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Copeland Family History

Copeland Name Meaning

English and Scottish: habitational name from Copeland in Cumbria or Coupland in Northumberland both named with Old Norse kaupa-land ‘bought land’ a feature worthy of note during the early Middle Ages when land was rarely sold but rather held by feudal tenure and handed down from one generation to the next.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Roseland, Moreland, Opland, Espeland, Loveland, Morland, Rowland

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Copeland family from?

You can see how Copeland families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Copeland family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Copeland families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 454 Copeland families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Copeland's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Copeland families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Copeland surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Copeland ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Copeland. 16% of Copeland men worked as a General Labourer and 71% of Copeland women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Copeland were Gardener and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Copeland | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Builders Labourer
    4%
  • Bricklayer
    4%
  • Gardener
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    71%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Copeland family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 244,000 census records available for the last name Copeland. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Copeland census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Copeland

Passenger Lists

There are 22,000 immigration records available for the last name Copeland. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Copeland immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 47,000 military records available for the last name Copeland. For the veterans among your Copeland ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Copeland military records

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What is the average Copeland lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Copeland life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Copeland in 1942 was 38, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Copeland

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