The name Copestakes is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived at the copstake or the post on top of the round hill or mound.
The surname Copestakes was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Copestakes research. Another 225 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1295, 1301, 1379, 1474, 1500, 1729, 1749, 1791, 1800 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Copestakes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Copestakes are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Copestakes include: Capstick, Copestake, Copestick, Copstick, Capstack, Coupstak, Coupestack, Copstake, Cowpstake and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Copestakes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Copestakes or a variant listed above: