The Cooper Family is still one of the more numerous families throughout Northern New Jersey, and particularly in Bergen County. Claes Jansen Van Permerend emigrated to America in 1647, from Permerend, a town near the Zuyder Zee, between Amsterdam and Hoorn, Holland. His first stopping place was Brooklyn, where he married Pietartie Brackhoengie, of Gowannus. She died soon after and he removed to Bergen, N. J., where he married (2), November 11, 1656, Ann, a sister of Ide Van Vorst. On January 1, 1662, he obtained a patent for a tract of land near Harsimus, on which he located and remained until his death, which occurred November 20, 1688. His widow survived him until January 12, 1726. Two weather-beaten headstones mark their last resting places in the cemetery of the old Bergen Dutch Church. Claes was an active, energetic man, and attained prominence in town affairs. He was sometimes known as “John Pottagie,” and in later days as “Kuyper,” it is said, because he was a cooper by trade. His descendants have ever since retained the name Kuyper, anglicized to Cooper. On April 10, 1671, he bought from Governer Carteret 240 acres on the Hudson River, including in it the present Village of Nyack, N. Y. The same year he bought 400 acres adjoining his first purchase on the north, and in 1678 he bought several tracts of meadow adjoining him–in all about 468 acres of meadow. Some of these lands he owned in partnership with the Tallmans. All of them eventually passed to his sons. His issue were Cornelius, John, Claes, Dirk, Henry, Vroutie, Tryntie, Divertie, Pictartie, Janetie, Grietie, Maritie, Hellegond, Judith, and Cornelia – in all fifteen. One or two of these joined in the purchase of the Tappan patent.
Cornelius went from Bergen to Tappan in 1689, but soon sold to Tallman. He then removed to Schraalenburgh, where he bought of John Demarest 256 acres on the Hackensack River, near Old Hook, where he resided. He and his wife, Aeltie Bogert, of Tappan, reared a large family of children, from whom mainly are descended the Bergen County Coopers.
Source: Harvey, Cornelius Burnham, Editor; Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey, New York: The New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Company, 1900.