Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Who were Geoffrey Chaucer’s parents?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Geoffrey Chaucer
English poet Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales.
Geoffrey Chaucer’s parents were John Chaucer and Agnes Copton.1
- John Chaucer: He was a prominent London vintner and a deputy to the king’s butler. He owned property in London, Ipswich, and the county of Suffolk. In 1338, he participated in Edward III’s expedition to Antwerp. He died in 1366 or 1367 at the age of 53.1
- Agnes Copton: She was the niece and heiress of a London moneyer (an officer who mints money). She may have also been associated with a family that owned land in Kent. Her marriage to John Chaucer is believed to have been her second marriage.1
The family’s financial success was built upon the wine and leather trades.1