Choppin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Choppin. It was given to a person noted for enjoying strong drink. The surname Choppin is derived from the Old French word chopine, which was an old medieval measure of liquid; referred to as "the Parisien halfe pint", it was nearly as large as an English pint. In modern times, the Old French word chopiner means to tipple. The surname Choppin may also be a patronymic name derived from the personal name Chopin.

Early Origins of the Choppin family

The surname Choppin was first found in Devon, but we must look to Somerset to find the first recording of the family; for it is there that researchers found John Chopyn was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 1

The Curia Regis Rolls for Devon in 1219 included an entry for Walter Chopin and later the Assize Rolls for Somerset recorded Henry Choppin in 1280. 2

Early History of the Choppin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Choppin research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1280, 1327, 1377, 1596, 1597, 1606, 1685, 1781 and 1789 are included under the topic Early Choppin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Choppin Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Choppin has appeared include Chopping, Choppin, Chopyn, Chopin, Choppen, Chappington and many more.

Early Notables of the Choppin family

Notables of the family at this time include John Chappington or Chapington (d. 1606), English organ-builder, born at South Molton, Devonshire. "He seems to have built an organ for Westminster Abbey about 1596, when an entry in the churchwardens' accounts of St. Margaret's, Westminster, records that he was paid 13l. 13s. 4d. for the organs of the college...
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Choppin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Choppin family to Ireland

Some of the Choppin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Choppin migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Choppin arrived in North America very early:

Choppin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Claude Antoine Choppin, who arrived in Louisiana in 1824 3
William Choppin, who landed in America in 1830 3
William Choppin who arrived in New York City in 1830

Contemporary Notables of the name Choppin (post 1700) +

Purnell Choppin, American scientist

Citations +

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.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)