Surname Warcup - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'W'
Warcup: What does the surname Warcup mean?
The origin of the surname Warcup is likely derived from personal names, or given names. Warcup is an occupational name for someone who was either a gunpowder maker or a blacksmith, and derives from the Middle English word "warcoupe," meaning "maker of guns." The name could also be derived from either the Middle English personal name "Weroc" or the Old English personal name Wærincūpa. This is further evidenced by the fact that the name has its roots in the Old English word "cūp," meaning "smith."
The name Warcup is recorded in Lancashire in 1379, and later in Norfolk in 1466. This hints at early locational origins in those areas, and it's likely that early inhabitants of the Warcup name were likely bonded to these areas for hundreds of years.
The name has become a popular surname across England and Wales, especially amongst families in Doncaster, Bradford, Hungerford, London, and York. It is also seen in Scotland and Ireland.
The Warcup name has likely solidified its locational origins in the areas mentioned above and across the country. With English roots, the Warcup surname is handed down from generation to generation as a reminder of a common ancestral heritage. For families that trace their origins back to the Warcup surname, it is a testament to hundreds of years of history and tradition.
Order DNA origin analysisWarcup: Where does the name Warcup come from?
The last name Warcup is most commonly found today in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK).
In Australia, Warcup is a relatively uncommon surname in proportion to the population size, and it is thought to be of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is mostly located in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, with the majority of Warcup’s being found in those three states.
In the UK, Warcup is a more common surname than in Australia. It is mainly located in Northern England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumberland, and the cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Hull. It is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is also present across Scotland and Ireland.
Several Warcup family lines can be traced back to the early 19th century, and records of the name from around the same time suggest it was mainly associated with the merchant marine trade. Family lines of the Warcup surname can also be traced to Australia in the early 20th century.
The Warcup surname is now represented in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and various European countries such as Germany, France and Holland, as well as Brazil and India.
Variations of the surname Warcup
The surname Warcup is a name of Norman origin, derived from the Old French words "war" and "cuppe", meaning "guardian of the cup". There have been various spellings and variants of this surname throughout history, including Warcop, Warcup, Warcopp, Warcoppe, Warkeoppe, Warkopp, Workup and Workopp.
Another variation of the surname is Warkey. This was a name given to someone guarding a wharf or dock. Warke is another possible variation of Warcup, derived from the Middle English words “war-” and “-ke”. This was taken from the Old Norse “varr-” and the Old English “-kalf”, which together mean “defender of the calf”, thought to represent a cattle guard.
There are also many other related surnames that denote the same origin. Some of these include Warkefort, Warkehaft, Workert, Wark and Warkman. There are also wealthy family lines from the early Middle Ages that used the surname Warde, a Norman variation of Warcup.
Variations, spellings and surnames that are related to the same origin of Warcup have been around for centuries. Many of these are still in use among today’s descendants of the original family line. The advent of DNA testing has allowed many to learn more about their exact family heritage and what the original spelling of their surname was. Knowing the variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin can be a great way to better understand one’s family history and roots.
Famous people with the name Warcup
- John Warcup Cornforth: Australian Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry
- Gordon Warcup: British Second World War soldier
- William Warcup: highly decorated Canadian soldier of the same war
- Stephen Warcup: British chief constable of Cleveland
- Jasper Edward Warcup: instrumental figure in helping to found Goldsmiths College
- Jonathan Warcup: one of the earliest settlers of Australia
- John Warcup: English artist and priest
- Henry Warcup: ornithologist and explorer of the Gambia
- James Warcup: British army officer and Governor of British Honduras
- Edward Warcup: topographer in the Indian survey during colonial times.