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Cooper Clan
Cooper Clan Crest: An oak tree with a branch borne
down by a weight.
Cooper Clan Motto: Inclinata Resurgo (Though
abased, I rise again).
Cooper Clan History:
Coupar, Couper, Cowper and Cooper; variations on
the spelling of this surname exist throughout Scotland and, in most
cases, are said to originate from the town of Coupar in Fife, where a
Selomone de Coupir is on record for having witnessed a charter in
1245. In other instances, however, the occupation of cooper,
an individual who constructs casks and barrels, slips into the equation.
A John Cupar held lands in Aberdeen in the late
13th century and a Symon Coupare of Berwickshire rendered homage to
Edward I of England in 1296. Thomas de Cupro was Canon
of St Andrews in 1406 and Finla Couper of Belnakeill, Atholl, was fined
for giving sanctuary to outlawed members of Clan Gregor in 1618.
In the 17th century, a family of Coupers held the
lands of Gogar, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and in 1638, John Couper
was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia. He was killed in 1640 in the
explosion which destroyed Douglas Castle during the Covenanting period
known as the 'Bishops' Wars'.
One of Sir John's sons settled in Dumbartonshire
and from this line originate the Coupers of Banheath in Dumbartonshire;
of Failford and Smeithston in Ayrshire, and of Ballindalloch in West
Stirlingshire.
The English poet William Cowper (1731-1800),
writing to a friend confided that his roots lay in Fife. ' I am
originally of the same shire, and a family of my name is still there.'
Places of Interest:
Coupar, Fife. The town was the seat of the Macduff, earls of Fife,
whose castle dates from the 12th century.
Coupar, Perthshire. A Cistercian abbey was founded here by Malcolm IV
(1153-65) in the 1160s.
Castle Gogar, Edinburgh. An A-Listed Scottish Baronial L-plan
mansion, built in 1625 by the architect William Ayton for John Cowper,
whose father had bought the estate in 1601.
Click here to buy a unique personalised Clan Cooper certificate.
Click
here to buy tartans and gifts for the Clan Cooper.
Click
here to buy Cooper Clan Wall shields.
Click
here for Cooper Kilts and Highland Dress.
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