Surname Tepper - Meaning and Origin
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Tepper: What does the surname Tepper mean?
The last name Tepper is of German origins. It is derived from the medieval occupational name 'Tuppers' which referred to a tailor or cloth cutter. The earliest records of the name Tepper can be found in the region of Bavaria in the mid-1400s.
The name Tepper is popular in several countries, including Germany, the United States, Austria, and Switzerland. In the United States, people bearing the name Tepper often trace their family roots to German immigrants of the 18th century, and subsequent generations who have since settled in various parts of the country.
The meaning of the name Tepper is generally thought to be derived from the medieval occupation of tailor. However, some suggest that the name could also be derived from the Middle High German term "teppen," which means to cut or trim.
Tepper is a fairly common and widespread surname. It is often found in records of births, marriages, and death notices, as well as many other records. People with the last name Tepper have gone on to hold or pursue a variety of occupations, including attorneys, entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, and other professions.
The name Tepper is thought to represent a symbol or a badge of honor amongst people of the same family lineage or culture. It reflects a long history of hard work and commitment to traditional values that are still found in many families bearing the name.
Order DNA origin analysisTepper: Where does the name Tepper come from?
The last name Tepper is a relatively common surname found across Europe and North America. In the United States, the frequency of the surname Tepper is highest in the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. In New York, the frequency of the surname is especially high - it was the 106th most common surname in the 2000 US Census. Within this area, the surname is most prevalent among those of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, though it is slowly becoming more widespread among all ethnicities. Furthermore, the surname is prominent in Canada, particularly in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Outside of the United States and Canada, the surname Tepper is most common in countries such as Israel, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, and Belarus. In Israel, the surname is especially popular, with a hundred couples registered under the surname in the Israeli population records.
The etymology of the surname Tepper is derived from the Middle High German word “zebar”, which means “tuft of hair”. However, the surname may have multiple origins - some believe the surname refers to those who worked with cloth and tapestries while others suggest it is derived from the word for “taupe” in Slavic language, which refers to the color of a certain type of squirrel.
Overall, the last name Tepper was found to be most frequent in North America and Europe. However, due to the presence of multiple potential origins for the surname, its exact prevalence and geographical distribution are still largely unknown.
Variations of the surname Tepper
The surname Tepper has various variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin, all derived from the surname “Tepper”. These include:
1. Tapper - Tapper is an anglicised form of the German “Tappert”, which is derived from the Latin “Tappertius”. The name is believed to have originated from the Germanic word “tap”, meaning “to beat”. It is believed to have been a nickname for a strong person. This surname was also borne by Dutch settlers in North America in the 17th and 18th centuries.
2. Tepperberg - This is a variant spelling of the surname Tepper. It is thought that it originated in old German, in which “berg” means “mountain” or “high land”.
3. Tipper - This is an anglicized version of the surname “Tippert”. It is believed to have been a nickname derived from the German “tippen”, meaning “to tap” or “to beat”.
4. Teppner - This is a variant of Tepper, and is thought to be of Dutch and German origin.
5. Teppelin - This is also a variant spelling of the surname Tepper. It is of Dutch and German origin and is thought to derive from the Low German “teppel”, meaning “tiller” or “tillerman”.
6. Bouterse - This is a Dutch surname derived from the Dutch word “buter”, meaning “butter”. This is likely to have been a nickname for a person who was expert in the butter trade.
7. Tapia - This is a Spanish and Portuguese surname which is thought to be derived from the Old Spanish personal name “Tapius”. This is thought to be derived from the Latin “tapsis”, which means “steep” or “high”.
In conclusion, the surname Tepper has many variants, spelling and surnames of the same origin. These originate from German, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.
Famous people with the name Tepper
- David Tepper: billionaire investor and hedge fund manager
- Jeffrey Tepper: renowned cardiothoracic surgeon
- Robert Tepper: singer and songwriter
- Paul Tepper: corporate lawyer
- Julie Tepper: bestselling author
- Joan Tepper: influential family therapist
- Marc Tepper: Emmy-winning visual effects artist
- Joe Tepper: MLB pitcher
- Frank Tepper: physicist and engineer
- Melissa Tepper Berman: CEO and president of United Cerebral Palsy