Copeland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Copeland family
The surname Copeland was first found in Lancashire at Whittington. "This is the Witetvne of the Saxon era, and was anciently of considerable extent. William de Coucy in the 14th of Edward III. had a grant of free warren here; and in the 49th of the same reign, Sir John de Coupeland, successor of de Coucy, owned a third of the manor: the manor was therefore held in portions, but when they were united does not appear." 1
Ashton in Lancashire was another ancient family seat. "Ashton is remarkable as the ancient seat of the De Courcys, out of which family it passed by marriage to John de Coupland (died 1363), the hero of Neville's Cross." 1
The squire from Northumberland captured David II of Scotland after the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346. He was knighted for his actions but was ambushed and killed in 1363. 2 The family lent their name to Copeland (bought land), in Cumberland. 3 Today, this place is known as the Borough of Copeland, a local government district with borough status in western Cumbria.
Early History of the Copeland family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Copeland research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1160, 1200, 1346, 1455, 1508, 1515, 1547, 1556, 1569, 1747, 1781, 1787, 1797, 1804, 1828, 1829, 1835, 1837, 1855, 1861, 1868, 1885 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Copeland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Copeland Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Copeland, Coupland, Copland, Coapland and others.
Early Notables of the Copeland family
Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Robert Copland (fl. 1508-1547), English printer and author, thought to have been a servant of William Caxton, and worked for Wynkyn de Worde, best known...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Copeland Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Copeland Ranking
In the United States, the name Copeland is the 445th most popular surname with an estimated 62,175 people with that name. 4
Migration of the Copeland family to Ireland
Some of the Copeland family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Copeland migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Copeland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Christopher Copeland, who arrived in Virginia in 1631 5
- Jo Copeland, aged 19, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" 5
- Hen Copeland, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 5
- Mary Copeland, who landed in Virginia in 1650 5
- William Copeland, who landed in Virginia in 1650 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Copeland Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Elinor Copeland, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 5
- Elizabeth Copeland, who landed in Virginia in 1714 5
- Robert Copeland, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 5
- John Copeland, who arrived in New York in 1774 5
Copeland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- William Copeland, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
- Thomas Copeland, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
- James Copeland, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1811 5
- James Copeland, who landed in New York, NY in 1811 5
- John L Copeland, who landed in Texas in 1835 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Copeland migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Copeland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Simeon Copeland, English convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 28th July 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
- "Miss Ann Copeland, (b. 1796), aged 32, English servant who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1829" 7
- Jasper Copeland, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" 8
- Henry Copeland, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 9
- Margaret Copeland, aged 18, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Aliquis"
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Copeland 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:
Copeland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- George Copeland, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
- George Copeland, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tyne" in 1841
- Mr. Charles Copeland, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th December 1851 10
- Charles Copeland, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Berar" in 1865
- Mary Copeland, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British King" in 1883
Contemporary Notables of the name Copeland (post 1700) +
- Fred L. "Bubba" Copeland (1974-2023), American politician and pastor, Mayor of Smiths Station, Alabama, from 2016 until his death in 2023
- Joan Maxine Copeland (1922-2022), née Miller, an American actress and younger sister of playwright Arthur Miller, best known for her performances in the 1977 Broadway revival of Pal Joey and her award-winning performance in the 1981 play The American Clock
- Brian Copeland (b. 1974), American actor, comedian, radio talk show host, playwright and author
- Ray Copeland (1926-1984), American jazz trumpet player and teacher, father of the drummer Keith Copeland
- Jim Copeland (1945-2010), American NFL offensive lineman who played in the 1960s
- James Copeland (1823-1857), American outlaw, co-leader of the 60 member Wages and Copeland Clan gang, executed by hanging
- George Copeland (1882-1971), American classical pianist
- Royal Samuel Copeland (1868-1938), American academic, homeopathic physician and politician, United States Senator from New York (1923-1938)
- Shemekia Copeland (b. 1979), American electric blues vocalist
- Johnny Copeland (1937-1997), American Texas blues guitarist and singer
- ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Historic Events for the Copeland family +
Grover Shoe factory
- Mr. Walter E. Copeland, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; he died 11
- Mr. Albert W Copeland, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 12
Senghenydd colliery
- Mr. Harry Copeland (b. 1880), Welsh coal miner from Penyrheol, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
The Copeland Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Benigno numine
Motto Translation: By Divine Providence.
Suggested Readings for the name Copeland +
- Copeland, Bostick, Patton, and Allied Families by Virginia Copeland.
- The Copeland/Coplen and Allied Families by Herman L. Coplen.
Citations +
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
- South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml
- South Australian Register Monday 26th December 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Epaminondas 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/epaminondas1853.shtml
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
- HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html