Fred Sargeant. Canada...In the History of Richland County James Copus is described as an industrious German, is this known to be incorrect ?
Reply...The evidence for him being English origin not German is also to be found in the Richland County History, apart from the English name it is evident that he spoke English as it states that a
soldier Capt Douglas entered into a long conversation with him, also his closest neighbours were James Cunningham, Andrew Craig , David Hill and a Mr Lambright all British names. James Copus was a Methodist preacher in a church founded in 1739 by John Wesley in England, one of
James Copus’s sons was named Wesley probably in tribute to the founder John Wesley. There were German families living about 3 miles away namely the Zimmer & Ruffner families and also there were German Methodists, perhaps James was bilingual and had a German wife or mother I do not think we will ever know for certain.
Brandi Alexander USA...G---Grandaughter of James Copus...I have always suspected that James was not German but of English origin, back in the days of our early American history anyone seeming a little foreign was often referred to as being German. I can confirm that James was born
In Greene Co Pennsylvania in 1775 and married Amy Church in 1796.
Matthew Copus UK...The Copas name is surely a variant of Copus an example of this can be found on the history page of the Copas Farms website which reads ‘The first record of the Copas family in Cookham Berks was Richard Copus in the mid 1600’s (Not a spelling mistake the name changed around 1850 from Copus to Copas)’
The website page address is http://www.copasfarms.co.uk/newsite/history.htm
Then of course there are other variants like Copehurst, eg Reuben Copehurst of Pembury Kent that family also became (Or really were) Copus.
Irene.Australia ...Member of Berks FHS contacted me with another example of Copus/Copas name change, her Ggrandfather Edwin Copas b 1834 was a direct descendent of Edward Copas b 1808 Edward Coupas 1779 James Copas 1733 William Copus 1699 William Copus 1671.
Ronald Copus UK...Ron contacted me regarding his grandfather George Copus shown age 42 in the 1901 census he was born in Woolwich London, Ron and myself have been unable to find him
In the 1881 census or his birth registration in England, he married Susan E Stevens at Woolwich in 1884. (Has anyone any further information regarding him or his siblings.)
Cheryl Patton USA...Cheryl has provided information regarding another variation of the Copus name, her Grandfather’s name was Copous owing to a documentation error. Her Ggrandfather was James Copus the son of William Copus a southern civil war soldier born in Tennessee.
Elizabeth Bond UK...Elizabeth has requested information regarding the parentage of her Great
Grandfather Cyril Raymond H Copus born 1905 at Fulham London.
Last update Nov 2008
