Welcome, visitor! The global Copas Surname DNA Project aims to supplement genealogical research on Copas families with genetic evidence in hopes of further developing the Copas family tree. At this time, definitive evidence is lacking for the origin(s) of the surname generally pronounced like Cope´-us. By the 1500s, families with Copas-sounding names were living in England (for example, John and Thomas Copis of Sussex, John Cowpas of York, Johes Copis of Cambridge, Willm Copas of London) and Spain (for example, Pere Copis of Barcelona). Most Copas families in the United States appear to have origins in Maryland and are thought to descend from John Copas of Baltimore County. Present-day variations of the surname are known to include Copass and Copus, and there might be others. People who think they might bear any variation of the surname or descend from an ancestor who bore any variation of the surname from any part of the world are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Copas DNA Project!

Using DNA testing, the Copas Surname DNA Project can tell us which family lines are related, confirming or refuting lineages with established paper trails and pointing the way for further research for other lineages.  It can also reveal particular DNA signature variations for particular family lines, enabling us to place previously unlinked families into their respective branches of the Copas family tree.

Males who descend from a Copas along their all-male ancestral line may participate in the project through Y-DNA testing.

Anyone who descends from a female Copas along his or her all-female ancestral line may participate in the project through Mitochondrial (mt) DNA testing.

Anyone who descends from a Copas along any of his or her ancestral lines may participate in the project through Family Finder (autosomal) DNA testing.

Quick Links:

• Results Page
• Grouped Genealogical Information for tested Copas family lines
• Analysis for Specific Test Results
• Family Finder (Autosomal) DNA Comparison Chart
• Non-FTDNA DNA Results Charts
• Y-DNA (Male Line) Results Charts (for Family Tree DNA tests)
• Mitochondrial DNA (Female Line) Results Charts (for Family Tree DNA tests)
• Project Overview
• Project Background
• Project Goals
• Project News
• For those who are not logged in as members, the button to join our Group appears at the top of the page on the right side of the banner on our project web site.