Coppes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Coppes comes from when the family resided on the top of a high hill. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word coppe, for a high hill or promontory. 1 2 3

It was also used as a word for a lookout; a place where an observer could see the landscape for miles around, and therefore be able to warn of an approaching army. As a place-name, it is largely extinct, except for one location; there is a Spying Copp outside of the Liverpool Soccer Stadium is a good place to watch the games for free.

Early Origins of the Coppes family

The surname Coppes was first found in Hampshire where Eduinus coppa was registered at Winton in 1148. Years later, Robert Coppe was registered in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1192 and Geoffrey Coppe was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Surrey in 1212. In Warwickshire, Roger de la Coppe was listed there in the Assize Rolls of 1221 and John atte Coppe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 4

Other sources note that the name is generally a name found in southern England in Cornwall 5, Devon and Dorset. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had only one listing for that family, that of Roger Coppe who was listed in Dorset. 6 In Somerset, Richard Coppe was listed there 1 Edward III (in the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

In Norfolk, we found two entries for the family: John de la Coppe in the Feet of Fines for 1331 and Richard de la Coppe, who was rector of Oxburgh (1 Edward III.) 6

"The Copps have now their home in the Great Torrington district [of Devon]. Coppe was a common name in Littleham, Exmouth, in the 17th century (Webb), and even now the name is not uncommon in the town." 8

Early History of the Coppes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coppes research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1619 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Coppes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coppes Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Coppes has been recorded under many different variations, including Copp, Coppe, Copps, Coppes, Cop, Cops and others.

Early Notables of the Coppes family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coppes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coppes family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Coppes or a variant listed above: Edward Copp of Providence, Rhode Island, arrived in the sailing ship "Blessing." He and his two sons Richard and William Copp were shoemakers and later moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1630. Part of his estate in Boston was known as Copp Hill. Mr. Copp settled in New York in 1820.

Contemporary Notables of the name Coppes (post 1700) +

Robert W. Coppes, American actor, known for The Doctors (1963) and The Brighter Side (2015)
Kim Coppes, German actress, known for De geschiedenis van het Land van Ooit (1990)

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.