COPE
Cope is an English surname of early medieval origin. The name is recorded in the British Isles, in England, and appears in English-language documents as early as the twelfth century.
In Old English the word copp meant “top” or “summit”. As a topographic name it was applied to a person who lived at the upper part of a hill or ridge. Thus some bearers of the surname may have originally been identified by the physical feature of their residence.
Alternatively, Cope is a metonymic occupational name taken from Middle English cope, a cloak or cape. The name could denote a maker or seller of such garments, or a person whom the community associated with habitually wearing a distinctive coat or cape. This occupational derivation is supported by earlier references to a Walter Cape in the 1221 Assize Court Rolls of Gloucestershire and a Maud Cope in the 1275 Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.
The spelling of the surname has varied over time. Early forms include Cape and Copp, and the later variant Copeland has also been used. Modern bearers of the name can be found in England and other English‑speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The earliest documented spelling of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Kent for the year 1190, where an Ailward Cape is listed. This record was created during the reign of King Richard I, who reigned from 1189 to 1199. An earlier attestation, the Ailward Cape of 1190, confirms that the surname had already entered the official record by the late twelfth century.
In the early nineteenth century, on 17 July 1635, a Richard Cope, aged 24, departed London aboard the ship Blessing bound for New England. He is one of the earliest recorded members of the family to settle in America, illustrating the early trans‑Atlantic migration of holders of the surname.
Among the notable individuals who have borne the name is Charles West Cope (1811‑1890), an eminent historical painter. He was among six artists appointed to prepare the decorations for the House of Lords in 1844 and for Westminster Palace in 1871. Between 1867 and 1875 he served as professor of painting to the Royal Academy, underscoring the artistic prominence achieved by members of the family.
The family crest and coat of arms are defined by heraldic tradition. The shield is silver and bears three gold fleur‑de‑lis set upon a blue chevron, surrounded by three red roses that have proper stems. The crest features a red dragon’s head emerging from a gold fleur‑de‑lis. These elements have been recorded in heraldic registers and are recognised by those genealogical societies that trace the lineage of the Cope family.
Typical given names associated with the Cope surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Caroline
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Gillian
- Helen
- Jacqueline
- Julie
- Laura
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Cope in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Cope are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate chip cookie.
There are approximately 12,734 people named Cope in the UK. That makes it the 708th most common surname in Britain. Around 196 in a million people in Britain are named Cope.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Cope
- Julian Cope - Musician, author, antiquarian, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator
- Wendy Cope - Writer
- Jamie Cope - Snooker player
- John Cope, Baron Cope of Berkeley - Politician
- Geoff Cope - Cricket player of England.
- Pauline Cope - Association football player
- Jack Cope - Football player and cricketer (1908 to 1995)
- Ronnie Cope - Football player (1934 to 1)
- William Cope, 1st Baron Cope - Politician (1870 to 1946)
- Peter Cope - Test pilot (1921 to 2005)
- Charles West Cope - Artist (1811 to 1890)
- Simon Cope - Racing cyclist
- Alan Cope - Cricketer
- Bill Cope - Football player (1899 to 1979)
- Frederick Cope - Canadian politician (1860 to 1897)
- Horace Cope - Football player (1899 to 1961)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.