Find out how popular the last name Copeland is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Copeland.

Copeland, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Copeland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Copeland in America

Copeland is the 609th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Copeland surname appeared 55,850 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 19 people would have the surname Copeland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Copeland to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Copeland

The surname Copeland originated in England, specifically in the region of Cumbria, in the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the place name "Copeland," which comes from the Old English words "copp" meaning hill or summit, and "land" meaning land or territory. This suggests that the name refers to someone who lived on or near a hilltop.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard de Copeland, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland in 1183. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and locations of people living during that time.

The name Copeland is also found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a place called "Coupeland" in the northern county of Cumberland, which is believed to be the origin of the surname.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the Copeland surname was John de Copeland, who served as a knight and fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence under Edward I. He was captured at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and later held for ransom.

Another prominent individual was Sir Ralph Copeland (c. 1285-1326), an English military commander who served under Edward II and Edward III. He played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence and was knighted for his bravery in battle.

Sir John Copeland (c. 1350-1417) was an English soldier and diplomat who served under Richard II and Henry IV. He was involved in various military campaigns, including the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, and served as a diplomat in negotiations with France and Scotland.

In the literary realm, Gabriel Copeland (c. 1500-1585) was an English poet and translator during the Elizabethan era. He is best known for his translations of works by Italian poets, including Petrarch and Ariosto.

The surname Copeland has also been associated with various place names, such as Copeland Island in Northern Ireland, Copeland Borough in Cumbria, England, and the town of Copeland in Oklahoma, United States, reflecting the widespread distribution of the name over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Copeland

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Copeland.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Copeland was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Copeland has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Copeland was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Copeland, please contact us.

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