Surname Kopper - Meaning and Origin
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Kopper: What does the surname Kopper mean?
The surname Kopper is thought to have originated as an occupational name for a copper-worker or seller of copper. It can be found in numerous European countries, primarily in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In German-speaking countries, the surname can have a variety of spellings, which are regional variations such as Köpper, Kaepor, Kappor, Köpfer, Keufer, Kupfer, Köfe, Köffner, Köfer, and Kuffer.
The etymology of the name comes from the German “Kupfer" meaning “copper;" it is derived from the Latin “cuprum” which is also related to the English word, “copper.”
The surname has various different meanings in other countries, such as a phonetic version of the medieval French sonnet maker Jehan Coppere, from whichcoppere, meaning poet, and the Czech “Kopper" meaning a shop or marketplace.
The surname has spread to more than five hundred words throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. One of the most famous bearers of the name, the American astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., was the first American to travel to outer space.
Although the exact origin of the last name Kopper is unknown, it is thought to have derived from Old High German. As the name spread from country to country, its meaning and spellings evolved over time. Despite this, it remains a common surname and is associated with copper-working or trade.
Order DNA origin analysisKopper: Where does the name Kopper come from?
The last name Kopper is common today in many European countries. It originated in Germany and is a variant of the German word for copper, Kupfer. It is found in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and France. It is also found in countries of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire such as Hungary and Slovenia. It is not as common in English speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The surname Kopper is derived from the German word for copper. This suggests that the Kopper family may have traditionally had some involvement in the copper mining or copper smelting industries. Alternatively, the surname may have been adopted as a descriptive name for someone with features or characteristics that resembled copper.
The last name Kopper can also be found in Jewish families, where it has typically been adopted from the German language. This may come from the German word Kupfer and may indicate Jewish communities adopting surnames that originated in the areas of Central Europe where they lived.
In the United States, the last name Kopper is most common in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. It is also present in other states with large German immigrant populations.
Variations of the surname Kopper
The surname Kopper is believed to have its roots in Austrian, Bavarian, and German territories. The most common variants are Koepperer, Köpperer, Köpper, and Kopperer.
Koepperer is the most commonly found spelling of the surname and is likely derived from the Middle High German word “Köpperer,” which means smith or metalworker. This variant is frequently encountered in Austria and German-speaking nations.
Köpper is another spelling sometimes used by those with the surname, also of German origin, but more commonly used in Bavaria. This spelling likely derives from the German word “köpfen,” which means to chop or cut off.
Kopperer is an uncommon variant of the surname found mainly in German territories. This spelling probably also originates from the Middle High German word “Köpperer” and also indicates a metalworker.
Surnames of the same origin as Kopper include Koepp, Koepper, Koeppler, Koep, Koepke, Koepkel, Kopp, Koppe, Koppel, Koppelmann, Koppers, Koppler, Köpfer, and Köppl.
The surname Kopper is relatively common in Austria, Bavaria, Germany, and regions of eastern Europe that were once part of the Habsburg Empire. Its various spellings and variants are also used across other parts of Europe, the United States, and elsewhere.
Famous people with the name Kopper
- Chris Kopper: American athlete, played water polo for the University of California, Berkeley and professionally for the Newport Water Polo Club.
- Hans Kopper: German politician and Banker, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and former President of the Deutsche Bundesbank.
- Georg Köpper: German jurist and professor, who co-authored the Constitution of the German Empire, and served as a judge of the German Federal Constitutional Court.
- Rudy Köpper: German actor and voice actor, best known for dubbing cartoons from the 1980s and 90s.
- Atticus Kopper: American child actor, best known for starring in the 2018 short film Skin Kids.
- Trevor Kopper: American writer and independent filmmaker, and winner of several awards for his screenwriting work.
- Jana Köpper: German athlete, who represented her country in long jump and triple jump events in the 2004 Olympics.
- Carl Kopper: German-born American architect, longtime resident of Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Johann Gottfried Köpper: German music theorist and composer, influential contributor to the development of modern musical notation.
- Ludwig Kaas, a.k.a. Kopper: German lawyer, legal advisor to the German Centre Party, and chief architect of the Weimar system of government.