Copeland

Background:  This surname is of Old Norse origin, and is a locational name from Copeland in Cumberland, or Coupland in Northumberland, both so called from the Old Norse "kaupland" meaning "bought land", a feature worthy of note during the early Middle Ages, when land was rarely sold, but held by feudal tenure and handed down from one generation to the next.

The surname of Copeland can be traced to Northumberland and Cumberland, and is a locational surname for these places. The first of these possible origins is that it may have been derived from a location, somewhere with the name of Copeland. Because the surname of Copeland is locational, this means that it was often taken by the Lord or owner of the land from which the name derives. Others who may have take a locational surname are people who have migrated out of the area to seek out work. The easiest way to identify someone who was a stranger at that time was by the name of their birthplace. This locational name was Coupland, which comes from the Old Norse word “kaupland” which can be translated to mean “bought land.” This is importantly named because land was rarely bought or sold during the Middle Ages, rather it was handed down from one generation to the next.

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Copeland was found in the country of England, and in the year of 1204. One by the name of Samson de Copland was mentioned in the document referred to as the Pleas before the King and His Justice. This document was ordered, decreed, and written under the reign of one King John, who was known as and commonly referred to throughout history as the “Lackland.” King John ruled from the year 1199 to the year 1216. Other mentions of the surname of Copeland in England include William de Copeland, who was mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Northumberland in the year 1256, and Thomas Coupleland in the the Feet Fines of Essex in the year 1376. Within church records, the surname of Copeland is found in the marriage of Edward Copeland to Katheren Dodge in 1557 at Christ Church, Greyfriars, Newgate. Those who bear this surname live all around the country of England. However, those areas with the higher concentration of those who bear the surname, compared to other parts of the country, are the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, and Lancashire.

Name Variations:  Coupleand, Coopeland, Copeland, Coppleand, Copeeland, Copelanda, Copelannd, Copelannd, Caopeland, Copelland.

References:
One or more of the following publications has been referenced for this article.
The General Armory; Sir Bernard Burke - 1842.
A Handbook of Mottoes; C.N. Elvin - 1860.
English Surnames; C.M. Matthews - 1966.
A Dictionary of English Surnames; P.H. Reaney - 1958.
COADB: https://coadb.com/surnames/copeland-arms.html

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