Surname Soper - Meaning and Origin
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Soper: What does the surname Soper mean?
The last name Soper is of English origin. It primarily comes from an occupational name for a maker and seller of soap, derived from the Middle English, Old English word "sop", meaning soap. The suffix "-er" generally pertains to occupations, indicating a "doer" of something. Therefore, the Soper surname can also be traced back to an ancestor who was engaged in the soap-making industry. This profession was a separate trade from that of chandler (candlemaker), although both used similar processes. In some cases, this surname might also possibly be a variant of "Soaper". However, like many surnames, over the centuries the original trade-associated meaning may have lost its direct connection to the current bearers' identities or professions.
Order DNA origin analysisSoper: Where does the name Soper come from?
The last name Soper is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It is especially common in the East Midlands region of England, where an estimated 70 households bear this surname. The majority of households in the East Midlands bearing this name reside in Rutland, Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire counties.
Historically, the Soper name can be traced back to the Old English language, derived from the term ‘soppere,’ which means someone who deals in hops, an agricultural crop. The name was particularly popular in the areas of Rutland and Lincolnshire.
Sopers have spread to many other parts of the world since the 1700s, including the United States, Canada and other European countries including Spain, Germany and Italy. The name is also found in Africa, Australia, and South America.
In the United States, the last name Soper is most common in California, Texas and New York. It is also found in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Washington, and Massachusetts.
Soper is a relatively uncommon name today, especially outside of the East Midlands region of England, yet it is still widely used in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that roughly 300 households still have the Soper name in the United Kingdom today.
Variations of the surname Soper
The surname Soper is derived from the Middle English word soper and Old French word souppeir, which both mean a "keeper of the cup". As such, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Souper, Soaper, Sauer, Supper, Sube, Soper, Suffer, Lipper, Sauer and Supper.
Variants of this surname include Soupar, Soupir, Souppar, Supir, Swaper, Saever, Suart, Suir, Saver and Super. Spellings of this surname include Soper, Soaper, Supper, Sube, Suffer, Lipper, Sauer and Suffer.
Surnames with related origins to Soper include Souppere, Souppure, Souper, Supre, Soucore, Coupor, Sopere, Sioper, Sipra and Soaffir. Here, Souppere and Souppure are French variants of Soper and Supre is a Middle English variant. Other surnames with the same origin are Soucore and Coupor, which are French variants of Soper, and Sopere, Sioper, Sipra and Soaffir, which are variants of Soper from different parts of Europe.
In conclusion, the surname Soper has many variants, spellings and related surnames of the same origin. These include Souper, Soaper, Sauer, Supper, Sube, Soper, Suffer, Lipper, Sauer, Supper, Soupar, Soupir, Souppar, Supir, Swaper, Saever, Suart, Suir, Saver, Super, Souppere, Souppure, Supre, Soucore, Coupor, Sopere, Sioper and Soaffir.
Famous people with the name Soper
- Martin Soper: former president and COO of Iconix Brand Group, a branding and asset management company.
- Nick Soper: British Paralympian who won a gold medal in Wheelchair Basketball at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London.
- Eddie Soper: former English footballer who played as a wing half for Oxford United and Watford from 1957 to 1964.
- Alan Soper: English actor best known for his roles as Davey in Cops and Mike in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
- Joe Soper: English cricketer and schoolteacher who played first-class cricket for Worcestershire in the 1950s.
- Jack Soper: former Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon, St Kilda, and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1926 to 1941.
- George Soper: American sanitary engineer who is credited with discovering the carrier of typhoid fever, Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary.
- Mary Jane Soper: former American businesswoman who co-founded Sleeping Bear Press in 1975.
- Timothy Soper: British novelist and short story writer known for his novel, England and the English.
- Ivor Soper: British actor, director, and producer who worked on the television series EastEnders, Heartbeat, and Coronation Street.