Chope Family History

Perhaps for a violent man from Middle English chop ‘blow’ or a reduced form of the synonymous Chopin (recorded in Devon see Chopping); or perhaps for a wheeler and dealer from an unrecorded derivative of Middle English choppen ‘to strike a bargain’. Alternatively a variant of Jope (see Job) with devoicing of the initial consonant.

Middle English Job(be) Joppe Joop is evidenced as a surname in Cornwall and Devon but definite evidence for the variation in the initial consonant is late (see the 1604 and 1667 bearers below) and appears to be voicing of earlier Chope.

Alternatively perhaps a variant of Chubb, a well-attested Wilts and Devon name.