A name of occupation or trade. The name is also local, from Cupar, a town in Fifeshire, Scotland, which is derived from Cu-pyre, the inclosed fire, or Co, high, a beacon fire, or signal on the coast for ships. Pyre, a beacon fire, on a high place, is the origin of the word pier, a wharf or landing-place for ships; Danish, pyr and fyr, a lantern; ??, Greek, a fire; the whole landing-place in time was called the pier.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

COOPER. The occupation — a maker of barrels, tubs, &c. ; originally from coop, to keep or contain anything, whether wine in a cask, or a hen in her prison. A-Sax. Itepan, ccpan. See Cowper. Le Coupere, Couimre, Cuparius, &c., H.R.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.