Copps History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Copps is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived 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 Copps family

The surname Copps 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 Copps family

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

Copps Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Copps family name include Copp, Coppe, Copps, Coppes, Cop, Cops and others.

Early Notables of the Copps family

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

Copps migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Copps Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Copps, British Convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9

Copps migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Copps Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Copps, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Gertrude 10
Michael Copps, aged 32, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 10
Mr. M.Copps, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 31st October 1841 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Copps (post 1700) +

Victor Kennedy Copps (1919-1988), Canadian politician and Mayor of Hamilton, Ontario
Jeremiah Copps Durick, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Vermont, 1916; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Vermont 1st District, 1920, 1928 12

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.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html