This rare and interesting name has two possible origins. The first being from Shopper, itself derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Sceoppa" though the Middle English "Schoppe" meaning a shop or shed, thus denoting a Shopkeeper. Alternatively it is possibly a dialectual variant for the locational name Shipley, from the various places so called. In Yorkshire in particular the placename is pronounced Shipee. This name derives from the Olde English "Sceap", Sheep and "leah", a clearing. In St. Dunstans', Stepney, Henrietta Shoppee married Henry Stephens in 1800. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas atte Shoppe, which was dated 1341, Calender of Letter Books, during the reign of King Edward III, The Father of the Navy, 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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