Cooper is a surname.
In England, it was occupational surname, that is, derived from an occupation; in this case the maker and repairer of wooden barrels, casks, vats, etc., known as a cooper. The name evolved from the Middle English couper or cowper, which in turn derives from Middle Dutch kūper (kūp meaning "tub container").
In Scotland, the name Cooper was derived from the town of Cupar, in Fife (originating from Cu—pyre, the enclosed or high fire). In the late 19th century, the name was distributed across England, but most common in three main regions: the northern midlands; Sussex and Hampshire; and Suffolk.
Related names are the Dutch Kuiper, and the German Kupfer, Kupper, and Kuper.
A Adam Cooper (dancer) (born 1971), actor, choreographer, dancer and theater director Adrian Cooper (born 1968), American football tight end Adrienne Cooper (1946–2011), American Yiddish singer, musician and activist Afua Cooper (born 1957), Jamaican-Canadian poet and academic Alan Cooper (bishop) (1909–1999), British Anglican bishop Alan Cooper (software designer) (born 1952), American creator of Visual Basic Alan Cooper (biblical scholar), American Albert Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Alex Cooper (architect) (born 1936), American architect Alex Cooper (footballer) (born 1991), Scottish footballer Alexander Cooper (1609–1660), English painter Alfred Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Alice Cooper (born 1948), born Vincent Damon Furnier, American Singer and musician Alison Cooper (born 1966), British businesswoman Allen Foster Cooper (1838–1918), American politician Amari Cooper (born 1994), American football wide receiver Anderson Cooper (born 1967), American journalist Andre Cooper (born 1975), American football wide receiver Andrew Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Anez Cooper (born 2004), American football player Angus Cooper (born 1964), New Zealand hammer thrower Ann Cooper Whitall (1716–1797), American Quaker Ann Nixon Cooper (1902–2009), African-American representative Anna J. Cooper (1859–1964), African-American educator Anthony Ashley-Cooper (disambiguation), 10 of the 12 Earls of Shaftesbury Anton Cooper (born 1994), New Zealand cross-country mountain biker Arif Cooper (died 2023), Jamaican musician Armando Cooper (born 1987), Panamanian footballer Artemis Cooper (born 1953), British writer Ashley Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Astley Cooper (1768–1841), English surgeon Audrey Cooper (born 1977), American journalist
B Barbara Cooper (politician) (1929–2022), American politician Barbara Cooper (RAF officer) (born 1959), British Royal Air Force officer Barry Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Ben Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Bernard Cooper (born 1951), American novelist Bert Cooper (American football) (born 1952), American football player Bert Cooper (1966–2019), American boxer Bertie Cooper (1892–1916), Australian rules footballer Besse Cooper (1896–2012), American supercentenarian and world's oldest person during 2011–2012 Bette Cooper (1924–2017), Miss America 1937 Bill and Billy Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Bill Cooper (American football) (born 1939), professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers Bill Cooper (hurler) (born 1987), Irish hurler Billy Cooper (footballer) (1917–1978), English footballer Billy Cooper (Canadian football) (born 1945), Canadian football player Billy Cooper (trumpeter), cricket supporter and trumpet player for the Barmy Army Blake Cooper (born 2001), American actor Bob Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Bob Cooper (musician) (1925–1993), American jazz musician Bob Cooper (racing driver) (born 1935), American NASCAR Cup Series driver Bob Cooper (politician) (1936–2004), politician and activist in Northern Ireland Bob Cooper (speedway rider) (born 1950), English speedway rider Bob Cooper (journalist) (born 1954), freelance writer and Runner's World columnist, ultramarathoner Bob Cooper (rugby league), Australian former professional rugby league footballer Bonnie Cooper (1935–2018), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player. BP Cooper, American screenwriter, film and commercial producer
Bradley Cooper (athlete) (born 1957), Bahamian discus thrower and shot putter Bradley Cooper (born 1975), American actor Bransby Cooper (1844–1914), Australian cricketer Brenda Cooper, American author Brent Cooper (judoka) (born 1960), New Zealand Olympic judoka and judo administrator Bret Cooper (born 1970), American football player Brett Cooper (footballer) (born 1959), Australian rules footballer Brett Cooper (fighter) (born 1987), American mixed martial artist Brett Cooper (political commentator) (born 2001), American actress and political commentator Brian Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Britney Cooper (born 1989), West Indian cricketer from Trinidad Brittnee Cooper (born 1988), American volleyball player Bryan Cooper (politician) (1884–1930), Irish politician Bryan Cooper (jockey) (born 1992), Irish National Hunt jockey Bump Cooper Jr. (born 2001), American football player Buster Cooper (1929–2016), American jazz trombonist
C Caitlin Cooper (born 1988), Australian soccer player Calico Cooper (born 1981), American actor, dancer, and singer, the daughter of rock singer Alice Cooper and dancer Sheryl Cooper Camille Cooper (born 1979), American basketball player Carl Cooper (born 1960), British Anglican bishop Carolyn Cooper (born 1950), Jamaican author Cary Cooper (born 1940), American-born British psychologist Cathy Cooper (born 1960), American artist Cec Cooper (1926–2010), Australian rugby league footballer Cecil Cooper (bishop) (1882–1964), British Bishop Cecil Cooper (born 1949), American baseball player Charles Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Charlotte Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Chris Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Christin Cooper (born 1959), American skier Clarence Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Colin Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Colm Cooper (born 1983), Irish Gaelic footballer Constance May Cooper (1881–1964), medical doctor in South Australia Courtney Ryley Cooper (1886–1940), American circus clown Craig Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Curtis Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Cynthia Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people
D Dalton Cooper (born 2001), American football player Daniel C. Cooper (1773–1818), early American surveyor and politician Darius Cooper (born 2001), American football player Darryl Cooper, American historian D. B. Cooper, epithet for an unknown airline hijacker from 1971. Also known as Dan Cooper D. C. Cooper (born 1965), American heavy metal singer D. J. Cooper (born 1990), American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League David Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Darren Cooper (died 2016), British Labour Party politician Dennis Cooper (born 1953), American poet and writer Dewey Cooper (born 1974), American kickboxer and boxer Lady Diana Cooper (1892–1986), British actress Dolores G. Cooper (1922–1999), American politician Dominic Cooper (born 1978), British actor Don Cooper (born 1957), American baseball player Don Cooper (curler) (born c.1942), American curler Douglas Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Duff Cooper (1890–1954), British politician and writer
E Earl Cooper (1886–1965), American race car driver Eddie Cooper (actor) (born 1987), British actor Eddie Cooper (cricketer) (1915–1968), English cricketer Edmund Cooper (1926–1982), English writer Edward Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Edwin Cooper (1785–1833), English artist Ethan Cooper, American football player Elizabeth Cooper (died 1960), Filipino-American actress Emma Lampert Cooper (1855–1920), American painter Eric Cooper (1966–2019), American professional baseball umpire Eric Thirkell Cooper, British soldier and war poet during World War 1
F Frank Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Frederic Taber Cooper (1864–1937), American writer, editor and academic Frederick Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people
G G. Cooper (Surrey cricketer), English amateur cricketer Gareth Cooper, Wales rugby union player Garrett Cooper, American baseball player Gary Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people George Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Gladys Cooper (1888–1971), English actress Gordon Cooper (1927–2004), American astronaut Graham Cooper (cricketer) (1936–2012), English cricketer Grant Cooper (born 1982), Spanish millionaire Grey Cooper (1720–1801), English politician
H Harry Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Helen Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Helene Cooper (born 1966), Liberian-American author and journalist Henry Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Hugh Lincoln Cooper (1865–1937), American engineer Humility Cooper, English passenger on the Mayflower
I Ian Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Imogen Cooper, English pianist Ivan Cooper (1944–2019), Northern Ireland politician
J Jack Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Jacki Cooper (born 1967), English-born Australian jazz singer Jackie Cooper (1922–2011), American actor Jacqui Cooper (born 1973), Australian skier Jade Holland Cooper (born 1986/1987), British fashion designer James Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Jeanne Cooper (1928–2013), American actress Jeff Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Jenny Cooper (born 1974), Canadian actress Jenny Cooper (lawyer), corporate lawyer and Queen's Counsel from New Zealand Jere Cooper (1893–1957), American politician Jeremiah Cooper (born 2004), American football player Jerry W. Cooper (1948–2020), American politician Jessica Cooper (born 1967), British artist Jessie Cooper (1914–1993), Australian politician Jillie Cooper (born 1988), Scottish badminton player Jilly Cooper (1937–2025), English writer Jim Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Jimmy Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Joan Cooper (social worker) (1914–1999), English civil servant and social worker Job Adams Cooper (1843–1899), American politician Joe Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people John Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Johnny Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Jonathon Cooper (born 1998), American football player Joseph Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Joshua Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Julie Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Justin Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Justine Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people
K Kate Cooper, historian Katharine Cooper Cater Keith Cooper (referee) (born 1948), Welsh football referee Keith D. Cooper, American computer scientist Keith Cooper (American football) (born 2003), American football player Kendall Cooper (born 2002), Canadian ice hockey player Kenneth H. Cooper (born 1931), American Air Force colonel, doctor and aerobics pioneer Kenny Cooper (born 1984), American soccer player Kenny Cooper Sr. (born 1946), former English soccer goalkeeper and coach Kevin Cooper (disambiguation), multiple people Kevon Cooper (born 1989), Trinidadian cricketer Kitty Cooper, American bridge player Korey Cooper (born 1972), American musician, member of Skillet Kyle Cooper (born 1962), American designer of motion picture title sequences Kyle Cooper (rugby union) (born 1989), South African rugby union player
L Lamart Cooper (born 1973), American football player Leigh Cooper (born 1961), English footballer Leo Cooper (born 1922), Polish-born Australian historian Leo Cooper (1934–2013), British publisher Leon Cooper (1930–2024), American physicist Les Cooper (1921–2013), American musician Lettice Cooper (1897–1994), English writer Levi Cooper – The Maggid of Melbourne, Australian Orthodox Jewish teacher Lindsay Cooper (1951–2013), English musician (bassoon and oboe), composer and activist Lindsay L. Cooper (1940–2001), Scottish musician (double-bass and cello) Lionel Cooper, Australian rugby league player