Surname Herpers - Meaning and Origin

Herpers: What does the surname Herpers mean?

The last name Herpers is an Anglicized version of the German Herberger, which is thought to originate from two possible sources.

First, Herberger may be a topographic surname, taken on by a family who lived near a clearing or protected woodland clearing. Herberger roughly translating to “herb-spear” in German. In this case, Herberger refers to a location in medieval Germany where a person resided near the edge of the woods or in a clearing in the forest.

The other possible origin is the occupational surname of a person active in the trade of medicinal plants and herbs. This person may have been part of an apotheek or a market seller who worked with herbs and spices. In this instance, Herpers simply meant an occupational surname derived from this trade.

Herpers is a relatively rare surname, most likely found in parts of Germany and the other German-speaking countries. Those with the Herpers surname can also trace their ancestry back to the German-speaking countries where the name originates from. Most modern Herpers families are likely descended from early immigrants to the United States and other countries around the world.

Through research, anyone with a Herpers name can discover the history and origin of their own family and where their last name comes from.

Herpers: Where does the name Herpers come from?

The last name Herpers is most commonly found today in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In Germany, Herpers appears to be an occupational name, derived from the Middle High German word ‘herper’, meaning ‘armorer’ or ‘gunsmith’. The earliest record of the name in Germany is in 1553, and today the name is fairly well-distributed throughout the country.

In the Netherlands, Herpers is derived from the Old Dutch word ‘herber’, meaning ‘holy cross’ or ‘blessed tree’. This likely indicated an individual or family who moved to a new location and adopted the surname of the nearest significant landmark. The earliest record of this surname in the Netherlands dates from 1620, and today it remains relatively popular there.

In Belgium, Herpers is derived from the French word ‘herbier’, meaning ‘green-grocer’. This likely indicated somebody who worked with vegetables, herbs, and other fresh produce. This name was first recorded in Belgium in 1681 and is still found throughout the country, although not as popular as in the Netherlands or Germany.

The prevalence of the Herpers surname seems to speak to the pervasiveness of the family’s historical travels. The surname appears to have been adopted by members of the family as they relocated to various countries in Europe, indicating an interesting level of mobility.

Variations of the surname Herpers

Herpers is a surname that is thought to have originated from the English language as a variation of the name Harper. The Harper surname originated from the Old English name "Harper," a term used to describe a person who plays the harp.

Variants and other spellings of the Herpers surname include Herper, Harper, Harpers, and Herpars. In some cases, the spelling may also vary slightly, such as Harpar, Harbours, Harprs, Herprs, Herbar, and Herpars.

The Herpers surname can also be found in various other parts of the world, with mutations in spelling or pronunciation. In Dutch, for example, Herpers can be seen spelled as Herpers or even as Hapers. In Germany and Austria, it is spelled as Herpers or Harpers. In Hungary, it can be spelled as Habor, Harpa, Harpaar, Harpi, Harpier, Harpor, Harporik, Harporics, Harporn, Herpa, or Heper. It can be found in Sweden as Hapers and in Ireland as Harpers.

The surname has been known to appear in countries such as the US, Ireland, England, Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

The surname Herpers is derived from the Medieval and Old English words of “harper,” a player of the harp, and may have been originally used as a nickname to denote someone who had some sort of skill in playing this ancient musical instrument.

Today, the Herpers surname is still around and is commonly found amongst individuals with various nationalities, as well as amongst those with an ancestral connection to the Middle Ages.

Famous people with the name Herpers

• Nick Herpers: Dutch footballer.
• Chris Herpers: German filmmaker.
• Paul Herpers: Dutch writer and poet.
• Dirk Herpers: Dutch astrophysicist.
• Fran Herpers: Dutch professional cyclist.
• Chantal Herpers: Belgian wheelchair athlete.
• Willeke Herpers: Dutch politician.
• Karl Herpers: Swiss painter and photographer.
• Saleh Herpers: Dutch military officer.
• Steffen Herpers: German music producer and songwriter.

Other surnames

Herpertz