Harper Surname

The Origin of the Surname 'Harper'

The surname 'Harper' is an ancient English occupational name, originally given to someone who played the harp. The word 'harper' is derived from the Old English word 'hearpere', which in turn comes from the Old French word 'harpeor'. The harp was a popular musical instrument in medieval times, and harpers were often employed by royalty and nobility to provide entertainment at feasts and celebrations.

Early References to the Surname

The earliest recorded use of the surname 'Harper' in England dates back to the 12th century, during the reign of King Henry II. The Domesday Book, a survey of England conducted in 1086, also contains references to individuals with the occupation of harper. Over the centuries, the surname 'Harper' became more widespread, as the practice of using occupational surnames became more common.

Spread of the Surname

The surname 'Harper' has spread to various English-speaking countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the United States, the surname 'Harper' is particularly common, with an incidence of 160,166 individuals bearing the name. This can be attributed to the large number of English immigrants who settled in America in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the United Kingdom, the surname 'Harper' is most prevalent in England, with an incidence of 33,226 individuals. It is also found in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with varying levels of incidence. In other Commonwealth countries such as Canada and Australia, the surname 'Harper' is also fairly common, with incidence numbers of 10,970 and 10,840 respectively.

Notable Individuals with the Surname

Over the centuries, there have been many notable individuals with the surname 'Harper'. One of the most famous Harpers is American author Harper Lee, best known for her novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird', which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. Another well-known Harper is British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose full name is David William Donald Cameron.

In the world of music, there are also several musicians with the surname 'Harper', including country singer Ben Harper and blues musician Peter Harper. Additionally, there are also athletes, actors, and other public figures who bear the name 'Harper'.

Variants of the Surname

Like many surnames, 'Harper' has several variant spellings, including 'Harpur', 'Harpo', 'Harperman', and 'Harpist'. These variations may have arisen due to regional accents, dialects, or clerical errors in official documents. Despite the different spellings, these surnames all share a common origin and meaning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the surname 'Harper' is a fascinating name with a rich history and widespread distribution. From its humble origins as an occupational name for a harp player, the surname 'Harper' has evolved into a common and well-known surname in English-speaking countries around the world. Whether you are a Harper by birth or by marriage, you are part of a diverse and vibrant family tree with a long and storied past.

The surname Harper within the world

Globalization has meant that surnames spread far beyond their nation of origin, such that it can be done to get African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. Equivalent happens when it comes to Harper, which as you're able to corroborate, it may be stated that it's a surname that may be present in all of the nations for the world. In the same manner you can find countries by which truly the density of people aided by the surname Harper is more than far away.

The map for the Harper surname

View Harper surname map

The possibility of examining for a world map about which countries hold more Harper on the planet, assists us a great deal. By placing ourselves regarding the map, on a concrete nation, we can see the concrete number of people utilizing the surname Harper, to acquire in this way the precise information of the many Harper that you can currently get in that nation. All of this additionally helps us to know not merely where the surname Harper comes from, but also in what manner individuals who are originally part of the family that bears the surname Harper have relocated and relocated. In the same way, it is possible to see in which places they have settled and grown up, which explains why if Harper is our surname, it appears interesting to which other nations associated with the globe it is possible any particular one of our ancestors once moved to.

Nations with additional Harper worldwide

In the event that you view it carefully, at apellidos.de we offer you all you need to be able to have the actual data of which countries have the greatest number of people using the surname Harper in the entire world. Furthermore, you can see them really visual way on our map, when the countries aided by the highest number of individuals with all the surname Harper can be seen painted in a stronger tone. In this way, and with an individual look, it is simple to locate by which countries Harper is a common surname, as well as in which nations Harper can be an uncommon or non-existent surname.

Not all surnames similar to the surname Harper are related to it. Sometimes it is possible to find surnames similar to Harper that have a different origin and meaning.

Errors in writing, voluntary changes by the bearers, modifications for language reasons... There are many reasons why the surname Harper may have undergone changes or modifications, and from those modifications, surnames similar to Harper may have appeared, as we can see.

Discerning whether the surname Harper or any of the surnames similar to Harper came first is not always easy. There are many reasons that could have led to the surname Harper being written or pronounced differently, giving rise to a new, different surname Harper with a common root.

Harper Surname

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