East Barnet | 1 | 113.64x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 19.27x |
| Mickleham | 1 | 555.56x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 19.96x |
| West Ham | 1 | 3.57x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Copps 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 Copps 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 Copps households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Dressmaker | 3 |
| Boot Maker | 2 |
| Dairyman | 2 |
| Labouer | 2 |
| Assists In The Business | 1 |
| Beer Retailer | 1 |
| Bottling Store | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Cattle Dealer | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Factory Hand | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Servt | 1 |
| Grocer & General Dealer | 1 |
| Grocer Wife | 1 |
| Hotel Manager Keeper | 1 |
| House Work | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| Presstool Maker | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Serv Dom | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Copps surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Copps a modern rank of #33,884.
An English surname derived from the Old English "copp," meaning a hilltop or elevated place.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Copps 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.