Surname Coupar - Meaning and Origin
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Coupar: What does the surname Coupar mean?
The surname Coupar is a Scottish and English surname, originating from the region of Scotland which is now known as Angus. The name is derived from the Gaelic word 'cabar', which means 'copse', or a thicket of small trees. This provides an insight into its likely origin - it originally described someone who lived near a copse or thicket, or surname of someone who might have taken their name from this feature of the landscape.
The alternative origin of the Coupar surname is from the Old French word 'coupier', which was used to describe a soldier who carried a lance or spear. This surname is found predominantly in England and Scotland in records as far back as the 16th century, where Coupar was found in the tax rolls of Scotland and was also a fairly common surname in England in the 13th century.
Alongside the spelling of Coupar, this surname is also found under several other variants such as Coupper, Coppar, Couper, Copper and Coupere, all of which are derived from the original Gaelic or Norman French source.
Today, there are Coupar families spread across Scotland, England, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States and it is believed to be the surname of around 4,000 individuals in the world.
Order DNA origin analysisCoupar: Where does the name Coupar come from?
The last name Coupar is most commonly found in Scotland today. In the early nineteenth century, the last name Coupar was found in various areas of Scotland, particularly in Banffshire, Kincardineshire, Roxboroughshire, and Aberdeenshire. There, it was often an occupational last name referring to a "couper," or a person who mended shoes and made boots.
In modern Scotland, the last name Coupar is mostly found in Aberdeenshire and Forfarshire, and is more often considered the Anglized version of a Gaelic name "Mac Dhuibh as an occupational last name. Today, the last name is quite common in these areas, and is sometimes even used as a middle name.
Outside of Scotland, the last name Coupar can be found mainly in England, North America, and Australia. While not as common as it is in Scotland, it is still present in small numbers in these other areas. The name typically anglicizes to either Coupar or Cowper.
In the United States, the last name Coupar is most commonly found in the western area of the country, particularly Colorado, California, and Arizona. This is likely due to more people from Scotland emigrating to this area in the late nineteenth century in search of more opportunities.
Overall, the last name Coupar is most common in Scotland, particularly in Aberdeenshire, but can be found scattered in small amounts elsewhere throughout the world.
Variations of the surname Coupar
The surname Coupar is a Scottish surname derived from the old Gaelic word "cupar" which means "cooper" or "barrel maker." The associated variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are Cuppar, Cuppers, Cowper, Coper, Cooper, Cowpar, Couper, and Coopper.
The popular spelling of the surname Coupar is Cowper or Coopers. This is the most common spelling and is derived from the Middle English word "cowper," which is a combination of the Old English words, "cu" meaning "cow" and "per" meaning "worker." During the Middle Ages, when surname adoption first began to occur, a cowper was a person who generally tended to cows.
The surname Cuppers is derived from the same Old English term, "cu," meaning "cow" and "per" meaning "worker". However in this instance "per" has been replaced by "pars" which was the original spelling of "per". This term was popularized as a pejorative during the Middle Ages when people with this occupation were regarded as lowly.
The spelling of the surname Cooper is a variant of Cowpar. This spelling is believed to have originated in Northern Britain where it is found primarily in the North of England and Scotland. It is derived from the Middle English term "cupere" which means "barrel maker". It is associated with the occupation of a craftsmen who specialized in creating barrels.
The surname Cowpar is derived from an Olde English term meaning "cowherd." This term applied to those who caught, pastured and herded cows and was mainly used in the northern parts of England. It has been suggested that the spelling may be a combination of the Olde English words "cou," meaning "cow," and "par," meaning "keeper".
The spelling Coupar is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "cupar" meaning "cooper" or "barrel maker". This was a popular profession in Scotland during the late medieval period and the Scottish variant spelling of the term is reflected in this variant of the surname.
The surname Coopper is a variant of Couper and is derived from the old Middle English term "cuper" which translates as "cowherd". This term was more likely to have been used in the south of England where the profession of a cowherd was more prevalent at the time.
These are various variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Coupar. Each of them bear testament to a unique part of the Anglo-Saxon heritage and tradition.
Famous people with the name Coupar
- Mackenzie Coupar: Canadian soccer player currently playing for the University of New Mexico Lobos.
- Brooke Coupar: Australian model who has appeared in numerous publications and has walked the runway for the Commonwealth Bank, amongst other companies.
- Jonathan Coupar: Canadian theatre director and writer who has directed many operas, plays and musicals.
- David Coupar: former British Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North from 1966 to 1987.
- Jackson Coupar: Scottish actor best known for his roles in films such as 'Nell' and 'Braveheart'.
- Myles Coupar: Australian rules footballer who has played for the Richmond Football club in the Australian Football League.
- Bill Coupar: retired Scottish professional football player who played for St Johnstone between 1971 and 1979.
- Peter Coupar: Scottish actor who is best known for his roles in films and television such as 'The Paradise' and 'BBC Scotland'.
- Andrew Coupar: Scottish professional golfer who competed on the European Tour from 2001 to 2004.
- Alan Coupar: British actor and radio presenter who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, most notably 'The Bill'.