COUPER
In the 1881 Census
Top Locations
See the bottom of the page for an explanation of the numeric columns.
Counties
Census Districts
Demographics
Numbers in brackets are the total recorded in the census. Note that for less common surnames, some of these may well be typos or transcription errors. See below for some more information on occupational titles.
Top male names
- John (17)
- James (10)
- William (9)
- George (9)
- Thomas (8)
- Charles (6)
- Frederick (5)
- Henry (5)
- Alexander (3)
- Robert (3)
- Joseph (3)
- Peter (2)
- Walter (2)
- Edward (2)
- Thos. (2)
- Andrew (1)
- Samuel (1)
- St.George (1)
- Stuart (1)
- Alfred (1)
- Thos.L. (1)
- Richard (1)
- Ivil (1)
- Jack (1)
- Edgar (1)
- Darrant (1)
- Daniel (1)
- Lawson (1)
- Malcolm (1)
- Masewell (1)
- Ogston (1)
- Lancelot (1)
Top female names
- Mary (16)
- Margaret (5)
- Ellen (5)
- Helen (4)
- Sarah (4)
- Elizabeth (4)
- Ann (4)
- Marion (4)
- Anne (3)
- Emily (3)
- Louisa (3)
- Emma (3)
- Isabella (2)
- Betsy (2)
- Eliza (2)
- Dorothy (2)
- Agnes (2)
- Alice (2)
- Jessie (2)
- Leah (1)
- Kate (1)
- Maggie (1)
- Keziah (1)
- Margt. (1)
- May (1)
- Minnie (1)
- Olivia (1)
- Pamela (1)
- Roberta (1)
- Rosanne (1)
- Selina (1)
- Janette (1)
- Euphemia (1)
- Caroline (1)
- Dolly (1)
- Duncan (1)
- Eleanor (1)
- Susan (1)
- Elizth. (1)
- Ellice (1)
- Fanny (1)
- Florence (1)
- Gertrude (1)
- Grace (1)
- H. (1)
- Hannah (1)
- Harries (1)
- Harriet (1)
- Ida (1)
- Isabel (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (43)
- No Occupation (3)
- Naval Schoolmaster (2)
- Copperplate Engr Artist (2)
- Stay Maker (2)
- Cotton Weaver (2)
- Coal Miner (2)
- Labourer (2)
- Sanitary Pipe Maker (2)
- Blacksmith (2)
- Iron Turner (2)
- Pupil (2)
- Painter (2)
- Housekeeper (1)
- Engine Fitter At Works (1)
- Draughtsman Ordnance Survey Office (1)
- Dependant On Bro (1)
- Kitchen Maid Salisbury Hotel (1)
- Civil Engineer (1)
- Fireman (1)
- Journalist (1)
- Engineer (1)
- Fisherman (1)
- Fitter In Dockyard (Ship) (1)
- Housemaid (1)
- General Servant (1)
- Green Broom Maker (1)
- Head Of House (1)
- Horse Dalers Assistant (1)
- Cotton Mill Hand (1)
- Copperplate Engraver (Engraver Artist) (1)
- Bootmaker (Master Employg 2 Men) (1)
- Bolt Works Screwer (1)
- Boarder Scholar (1)
- Blockprinter (1)
- Black Smith Apprent (1)
- Assistant (1)
- Annuitant (1)
- Acting Sub Lieutenant Royal Navy (1)
- Butcher (1)
- Worsted Weaver (1)
- Carpenter (1)
- Cooper (1)
- Cook Domestic Servant (1)
- Colonel Bengal Staff Corps Wife (1)
- Colonel Bengal Staff Corps (1)
- Collar Maker (?) (1)
- Coalminer (1)
- Clerk To Gas Company (1)
- Chief Officer Unemp Sm (1)
Explanation of numeric columns in the county and district tables
The Total column shows the total number of people in that county or town with this surname. For example, there were 298 people with the surname Couper in the county of Lanarkshire in 1881.
The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.03% of the people in Lanarkshire were called Couper.
The Index column shows how more or less common a surname is in a particular location compared to the population as a whole. If the index is higher than 1, then you more likely to find a person with this name here than you would in the country as a whole. And if it's less than 1, you are less likely to find someone with this surname here. For example, the Couper surname has an index of 7.04 in Lanarkshire, meaning that you are 7.04 times as likely to find a Couper here than you would in the population as a whole.
The Total value is an absolute figure which takes no account of the size of the county or town, so it tends to be biased towards larger towns and counties. The Frequency and Index values are relative to the local population, so they give a better idea of where a surname is most concentrated.
A note on occupational titles
Occupational titles are presented exactly as recorded on the census and later transcribed, with no attempt made to unify names that are the same. So, for example, 'Ag Lab' and 'Agricultural Labourer' will apear as separate entries, and so will any misspellings of them.
'Scholar' was the census term for any child in education. Given that families tended to be large, this means that school children, or scholars, are almost always the largest recorded occupational group for any surname. A better idea of what the family breadwinners did for a living will be found in the other job titles.