Surname Leeper - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering My Roots & Redefining Identity: My Emotional Journey Through iGENEA DNA Test
Taking a DNA test can open doors into your personal history you never even knew existed. As I discovered through iGENEA, I'm more than just who I see in the mirror every day. I belong to a long lineage stretching back through centuries, all the way to the Scottish Leeper clan, a realization that added a new layer to my identity and relationship with my family.
G. Leeper
read moreLeeper: What does the surname Leeper mean?
The surname Leeper is an English and Scottish occupational surname derived from the old English word "leep," which refers to a person who tended livestock in an enclosure. The name is believed to be derived from an old English word laeppa, meaning sheepfold watcher. Over time, the name evolved to take on several different spellings, including Leaper, Lippar, Lepper, and Leeper.
The first record of the name comes from Heysham, Lancashire in 1316, while John le Lepur was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332. The earliest documented use of the modern spelling of the surname is that of John Leeper recorded in London in 1571.
The Leeper family chapel is still located in the village of Heysham. The chapel was originally founded in the fifteenth century by William Leeper, and is believed to be the first permanently established family chapel in England.
In Scotland, the name Leeper has been a prominent one since the 1600s. The Leeper Family of West Lothian, Scotland was an influential clan for generations. The Leeper family has spread around the world and can be found in Australia, the United States, Canada, and other parts of the globe.
Overall, the surname Leeper is linked to occupations involving sheep, as well as an old English place name, and has been an influential surname in Scotland and England for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisLeeper: Where does the name Leeper come from?
The last name Leeper is most commonly found today in areas of the United States, particularly the Midwest and South.
In the U.S., Leeper is found most prevalently in a few states including Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina. Michigan boasts the highest number of Leepers in the U.S., and also tends to hold the highest concentration of them in a local area. Ohio is home to another large population of Leepers, and many smaller populations of the name can be found throughout the Midwestern states.
The Leeper name has also been found historically in a small number of countries outside of the U.S. Canada has a few Leepers scattered throughout, while small pockets exist in England, Ireland, and Australia. In England, the Leeper name is more notably found in the Yorkshire region, which used to be heavily populated with Leepers during the 19th century.
Overall, the Leeper family surname is found most often in the U.S. spread across the Midwest and southern states. Though small populations exist in other countries, Leeper is most commonly a distinctly American name.
Variations of the surname Leeper
The surname Leeper can have many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin depending on where it originated. For example, the surname Leeper derived from the Middle English word lepore which means "hunter" could be seen spelled as Leaproe, Leither, Lippert, Lippertz, Leubker, Leuppert, Leypoldt, Leeper, Lebker, etc. It is also possible for the surname Leeper to be spelled as Leapar, Laper, Leapard, Leppar, Lepparr, Lipparr, or Leppards.
The derivatives of Leeper may have come from the Patrician Germanic personal name "Liebhard" which combined two elements, "liep" and "hard" which mean "dear" and "hardy/strong". Liebhard has also been seen spelled as Liebert, Lieper, Lippard, Lepper, Lippert, Lipperts, & Leiser.
In Scotland, the surname originated from Cornwall in the United Kingdom and is derived from the Irish language "Lochlipair" or "Leipreachain" which means descendant of the Grey-Haired One.
In France and some parts of Spain, the surname Leeper is derived from "Liebmann" which comes from the old French given name "lieb" which means "dear". It has been seen spelled as Libmann, Liebman, Libend, Lieben, Lebend, Liebend, and Libend.
Finally, the surname could be descended from "Lupardis" or "Lupartes" which is derived from the Latin word "lupus" which means "wolf". This has been seen spelled as Lupardo, Lupard, Lupards, Lupart, Lupards, Luppards, and Luparde.
Overall, the surname Leeper is diverse and can be seen spelled in many different ways depending on the country of origin.
Famous people with the name Leeper
- Tiffany Leeper, attorney and activist
- Stu Leeper, sound engineer
- Lafcadio Hearn (b. Patrick Lafcadio Leeper), writer
- Debra Leeper, plastic surgeon
- Heath Leeper, Actor
- David Leeper, American writer
- Wallace Leeper, Singer
- Nicole Leeper, Actress
- Jake Leeper, football player
- Rob Leeper, Actor
- Jessica Leeper, radio producer
- Paul Leeper, inventor
- Janee Leeper, restaurateur
- Doug Leeper, musician
- Debbie Leeper, voice actress
- Joe Leeper, baseball player
- Peter Leeper, ballet dancer
- Robert Leeper, tennis player
- Doncarsen Leeper, entrepreneur
- Eileen Leeper, knitting designer