This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Cope family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Cope Family History

Cope Surname Meaning

English (Midlands): from Middle English cope ‘cloak cape’ (from Old English cāp reinforced by the Old Norse cognate kápa) hence a metonymic occupational name for someone who made cloaks or capes or a nickname for someone who wore a distinctive one.

Compare Cape. Americanized form of German Koob or Kopp.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cope family from?

You can see how Cope families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cope family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cope families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,873 Cope families living in Staffordshire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Cope's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Cope families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cope surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Cope 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 Cope. 6% of Cope men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Cope women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cope were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Cope | 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
    6%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Gardener
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Cope family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 195,000 census records available for the last name Cope. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cope census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cope

Passenger Lists

There are 16,000 immigration records available for the last name Cope. 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 Cope immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 23,000 military records available for the last name Cope. For the veterans among your Cope ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cope military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cope family history

Discover More

What is the average Cope lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Cope life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Cope in 1942 was 54, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cope

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cope ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cope family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial