UK surname
A French surname potentially derived from the word "coup" meaning a blow or strike.
In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Coup surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 55, ranked #34,627, down from #12,284 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Basford, Rochdale and Bolsover. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coup is 312 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 74.3%.
1881 census count
214
Ranked #12,284
Modern count
55
2016, ranked #34,627
Peak year
1851
312 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Coup surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Coup surname density by area, 1881 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 | 312 | #7,397 |
| 1861 | historical | 308 | #8,233 |
| 1881 | historical | 214 | #12,284 |
| 1891 | historical | 130 | #20,173 |
| 1901 | historical | 139 | #18,876 |
| 1911 | historical | 85 | #24,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 59 | #32,174 |
| 2000 | modern | 53 | #32,805 |
| 2001 | modern | 50 | #32,957 |
| 2002 | modern | 48 | #33,459 |
| 2003 | modern | 48 | #33,533 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 45 | #34,160 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 48 | #34,488 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 54 | #34,608 |
| 2013 | modern | 57 | #34,538 |
| 2014 | modern | 59 | #34,459 |
| 2015 | modern | 56 | #34,571 |
| 2016 | modern | 55 | #34,627 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Basford, Rochdale, Bolsover, Preston and Tibshelf. 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 | Basford | Nottinghamshire |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Bolsover | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 5 | Tibshelf | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Coup 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 Coup, 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 Coup surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Coup 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, Coup 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 Coup is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Coup, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname COUP is of French origin, originating in the northern regions of France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "coup," which means "blow" or "strike." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who was a skilled fighter or soldier.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name COUP can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Coup" in this historical document, indicating its presence in England during the Norman Conquest.
During the 13th century, the surname COUP was particularly prevalent in the northern French regions of Picardy and Normandy. Records from this time show variations in spelling, such as "Coupe" and "Coupé," which likely reflected local dialects and pronunciations.
In the 14th century, the name COUP began to spread across Europe as a result of migration and trade. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this period include Jean Coup, a wealthy merchant from Rouen, France, born around 1320, and Phillipe Coup, a renowned architect from Paris, who lived between 1375 and 1440.
As the COUP surname continued to disperse throughout Europe in the following centuries, it found its way to England, where it was sometimes anglicized to "Cowp" or "Coup." One notable English bearer of this name was Sir Thomas Coup, a distinguished military officer who served under Henry VIII in the early 16th century (born circa 1485, died 1547).
Other notable individuals with the surname COUP include:
1. Pierre Coup (1560-1635), a French philosopher and theologian. 2. Marie-Anne Coup (1705-1778), a French painter and portraitist. 3. Edouard Coup (1812-1890), a Belgian businessman and industrialist. 4. Henri Coup (1868-1941), a French politician and diplomat. 5. Léon Coup (1901-1976), a renowned French architect known for his Art Deco designs.
While the surname COUP has its roots in northern France, it has since spread worldwide and can be found in various countries and cultures today. However, the historical records and examples mentioned above provide insights into the name's origins, evolution, and the notable individuals who have carried this distinctive surname throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coup 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. Lancashire leads with 90 Coups recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.63x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 90 | 3.63x |
| Derbyshire | 38 | 11.63x |
| Nairnshire | 26 | 408.16x |
| Nottinghamshire | 15 | 5.33x |
| Yorkshire | 15 | 0.73x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 1.64x |
| Surrey | 6 | 0.59x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 2.16x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 1.29x |
| Sussex | 4 | 1.14x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.30x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.05x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nairn in Nairnshire leads with 26 Coups recorded in 1881 and an index of 671.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nairn | 26 | 671.83x |
| Bolsover | 17 | 1036.59x |
| Blackburn | 16 | 24.28x |
| Catterall | 11 | 2500.00x |
| Basford | 10 | 77.10x |
| Kirkham | 10 | 305.81x |
| Sutton Cum Duckmanton | 10 | 2941.18x |
| Alverstoke | 7 | 45.19x |
| Bradford | 6 | 11.98x |
| Heaton Norris | 6 | 42.55x |
| Lambeth | 6 | 3.30x |
| Chipping | 5 | 704.23x |
| Everton | 5 | 6.33x |
| Loughborough | 5 | 47.62x |
| Widnes | 5 | 28.00x |
| Chorley | 4 | 28.78x |
| Eastbourne | 4 | 24.71x |
| Handsworth | 4 | 73.13x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 4 | 21.56x |
| Castleton | 3 | 12.13x |
| Hucknall Under | 3 | 206.90x |
| Hulme | 3 | 5.80x |
| North Wingfield | 3 | 205.48x |
| Warley | 3 | 50.17x |
| Whitwell | 3 | 230.77x |
| Bury | 2 | 7.07x |
| Great Little Marsden | 2 | 17.62x |
| Hasland | 2 | 60.06x |
| Manchester | 2 | 1.80x |
| Oswaldtwistle | 2 | 22.86x |
| Pleasington | 2 | 606.06x |
| Rainford | 2 | 74.63x |
| Todmorden Walsden | 2 | 30.12x |
| Wadsworth | 2 | 59.35x |
| Alfreton | 1 | 10.07x |
| Atherton | 1 | 11.09x |
| Burnley | 1 | 4.79x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 5.41x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 8.16x |
| Heighington | 1 | 188.68x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 0.86x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 4.88x |
| North Leverton | 1 | 476.19x |
| Oldham | 1 | 1.25x |
| Over Darwen | 1 | 5.06x |
| Pendlebury | 1 | 19.12x |
| Pleasley | 1 | 121.95x |
| Preston | 1 | 1.51x |
| South Leverton | 1 | 344.83x |
| Swindon | 1 | 6.98x |
| Worsley | 1 | 6.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coup surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 15 |
| Mary | 13 |
| Ann | 6 |
| Ellen | 6 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Martha | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Edith | 3 |
| Esther | 3 |
| Margaret | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Zillah | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Deborah | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Ella | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margery | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Margt. | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Selena | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Coup 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 Coup households.
FAQ
In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Coup surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 55 in 2016. That gives Coup a modern rank of #34,627.
A French surname potentially derived from the word "coup" meaning a blow or strike.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coup 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.