What might be the origin of the surname 'Corpse'?

[Rena]

Possibly a misreading of Copse, as in the geographical feature. It was an occupation at one time, the coppicing of trees.   

Regards 

Chas

Interesting - but glad it's not my surname.

There's another surname for the chap cutting down the trunks ol trees so they could be coppiced and that's "Pollard".

[Kiltpin]

Possibly a misreading of Copse, as in the geographical feature. It was an occupation at one time, the coppicing of trees.   

Regards 

Chas

Interesting - but glad it's not my surname.

There's another surname for the chap cutting down the trunks ol trees so they could be coppiced and that's "Pollard".

 

I am a great believer in looking for the simple answer. I don't really think that our ancestors led more complicated lives than our own.   

I have lived in this area for the last 45 years because an overworked and underpaid RAF clerk got distracted and posted me to RAF Honington instead of RAF Hullavington. 

After all "Spelling is an Adventure, not a Science". 

Regards 

Chas

[heywood]

What do you think, Martin. Was this helpful to you? 

[Mart 'n' Al]

Stiff competition...

Martin

[Redroger]

Reminds me of an old neighbour of ours who worked on a maternity ward and says she was once confronted with a child named "Female" (pronounced fee-mah-lay), which somebody had chosen because they'd seen it written down somewhere and liked the (supposed) sound of it. Actually, writing that down, it does seem apocryphal!

In a 1960s general election a candidate Eric Moonman was asked by a voter if she could name her baby after him. Flattered why. She answered that she liked it on his literature. It was his slogan "Launch Moonman!" A woman named Towle named her baby Terry because she thought it fitted! In both and many other cases  I ask you? There is this my wife once worked for a manager named Matterface!! Pronounced Ma Ter fa fee!

[Genetrix]

Talking about pronunciations I once had dealings with someone called Featherstonehaugh (surname). It was apparently pronounced Fanshaw.  Imagine going though life explaining that!

[BushInn1746]

Latin
corporo [corpus] To make a body or corpse, to make or fashion into a body, to furnish with a body.

corpus  A a body, whether living or lifeless: B 1 The flesh of animal bodies ...
2 A lifeless body, a corpse, Caes. B. G.

Caes. Caius Julius Caesar, historian ob. B.C. 44 [Date]
Caes. B. G., Bellum Gallicum.

Mark

[Mart 'n' Al]

I can't see how these lead to CORPSE becoming a surname.  It seems so unlikely.

Martin

[BushInn1746]

Latin
corporo [corpus] To make a body or corpse, to make or fashion into a body, to furnish with a body.

corpus  A a body, whether living or lifeless: B 1 The flesh of animal bodies ...
2 A lifeless body, a corpse, Caes. B. G.

Caes. Caius Julius Caesar, historian ob. B.C. 44 [Date]
Caes. B. G., Bellum Gallicum.

Mark

According to "The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames" Corp(e) is nickname for raven Old French (or ? Old Norse) and Corps '(son) of Corp.'
In the 1881 census there were 338 Corps and 22 Corpse.
Stan

This shows the distribution of Corpse in 1881

Surnames
Corpus (Roman), still a surname too.
Corp (French).
Korpr (old Norse, Norwegian).
Korpr (Nordic countries).
Korp(e)

Mark