COOPER, COWPER, or
COUPER,
a surname derived from the parish of Cupar in Fife. In ancient
documents the name is variously spelled, and appears under the several
forms of Cupir, Culpyre, Cypre, Cyprum, Cowpar, and Coupar. The
etymology of the name is uncertain, but the word is apparently Celtic,
and probably bore reference to the ancient castle or the rising ground
on which it was situated.
A family of
this name, styled of Gogar, possessed a baronetcy of Nova Scotia,
conferred in 1638, on John Cooper, Esq., who married Christian,
daughter of Robert Skene, Esq. of Halliards. Among those who were
killed with the earl of Haddington, at the blowing up of the castle of
Douglas, 30th August 1640, was John Couper of Gogar. In
1640, John Cooper, probably his son, was one of the commissioners of
the Scots parliament who approved of the treaty of Ripon. The first
baronet was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Cooper, at whose
death, towards the close of the seventeenth century, without male
issue, the title became dormant, but was revived by his
great-grandnephew, 1st August 1775, Sir Grey Cooper, who
represented Rochester in parliament in 1765, and was an energetic
supporter of the marquis of Rockingham, under whose administration, as
well as under those of the duke of Grafton and Lord North, he was
secretary to the treasury. In 1783 he was appointed one of the
commissioners of the treasury, and in April 1796, sworn a member of
the privy council. On the death of the seventh baronet, Sir Frederick
Cooper, unmarried, in 1850, the title became extinct.
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A family of
the name of Cowper have occupied the same farm on the Abercrombie
estate in Fife for more than three hundred years, and it is thought
that it is of this family that Cowper the poet of Olney thus writes to
Mrs. Courtenay, one of his friends: “While Pitcairne whistles for his
family estate in Fifeshire, he will do well if he will sound a few
notes for me. I am originally of the same shire, and a family of my
name is still there.” [New Statistical Account of Scotland,
vol. ix., page 344, Note, article ABERCROMBIE.]
