Cuppach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Cuppach date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in the village of Kippax, a parish, in the Lower division of the wapentake of Skyrack in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "This parish, in the Domesday Survey Chepesch, is situated near the river Aire, and comprises by computation 4000 acres: the soil is a light mould, resting on limestone, and the scenery is picturesque." 1

Early Origins of the Cuppach family

The surname Cuppach was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Kippax, a large and important Norman village. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 2 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, Kippax, at the taking of the Domesday Book was held by Ilbert de Lacy, a Norman Baron, who was at the Battle of Hastings. and who was granted 150 lordships in Yorkshire in addition to the whole district known then as Blackburnshire in now Lancashire. His holdings included Pontefract Castle in Yorkshire. Conjecturally, the Kippax family surname descends from a relation of this Baron who held Kippax at that time.

Early rolls gave a glimpse of the many spellings used by the family at that time. The Pipe Rolls of 1190 included an entry for Alan de Kipais and later the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire included Richard de Kippax in 1347. Back in Yorkshire, John Kypas was listed there in 1441. 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1370 listed Adam Kypas; Johannes de Kypax; Johanna Kepas; and Johannes de Kepax as all holding lands there at that time. 4

Early History of the Cuppach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cuppach research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1352, 1356, 1364, 1367, 1370, 1372, 1373, 1375, 1379, 1382, 1404, 1653 and 1722 are included under the topic Early Cuppach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cuppach Spelling Variations

Cuppach has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Cuppach have been found, including Kippax, Keepax, Kipax, Kepax, Kipas, Kypas, Kyppax, Kypax, Kipacks, Kepax, Kippacks, Cuppage, Cupage, Kippage, Kippash, Cuppash, Coppash, Cupacks and many more.

Early Notables of the Cuppach family

Distinguished members of the family include John Keppock (died 1404), Irish judge who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, in England in 1352, acted as counsel for the powerful Anglo-Irish Cusack family, became King's Serjeant (1356), became Lord Chief Baron (1364) and Lord Chief Justice (13670, In 1370 he stood down as Lord Chief Justice but remained...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cuppach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cuppach family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Cuppachs to arrive on North American shores: Peter Kippax settled in Virginia in 1699.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)