Surname Coplen - Meaning and Origin
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Coplen: What does the surname Coplen mean?
The surname Coplen is believed to have derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "Coppin", a diminutive of the nickname "Cop", meaning "head", and was likely used to describe someone with a unique or distinctive head. This could refer to any unique feature of the head, such as size, color, or shape. Therefore, the surname Coplen might indicate that the original bearer may have been distinguished by something associated with his head. It's important to mention that nicknames represented the oldest and most pervasive type of surname, and even today many surnames originally derived from nicknames. This surname is now found in several countries in different forms such as Copin, Copping, Coppin, Kipping, and Coppen, among others.
Order DNA origin analysisCoplen: Where does the name Coplen come from?
The surname Coplen is believed to have originated from England. More specifically, it seems to be derived from the Middle English term "coplen", which means to bargain or exchange. Another possible origin could be the English place names Copeland or Coupland, indicative of a geographical origin. It could also be linked to the Old Norse name "Kaupland", which translates to "bought land".
As a surname, Coplen is fairly uncommon today. Nevertheless, it is most prevalent in the United States, according to the database of Forebears. The surname can also be found in small numbers in various other countries such as Canada, England, Australia, and Scotland. However, as with many surnames, the distribution of the Coplen name can vary and have spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. Despite this, it's safe to say that individuals bearing the Coplen surname are still most likely to be found in the United States.
Variations of the surname Coplen
The surname Coplen can be written or pronounced in different ways even though they originate from the same roots. Some variations include Coplin, Copeland, Copelan, Copelin, and Copplin. In terms of spelling, a common misspelling might be Koppeln or Kopplin.
The surname Coplen is also believed to be a variant of the English surname Copeland, derived from the Old Norse personal name “Kopland,” meaning “bought land." Different regions and dialects can lead to spelling differences hence other variations of Copeland include Copelan, Capland, Copland, Coupeland, Coupland, and Coupelande, among others.
The English surname Copeland is as well a locational surname from places called "Copeland" in Cumbria and Northumberland. More variants from these origins can be formed based on pronunciation or spelling dialects. Due to the various English accents, names have been spelled according to their phonetics which led to many different variations of the name Coplen.
Lastly, some other possible variants might be due to immigration when officials recorded immigrants' names phonetically, leading to many spelling variations. For instance, the name might have been German and recorded as Koplin, Koeplin, or Koepplein.
Famous people with the name Coplen
- Alison Coplen: She is a notable British graphic designer and illustrator who has worked for many high-profile clients, including BBC, Penguin Books, and many other top-notch names.
- Jim Coplen: An American musician, known for his work in the group 'The Churchmen.'
- Sarah Coplen: She is an emerging singer and songwriter based in America.
- Art Coplen: Former American Ice hockey player. He played three games with the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1943-1944 NHL season. There are not many famous individuals with the surname 'Coplen' and the ones mentioned above have gained relative degrees of fame in their respective fields.